Xagħra Scout Group relaunched

The Xagħra Scout Group was relaunched with an investiture ceremony on Xagħra Square on May 18. It was on October 15, 1933, that the group was formed under the leadership of Francis Camilleri and Dr Albert Laferla, then Director of Education.

Vince Vella, an ex-Żejtun Group Scout leader, Carmel Attard, a retired Director of Education, and Fr Jesmond Gauci, together with 14 cub scouts and 10 scouts, were invested by Training and Programme Commissioner Leslie Bonnici.

The ceremony started with a march from near the Xagħra playground, accompanied by the San Ġwann Scout Band. It then proceeded to the square from where the group continued to march along various streets until it again reached the main square.

The scouts then attended Mass celebrated by Xagħra's archpriest, Mgr Carmelo Refalo, who is also chaplain of the Xagħra Scout Group. Concelebrating with him were Fr Gauci and Fr Anthony Briffa, OFM.

After Mass the Xagħra and the Victoria Scouts formed a horseshoe on the church parvis where Mr Vella was first re-invested as the Xagħra Group Scout leader, followed by other members.

Also present were the parents and relatives of the invested members.

A reception was later held at the Xagħra Scout Group's headquarters where plaques commemorating this occasion and the centenary of Scouting in Malta were exchanged.

A number of German Scouts, who were on a visit to Gozo, joined in the celebration by singing some Scout songs in English and German.