On the 31st of October, W.Bro Keith Beaumont (APGM) and W.Bro John Wrennall (Group Chairman) presented £2000 to the 1st Windermere Sea Scout Group, at their premises in Windermere. The funds that have been donated will be going towards the purchase of new kayaks for the group.
At present, the scout group has 80 children in 3 sections – Beavers (6-8 years), Cubs (8-10½), Scouts (10½-14 years) and these groups will benefit immensely from the use of these kayaks.
The 1st Windermere Sea Scout Group is the first and oldest Sea Scout Group in the world and was formed in 1908 when it was officially opened by Baden-Powell with the Archbishop of Canterbury, just a year after Scouting began in 1907. Baden-Powell came to Windermere (on more than one occasion) to see how the group was developing and we do have a photographic record of some of his visits.
During the war, Polish Scouts stayed here in Windemere and camped with our Scouts at Fell Foot and the evacuees that arrived in Windermere joined our Scout Troop.
Linda Bowden, Group Scout Leader said:
‘On behalf of the Group, I wish to say a big thank you to the Freemasons for their kindness’
The funding was raised as part of the Provincial Grand Masters match funding initiative, Local freemasons supporting local charities.
