Our Founder Doreen Holland

My name is Doreen Holland, orginally from Stockton Heath, but the last 30 years have lived in Cumbria. 

My Dad Winifred Sydney Barratt started the 4th Warrington (1st Stockton Heath) Scout Troop during the war.

Four boys came to our house in Westborne Road and said their Scoutmaster had been called up to the war and asked my Dad if he would be ther Scoutmaster.  As Dad was a King's Scout from his youth, he accepted and so 4th Warrington (1st Stockton Heath) Troop was formed in our garage. 

In no time at all our garage became too small so one of the boy's father owned some land whcih he gave to the troop on which to build a scout hut.  My Grandfather, who lived with us, helped to build the brick scout hut.

At one time they had 100 boys and a waiting list!  I was involved with the fundraising side which increased my passion for crafts.  My Dad took groups of boys on summer camp to Ireland (Powerscout Estate near Cork).

I am a member of Appleby WI and last month we had a speaker who runs a club for children and young people in an old chapel, they have a climbing wall, computer room etc. They go to summer camp and make camp fires and learn woodcraft and many more things.

All this reminded me of the scouts albeit a modern version.  On arriving home I wondered if the 4th Warrington was still going and went on the internet and discovered loads of information including a photo of a wonderful new scout hut and was delighted that the troop is still going well.

When I told my brother, Keith, who lives in Appleton, he was very ineterested as he was involved from the begining.

I hope you don't mind me contacting you, I just wanted to wish you well.

Keep going you are all going a good job.

Doreen 

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Last Updated on Thursday, 02 August 2012

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