Grayshott Scouts circa 1920/21
This postcard is shown here by courtesy of Bill Oakford. Bill has also provided clues to the names of many of the scouts in the photograph. This picture was taken outside Grayshott Village Hall. See later a photograph of the Hall as it is today.
Richard Peskett has added comments and loaned the Archive a copy of Scout (No. 25) Percy Hick’s school certificate.
Back Row : 1 Toby Harmer, 2 Bill Cane?, 3 Arthur Phillips, 4 Jack Mayhew, 5 ?, 6 Vic Winchester?, 7 Reg Oakford, 8 Tom French, Next Row : 9? 10 Tom Cane, 11 Ron Collis, 12 ?, 13 Mrs. Harris, 14 Mr. Harris 15 Mr. Phillips (father of Arthur, number 3), 16 Capt. Markam, 17 Eddie Blackwell, 18 Henry White, 19 Charlie Hicks, Next Row : 20 ?, 21 ? Smith, 22 Tom Peskett, Richard’s father, 23 Chris Johnson, 24 Fred Upperton, 25 Percy Hicks, see his school certificate, 26?, 27 Jack Upperton, 28 Phil Paddon became senior police officer, I of W, 29 Gordon Krengii, 30 Ernie Gadener, 31 Vernon Simpson, Next Row : 32 Jack Read, 33 ?, 34?, 35 Wilf West, 36?, 37 Bill Askew, 38 Wally Blackwell, 39?, 40 Willy Bishop, 41 Ron Fairminer.
Richard Peskett comments, "My father –Tom Peskett, number 22 in the photograph - would have been about 12 at the time, dating the photograph at 1920/21.
The local Boy Scouts Patrol was formed at Hindhead in 1910 and Grayshott boys were made welcome. A separate Grayshott patrol was formed later in 1911 and probably met at Grayshott Village Hall.
I believe part of the present British Legion building (see photograph below) was used as a Scout Hut during the 1920s. This building was World War I surplus. After World War II, the Scout Hut was situated on the playing fields on Headley Road between the present cricket pavilion and Headley Road. At this time the ScoutMaster was Percy Grout.
About 1958, a ‘new’ Scout Hut (again ex War Dept.) was erected on Phillip’s Green behind the Police House on Whitmore Vale Road. This Hut was funded by Colonel Hilder who was well respected, and the Scout Master between 1958 and 1962."
The Grayshott Village Hall, October 2005 (GVA) and The British Legion, Grayshott October 2005 (GVA).
The Hall is much as it was in 1920, although the Management Committee has wisely decided to replace the ivy cladding to the walls with less damaging hanging baskets.
Behind the British Legion is the Village hall and beyond that, the fire station built in the 1960s
GVA 110 05. The Editor, David W A Barrett welcomes readers' comment
David W A Barrett
Secretary, Grayshott Village Archive