At back row second left is John Fouracre. On the far right, John Smallbones.
Front row from left to right, Brian Golding, unidentified, Robert Yeomans and
little Johnnie Surtees.
Except for John Smallbones who came from (or close to) Pyestock Estate, this is
almost a Cripley Road pack. I well remember the weekly meetings in St. John’s
Church Hall with akela Mrs. Gilbert and the monthly Church Parade where someone
would be singled out to carry the flag on a pole twice the carrier’s height as we
marched along St. John’s Road from hall to church.
We were allowed to carry knives for carving wood and were made to pass tests. I
can still tell a reef knot from a grannie but maybe I wouldn’t pass the memory
test any more. I was given a ten item shopping list, a minute to memorise
it, then run from the Church Hall, to the Plough and Horses pub, along Fleet
Road to the railway bridge, up Fernhill Road past Cove Junior School as far
as Mr. Malekin’s shop. Back along St. John’s Road, past the Secondary Modern
School and Minley Estate. Across the busy Minley Road, past the Church and back
to the hall. I passed the test and survived being by myself on a wet and dark night.
Photograph from Philip Fouracre, recollections by Philip Fouracre and Malcolm Knight.
The above photograph taken 1954 and submitted by Paul Lamont, front row centre
(Keith Strange to his left).
Middle row (L-R) : Hoskin, John Sherwin, unidentified, Brian Golding,
unidentified, Michael Honeywell, unidentified.
Akela back centre with Balou and Bagheera.
The cubs at Whipsnade Zoo. John Fouracre and John Sherwin with Baloo in the back row.
Front, Chris Hazell and Akela’s daughter, Ian McDonald and unidentified.
Photograph from Philip Fouracre.
Photograph taken 1956 or 1957. Submitted by Paul Lamont.
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