The 1st Dunmow Scout Troop held an open afternoon to celebrate 100 years of continuous operation.

More than 200 people, including former scouts and their families, gathered in the scout grounds in Mill Lane on Saturday, September 7.

Attendees baked traditional twists or dampers over a campfire, played games, reminisced about old times and enjoyed refreshments from the barbecue and tea and cake stalls.

The group thanked firms and individuals who offered their support and generosity for the celebration.

Photos were displayed in the large meeting hall depicting people, camps, scouting activities and memorabilia from the last 100 years, as well as the two scout troops and associated bugle band that operated in Dunmow between 1910 and 1920.

The current 1st Dunmow Scout Troop was set up on September 1, 1924 by Freddie 'Skipper' Clarke, a lay preacher at the congregational church, after reading Baden Powell's book Scouting for Boys.

Over the years the troop gained in strength, adding a Wolf Pack for eight to 10-year-olds in 1926 and a Rover Crew for young men in 1927.

Skipper obtained permission from a local farmer to set up a campsite called Gilwell Parva for weekend and summer camps, which was used until around 1950.

In late 1936 the group purchased a piece of land on Mill Lane, and a wood-framed hut was built and was opened in 1937 by Sir Percy Everitt, deputy chief scout commissioner for the UK.

During the Second World War, Skipper moved to be a church minister elsewhere, and most of the other leaders and Rovers left for war duty, leaving the troop to be run by 15 and 16-year-old patrol leaders.

The scout grounds were dug up to grow vegetables under the Dig For Victory campaign, and 25 former scouts joined the Armed Forces and the Merchant Navy.

Three former scouts were sadly killed in action - Ken Harvey, Walter Coy and Finlay Stokes - the latter two of which have no known graves, while another former scout - Sam Franklin - was killed in 1940 when a bomb exploded while he was working as a civilian in London.

Membership boomed post-war, and so in 1965 a second, larger meeting hut was erected, which is now used together with the older hut.

A second Cub Pack was opened and a Venture Scout unit, and the troop began admitting girls in 1967, as well as starting a Beaver Colony for children age six to eight.

Over the years the group has bought a minibus and equipment to enable canoeing, archery, abseiling and other activities.

Some scouts have been members of the Essex contingent at International Scout Jamborees, and a number of exchange camping visits have been held with a scout troop in Michigan, USA.

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Over the past 50 years, Rodney and Jackie Martin have run various sections of the group, and Jackie is the current group scout leader.

During the troop's 100 years, 30 Dunmow scouts have become King's and Queen's Scouts - the highest award in scouting.

Current Membership is 150 young people and 35 leaders and assistants, but more leaders are always required to enable more children to join from the waiting list.