The Story of Stepps
Community Organisations
Scouts & Cubs
The 40th Glasgow Scout Troop was formed on 20th June 1914. Its first Scoutmaster was Mr H.Riach and the first two Patrol Leaders were M.Stewart and M.Mackenzie. The first meeting place was a hall in Edward Place, which had previously served as a schoolroom. In 1920 the Scouts moved to a wooden but at Stepps Hill, which remained as the Group HQ until 1937, when a new hall was built in Cardowan Drive. The Cub Pack was formed in 1917. The first Cubmaster was Mr W.T.Cook, who was succeeded around 1920 by Mrs Jean Anderson. Mrs Anderson's association with the Group extended over twenty-two years and culminated in her appointment as Cub Commissioner. Her son George, one of the founder members of the Pack, later became Cubmaster and Group Scoutmaster, while her younger son, James Gardiner Anderson, became Scoutmaster and then Group Scoutmaster, until his resignation in 1940. He later emigrated to New Zealand. The Troop kept going during World War I and very soon afterwards aspired to a very high standard of scouting indeed.  It won the "King's Flags" in 1920, with the best record of King's Scouts in the whole of Great Britain - the first time that this award had been won by a Scottish troop. An old residenter recalls watching the Scouts as they marched to Stepps Station, led by a band of pipers, and with their kilts swinging, to catch a train for Glasgow en route to London, at that time. In 1920 they also won the Glasgow County Flags; and won them again in 1923, together with the County Ambulance Shield. It was a "first" for any troop to win both these honours in the same year. In recognition of this feat Mr T.Graham presented Colours to the Troop.
Over the next few years the good work within the Group continued. However, there was a "lean" period around 1930, when there was a shortage of officers, and the roll of the Scout Troop at one point stood as low as six. Fortunately the Cub Pack maintained numbers, so ensuring a steady flow of boys to the Troop. By 1933 the strength was back to normal and officered by Gardiner Anderson (Group Scoutmaster), William Mackenzie (Scoutmaster) and William Duthie (Assistant Scoutmaster). The Troop won the Fairweather Shield in 1935 and retained it for ten years. Also in 1935, for the Silver Jubilee of King George V the Troop built a beacon on a hillock beside the Lenzie Road, about 100 yards past Auchengree Farm. A small party of scouts guarded it overnight; however, on the Jubilee Day, while a sports event was in progress, the unguarded beacon was set alight. Fortunately some Stepps residents came to the rescue, and by twilight an even larger beacon had been erected - so the red faces that evening were from the heat of the fire and not from the scouts' embarrassment!
During the 1939-45 War the local scout officers became involved in war duties, but the troop and cub pack kept going under the guidance of George Anderson. After the war membership rapidly built up to over 100 boys, with at one point 42 scouts and 59 cubs (in two packs). In competition they won the District Ambulance Shield on several occasions. On 6th March 1955, to mark the 40th Anniversary of the founding of the Group, a service was held in St Andrew's Church, with Group Padre Rev. A.C.Scobie officiating. Almost 130 scouts and cubs were on parade, and the marchpast was headed by the 55th Glasgow Scout Pipe Band. The troop won the North Eastern District competition in 1956 and were runners-up the following year. In that year too the Group were involved in celebrations to mark the Fiftieth Anniversary of Scouting, including events at the Kelvin Hall, Glasgow. There they met the County Commissioner's Challenge for Standards and won the Pennant.
A Rover Crew formed in 1921 was disbanded four years later. It re-formed in 1956 and soon reached a high standard. Two members won the Baden Powell Award - the first in the district to achieve this high honour. The Crew won the County Ambulance Shield in 1962. Soon afterwards they became known as the Venture Scouts, with their own hut behind the scout hall. By 1962 the hall, then 25 years old, was showing visible signs of deterioration. To raise funds for repairs a garden fete was held at the local hockey ground on 16th June. The sum of £350 was raised, helping to ensure that the old hall was good for a few more years. However, on 3rd May 1974 a new hall was opened by Mr George Proud, Chief Scout Commissioner for Scotland. The new hall was built immediately behind the old, which was eventually demolished, in 1992.
During the 1960s two Jubilee Celebrations were marked - that of the Scout Troop, in June 1964, and that of the Cubs, in October 1967. In connection with the former event, George Anderson presented new Colours to the Troop, and these were dedicated by the Rev. R.A.Philp at a special service in St Andrew's Church, on 7th June. The old colours were "laid up" in the church, and later transferred to the care of Whitehill Parish Church. In 1968 George Anderson was awarded the high honour of the Silver Acorn, in recognition of his outstanding work, over fifty years, to the Scout movement in the area. He continued to be actively engaged with the Group until 1973. He died in 1981.
As with most youth organisations, membership has varied over the decades. Despite this a high standard of scouting has always been maintained, with a variety of challenges provided by the various activities, both indoor and out. The introduction of abseiling, canoeing, rock-climbing and archery, as well as continuing involvement in traditional weekend and annual camps, has made the progressive badge programme interesting, instructive and enjoyable. It is geared towards the Chief Scout's Award the highest available at troop level. To the Venture Scouts two awards are available the Venture Award and the Queen's Scout Award. The latter is recognised as an outstanding achievement. It has been attained by David Moncur, David Brookfield, David Keith, Ewan McKay and Douglas Keith. Douglas Keith, the present Group Scout Leader, has also been awarded the Chief Scout's Commendation for Good Services to Scouting.
The total membership of the Group at present (1995) stands at 71, which includes Beaver Colony, Cub Pack, Scout Troop and Venture Scouts. About 1976 girls were enabled to join the Venture Scouts - an invitation more recently extended to all sections. There are now fourteen voluntary leaders involved in the Group, as well as a committee made up of parents and friends. "Be Prepared", the motto set by Lord Baden Powell, is still one to challenge the young boys and girls of today.
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