When the scouts were 'Burrougheses Own'

They acted as messenger boys and when he returned to England he published a book on army scouting. This book was seized upon by young boys keen for adventure and derring-do. Its success inspired Baden-Powell to write a series of articles in a national magazine and these in turn were published as 'Scouting for Boys' which became an international best seller - indeed the fourth top-selling book of all time.

Baden-Powell believed that young boys should keep fit, learn countryside skills and, if they worked together, society would benefit. As an experiment, in 1907 he took a group of boys from varied backgrounds to the first scout camp on Brownsea Island in Hampshire. The success of this outing led to the formation of the scout movement.

In Seaford, a Mr Burroughes heard of the work of Baden-Powell and established the 1st Seaford Scouts. At first the boys met at his house, The Homestead, in Steyne Road. The first photograph shows Mrs and Mrs Burroughes with the 1st Seaford troop presumably in front of The Homestead. The boys appear to have a cart and five bicycles and their flag is endorsed '1st Seaford Troop - Boy Scouts (Burrougheses Own)'.

Later meetings were held in a building in Brooklyn Road. The second picture shows Mr Burroughes with his scouts on Bonfire night. The boys have made an effigy of the Kaiser and are carrying collecting tins and the flags of the allies. As these include the stars and stripes, this photo was probably taken on November 5, 1918; eight months after the Americans joined the war. Soon afterwards, the 2nd Seaford Scouts were formed at Newlands School. Many of the local schools including Kingsmead and St Peter's had scout troops, although the Newlands group are the only school based troop that remain in the town.

In 1921 Baden-Powell visited East Sussex and Seaford scouts paraded in Lewes in the presence of the great man. That same year the scouts rented a plot of land in Chichester Road and obtained an old hut which had previously been in use as an army transport office at the nearby North Camp. The Girl Guides (which had been formed in Seaford in 1918) shared the site and joint fund raising enabled the land to be purchased. The guides left the site in 1934 to move elsewhere.

In the 1950s the scout hut was demolished and a permanent building was erected; this was extended in 1978 when the old army hut was demolished.

One hundred years after the first scout camp, the scout movement celebrates its centenary this year and the scouts of Seaford are flourishing. In recent years the Seaford scouts have hosted scouts from around the world and have themselves travelled the globe. Last year they visited Kenya where they assisted a local troop to build a scout hut. They also visited the grave of their founder, Lord Baden-Powell, where two local scouts were invested; a fitting location for Seaford scouts to celebrate 100 years of their organisation. Today, there are four scout troops in Seaford which is part of the Seahaven area. There are also active groups for younger and older children, male and female. The scouts of today are more likely to go quad-biking, abseiling or go-karting rather than tying knots but still uphold the ideals of their founder.

If you are interested in the local scouting movement, see the website www.eastsussexscouts.org.uk or contact Seahaven District Commissioner, Ian Edmed on 01273 585264.

KEVIN GORDON