World-wide link in Scout Centenary ceremony

Linking the local members gathered in summer sunshine on the De La Warr Pavilion lawn was a length of string.

Linking them with counterparts in all but five of the world's countries were both a worldwide ethos and a 100-year tradition.

This is the centenary of Scouting. To mark 100 years of the realisation of the dream by Lord Baden-Powell to offer young people both adventure and training for life, members across the world were joining in a "sunrise ceremony."

For practical purposes, Wednesday's Bexhill ceremony took place at 8am and the sun had long begun to ascend the sky. It was of no importance. Out of a wet and dismal season had come the perfect summer's morning.

Present with their leaders were members of the 2nd, 3rd and 9th Bexhill Groups and the Little Common Group plus Ninfield, Battle, Robertsbridge and Burwash and Etchingham groups.

Master of ceremonies was Peter Clark, Assistant District Commissioner for Cubs.

As the uniformed members and their leaders formed a huge circle (more an oval really) symbolising the globe, he explained that Scouting linked 216 countries and associated territories with 28 million active members.

The Centenary was being celebrated on a world-wide scale. In addition to the international jamboree at Hylands Park in Essex at which it was represented, Sussex was celebrating through its Martlets camp at Laughton, which he had visited the previous day.

In addition to the huge loop of string linking those attending the sunrise ceremony, each member had a small length. The loop represented the world, Peter Clark explained; the short lengths the individual members

Together, the assembly repeated the Scout Promise: On my honour, I promise to do my best, to do my duty to God and the Queen, to help other people and to keep the Scout Law.

Afterwards, Peter Clark said: "I am pleased with the turn-out, especially as a lot of leaders have taken time off work to be here.

"The Centenary is a very important thing for Scouting. It is a point where we can not only look back at the past but into the future."