Jordanstown Cubs scouts guides

After school activities included Cubs, Scouts, Guides and Brownies under the 2nd Jordanstown Group. Brownies and Girl Guides were taken by Elizabeth (Elsie) Coyne, Ruth Donaldson and Irene Archer. All youth organisations met in the Gymnasium.

Guide leader Elsie Coyne makes the final adjustments to uniforms
prior to the inspection in 1967 by HRH Princess Margaret.
We think the first Guide is Margaret Graham.
Photo taken from "1st June 1967 issue of "CityWEEK".

Restricted to Boarding pupils the Cubs and Scouts were taken by Messrs McLaughlin and Johnston. The scarf colours were half Green half grey.

(above) The green and grey scarf worn by Cubs and Scouts.

The Packs were quite large and open to both VH and Deaf. They took part in camps especially the annual District Camp held at Crawfordsburn in County Down. I know cause I met them there when I was attending the camp with my own group.

Notable was that although the same badges were available to members with disabilities it was possible to have special provision made so all could achieve. I recall some Scouts from the school Troop asking about the "journey" section of the Scout Standard and Advanced Scout Standard awards.

Another difference was in the Cub opening and closing ceremonies. Any Pack I visited using the traditional methods said "Dib Dib Dib" And "Dob Dob Dob" Whereas the Jordanstown Pack repeated the word FOUR times i.e. "Dib Dib Dib Dib" and "Dob Dob Dob Dob". I never managed to get an explanation for this.

I know these things as I did board for a few months when I first started Jordanstown and was a member of the school Pack.

Youth groups were encouraged within "day" pupils and a few joined local organisations. Margaret Clarke in March 1968 was presented with the first Braille Guide Handbook (see photograph below).

(above) Black and White Photograph showing Margaret Clarke being
presented with the first Braille Guide Handbook by Lady Erskine

While a member of the Jordanstown Cub Pack Peter Leach was photographed on 27th October 1962 with the then Chief Scout Sir Charles McLean. The Chief was visiting to open the new Scout HQ in May Street Belfast but met with a selection of disabled Cubs and Scouts in Glenravel Street Belfast.

(above) Black and white photograph showing Peter Leach
as a Cub with Sir charles McLean the Chief Scout.
Photograph appeared in "Belfast Telegraph"

The photograph appeared in the Belfast Telegraph" on the front page with the heading "Peter's Knot Pleases". This photograph later appeared on the front cover of a history of Scouting in N. Ireland although the book made no reference to the Cub or the Pack he belonged to. Book produced in 1985.

Cover History of Scouting N.I. with Peter and McLean bottom left

The cover of book "History of Scouting in Northern Ireland
Sir charles McLean the Chief Scout pictured with Cub Peter Leach.
is bottom left of the cover

He was a long standing member of 1st Greenisland Pack and Troop eventually attaining Advanced Leader Training in Venture Scouting and becoming leader of Round Tower Unit in Antrim. He also was on the magazine team during the first Northern Ireland Jamboree "Lakeland '81".

Others including Stephen Spiers also joined outside Troops and had successful careers.


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YOUTH ORGANISATIONS