About 1st Holt
The first record of the 1st Holt is of a Scout Troop being formed and registered in the autumn of 1912 just five years after our founder, Lord Robert Baden-Powell's, Demonstration camp, held for 20 boys on Brownsea Island, just off of the south coast in Poole Harbour, Dorset. The Group's address is shown as 'Lion House', High Street, Holt.
In October 1919, the Group is shown as having 3 warranted officers. The Honorary Chaplain was Rev. H.A. King of Holt Rectory; the Scoutmaster was Mr. H.W. Moulton of Lion House, and the Assistant Scoutmaster was Mr. R.C. Byford of Shirehall Plain, Holt. There were also 35 'Active' Scouts registered.
By 1923 it is recorded that the Scoutmaster was a Mr. R. C. Mayes, the assistant scoutmaster was Mr. A. Bell. The Cub Mistress was Miss Hales. the Assistant Cub Mistress' details are not legible. There were 10 Scouts, and 11 Wolf Cubs registered.
In 1927 Mr. Byford was the SM.
in 1928 our registration changed because we became a Scout Group with the formation of our own Wolf Cub pack led by Cub Mistress Miss M.A.J. Hales.
In 1929 Miss Hales was awarded her Cub Wood Badge to show that she had completed her Leader Training. Two years later in 1931 the Group had grown and the records show that there were 5 Officers, 25 Wolf Cubs and 14 Scouts and that the Assistant Cub Mistress, a Miss Westcott was also awarded her Cub Wood Badge.
Leaders came and went and nothing much happened until 1948 when it was noted that Miss Hales was now the Assistant District Commissioner Wolf Cubs. Then in 1953 we were located at Hill House, New Street, Holt, and in 1955 it is recorded that the Group Neckerchief was red with a yellow border.
In the 1945 the North Norfolk Scout District was formed and in 1946 it is recorded that there were three groups in Holt, they were located at Gresham's School (reg. no. 10768); Kelling sanitorium (reg. no. 11030) and 1st Holt (reg. no. 7398) all of which are noted as being 'dormant'
in 1948 the Group is registered (reg. No. 25891) with its headquarters at the 'Methodist Youth Centre', New Street, Holt with three Scouters, 7 Wolf Cubs and 10 Scouts.
1n 1958 we were able to purchase the land and buildings at 26, Cley Road, Holt and we now had our own Headquarters, although on the paperwork it is stated that the buildings were 'derelict'.
in 1968 as a result of the 'Advance Party Report'
In 1975 there was another reorganisation, and we were
registered in the North Norfolk District. In 1995 the Section meetings are recorded
as being Beavers - Friday, Cubs - Wednesday and Scouts - Thursdays.
2006 - 2007 The Group's new Headquarters building was started and built despite many problems and setbacks
2009 the new HQ Building was officially opened. and the Scout troop was officially re-opened and ended the year with 17 invested Scouts.
2012 was the Group's centenary and to celebrate they were the organisers of the District St. George's Day Parade, which was a huge success.
In 2015 15 Scouts from 1st Holt formed the 'Invictus Explorer Scout Unit' in partnership with the 1st Holt Scout Group, their Explorer Scout Leader was Mr Owen Liberman, also from 1st Holt.
In 2019, due to a lack of new members, the Invictus Explorer Scout Unit was temporarily closed.
2023 - In January, at the request of the County Commissioner, the Group Executive Committee of 1st Holt took on the governance of the 1st Melton Magna Scout Group, which met at Briston. This was because they did not have a functioning Executive Committee and would have to close otherwise. to facilitate this the group, the meeting place of which was within the District Boundary (Briston Village) was moved, on teh 14th April 2023, from the Central Norfolk District to the North East Norfolk District.
On the 11th April 2023, to comply with the Scout Association's requirements; the 1st Melton Magna Scout Group held their AGM, at the 1st Holt Scout HQ; during which the Group Executive of the 1st Holt Scout Group took on the responsibility of the governance of 1st Melton Magna until they could appoint one of their own.
At the end of the July term due to one of the two leaders deciding to move on from the 1st Melton Magna Scout Troop, it was decided to combine the two groups and to begin meeting together at the 1st Holt Scout HQ when we resumed in September. this arrangement worked well until December when the remaining Melton Magna Leader decided that due to other commitments he could no longer continue attending Troop nights. When meetings resumed in January 2024 the Troop met as teh 1st Holt Scout Troop with all scouts wearing teh 1st Holt necker.
In 2024 after negotiations with the Acting County Commissioner Paul Bean, permission was given to reopen the Invictus Explorer Unit as a District Unit rather than as a stand alone 1st Holt Section. The first meeting of the new Unit took place on Thursday 13th September
Group Registrations
1919 - Scout Troop Reg. No. 3654
1928 - Scout Group Reg No. 7398
1975 - North Norfolk district Reg No 25891
2003 - North East Norfolk District Reg No 10012384