TESTWOOD’S long-awaited new Scout headquarters was opened on Saturday by Hampshire County Scout Commissioner, Mr. John Derben.
Fund raising for the impressive HQ began back in 1966 and since then £8,000 of the £26,000 cost has been raised by local Scouts and Guides. The rest came from grants.
The HQ in Blackwater Drive, Calmore, is for the 23rd Romsey (Testwood) Scouts and 2nd Testwood Guides and their Cub and Brownie packs. About 200 boys and girls will use it.
Much of the work to transform the shell into a finished HQ was carried out by parents and friends and now it has a 70ft long meeting hall, office, kitchen, store-room and toilets.
“Thanks”
County Commissioner Mr. Derben presented awards to Scout parents who had worked for the building. A Medal of Merit for 12 years fund-raising went to Mr. Roy Linbrick, 23rd Romsey Scouts’ honorary secretary, and Mr. Stan Bundy, Mr. Bert Barter, Mr. Bob Wallace, Mr. Dave Brann and Mr. Dave Bush all received Thanks Badges for their efforts.
A picture in memory of Mrs. Jill Bush, a Guide company leader who died recently, was fixed to a wall by Guide Divisional Commissioner Miss M. Dixon.
The cutting shown on the right and the above text was originally published in the Southern Evening Echo on the 23 October 1978. This text remains the Copyright of the Southern Evening Echo.