The Seventies and Golden Jubilee Celebrations.

The main innovation of the seventies was the formation of the Scout Band.  This was a project which had been mooted for many years, but at last, under the leadership of Dave Mattison (Matt) it was finally born and on 7^th March 1976 it made its first public appearance. 

Times had changed, social attitudes were different from those in 1926, the demands on a boy’s time and the pressures emanating from school increased.  The Group Landrover replaced the trek-cart, weekends once spent at Apenshaw were then spent in the Group’s own hut at Mellor, annual camps were predominantly training camps – gone were the days when, for most boys, camp would be the only holiday away from home.  Calor gas superseded primus and tilley and life without a family car was almost unknown.

The support of parents and friends was, as ever, of prime importance and the Group endeavoured to involve as many as possible in social events.  The Annual General Meeting was held in conjunction with a hot-pot supper and as the business side was limited to twenty minutes, it was well supported.  In 1972 the lay support was increased with the formation of a Supporters’ Association which took on its shoulders the task of raising funds and in days of rising costs, its efforts were invaluable.  Looking back through the records, the Group had always been able to stage shows and concerts – “The Elixir of Youth” 1931, Gang Show 1947, “John Bunyon” 1964 etc and it was no different in the seventies.  The “Pantomime” – “Aladdin inChina” was the Jubilee Show that year and was the most ambitious to date.

The Golden Jubilee celebrations were excellent – starting on Friday and Saturday19^th and 20^th March with the pantomime “Aladdin in China”, followed by Cub Open Night on the Monday, Scout and Venture Open Night on the Tuesday, a Buffet Dance at Stockport Town Hall to which all previous and present members of the Group were invited on the Friday, a Gang Show on the Saturday and on the Sunday a Thanksgiving Service and Parade.

The End of the 1970s

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