A Centenary of Scouting at Cathedral

To mark the centenary of the Cub Scouts and Scouting, a special service will take place later in the month at St Columb's Cathedral.
By The Newsroom
Published 3rd Jun 2016, 15:39 BST
Updated 3rd Jun 2016, 16:42 BST
A photograph of Newbuildings Cub Scouts taken in 1992A photograph of Newbuildings Cub Scouts taken in 1992
A photograph of Newbuildings Cub Scouts taken in 1992

In addition, there will be an activity day and a tree planting is also planned.

It is believed that the first Wolf Cub Pack in Londonderry was formed by the Scout Leader of St Augustine’s troop in 1916. The Scout troop was formed in 1908 with Mr AA Algeo as leader.

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Many other Wolf Cub Packs followed and to this day Cub Scouts are the strongest section of the movement in Londonderry.

St Augustine's Cubs winners of the Patterson Shield.St Augustine's Cubs winners of the Patterson Shield.
St Augustine's Cubs winners of the Patterson Shield.

The programme of celebratory events will get under way with a Service of Thanksgiving which will be held in St Columb’s Cathedral on Sunday, June 12, at 3pm to which everyone is invited.

The preacher will be the Venerable Robert Miller, Archdeacon of Derry.

Other events include an activity day at Carrowmela, and a commemorative tree planting in St Columb’s Park, the dates for which have yet to be announced.

This year, 2016, marks the 100th year of Cub Scouting.

The members of St. Peter's Cub Scouts in the 1980s.The members of St. Peter's Cub Scouts in the 1980s.
The members of St. Peter's Cub Scouts in the 1980s.
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Since it was officially founded by Baden-Powell in 1916 (then known as Wolf Cubbing), generations of young people have signed up. In January 1914 a pilot programme for younger boys named ‘Wolf Cubs or Junior Scouts’ was launched and 12 months later the section was 10,000 strong.

After a two-year trial it was time to decide what to do with the Wolf Cubs. Many of the skills the early Wolf cubs were taught are still on the programme today, including First Aid and helping around the home.