The First Jamboree in Arrowe Park in 1929
must have sparked off more than a few coughs and colds, it also sparked off a
burgeoning of Scouting throughout the World. Birkenhead YMCA, the first Troop
ever formed, was the yeast so far as West Cheshire was concerned, and shortly
after the Final Ceremony at the Jamboree, one "B.P.'s Arrows" fell on the tiny
rural village of Frankby, and so it was that on the 14th October, 1929, 1st
Frankby was born. The Roydens were potentially interested in the "Scouts", and
also in the "Guides". Their most useful piece of benevolence was the gift of
the Scout Field at Frankby, which was given to the Group as a football field
and has never been out of use since.
Some of the earliest Scouters of the Group include - 1934 G.S.M. A.R.Friend,
C.S.M. J.Howard, 1935 G.S.M. J.Howard, C.S.M. T.Hurd, 1938 A.S.M. F.Rose and
C.S.M. Miss N.E. Simpkins.
The Group had as many as forty members, which was high for a Group in those
days, and astronomic for a small village group. The Second World War was to take
its toll and the Group was very small at the end in 1945, and it was decided to
amalgamate with 1st Greasby in May, 1946. The history of 1st Greasby is another
story.
1st Frankby Scout Group was a "Sponsored Open" Group, affiliated to St. Johns
Church, Frankby. Hence we celebrate Rememberance Sunday here every year.
As we have had a 100 years of Scoutng World Wide and West Wirral Centenary this
year. So we will be Celebrating our 80th Birthday next year.
Frankby Village 1950's
Frankby Village 1990's
West Wirral Horn
West Wirral District Badge
Actual Wirral Horn 900 years old!!
The first time any history was documented of The Wirral Horn appears in a local illustration book I found in the library.
Dated from early last century it has a full history of the Horn up until then. It says-
"This is the first time an accurate representation of the Wirral Horn appears, for the drawings hitherto reproduced are all
more less inaccurate. It is now photgraphed by permission of its present owner, Viscount Errington, the eldest son of the earl
of cromer." (The horn is now owned, by the 4th Earl of Cromer).
"In the year 1120, Randal de Meschines, Earl of Chester, created Alan Sylvester Chief Forester of the Forest of Wirral, and one of
the conditions was that he blew, or caused to be blown, a horn, at the Gloverstone in Chester, on the morning of every fair day,
to indicate that the tolls on al goods sold in the city, or within sound of the horn, belonged to the Earl and his Tenants."
"The recent history of the horn is as follows: on the death of Sir Thomas Stanley, which happened early last century, it passed
into the possession of his son, Rowland, who changed his name to Errington on succeeding to the Estates of the Errington Family.
The Earl of Cromer married Sir Rowland Errington's second daughter. On Sir Rowland Errington's death, the stanley baronetcy, together with the horn,
passed to his brother, Sir John Stanley, who under the original Errington will took the name of Errington. Sir John Errington died some ten years ago,
and the horn passed into the possession of his widow. On her death the horn was left to the Earl of Cromer's eldest son, Viscount Errington,
who, together with his younger brother, Windham Baring, are now the only representatives of the branch of the stanley family from whom the horn
descended."
The horn was recently displayed at the Wirral Museum (see photo above) but has since been returned to its permanent home at the earls ancestral seat in Drayton, Somerset.
This picture was taken at the Overchurch field camp site in front of an old log cabin built by West Wirral. It shows a Group of Leaders after working on their Woodbadge.
Middle row, second in from right is Arthur McNamara who was involed with 1st FG from 1956 to 1968.
Bottom row, second in from right is Rodger also involved with 1st FG. Do you know anything more about this person?
A big thankyou to Arthurs daughter Hilary for letting us use this picture. Arthur has since emigrated to South Africa where he now lives with his family.
![[1st Frankby Greasby Name Tag]](1stfgbadgeedit.JPG)
