Information and pictures of organisations, clubs and societies in Warminster.
The Wiltshire And Swindon History Centre, at Cocklebury Road, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 3QN, holds the following document(s):
1954, tenancy agreement concerning the occupation of two huts at Weymouth Street, Warminster, formerly used by the Y.M.C.A., by the Joint Social Club of No. 27 Command Workshop R.E.M.E. of Warminster.
Reference: 2821/104
SCOUTING IN WARMINSTER
Information from a Scouting Programme of 1953:
A troop was formed in Warminster when scouting was only in its infancy, to be precise in 1909, and the troop was the 1st Warminster. It is in the headquarters [the Greenland Hut at Weymouth Street] of this troop, which remained active until 1945 with the exception of a few short periods, that meetings are held. The Hut was erected in 1931, mainly due to the efforts of Mr. W. A. Greenland (sometime Scout Master and District Commissioner) and it was opened by the late Marquis of Bath.
A second group was formed in 1927 by the Rev. H. Wake. Known as the 1st Boreham (St. John’s) Troop, they were presented in 1931 with a grand headquarters [at Boreham Road] by Major and Mrs. O. Teichman in memory of their son Hugo. The St. John’s Troop carried on until the beginning of the Second World War, when, due to a lack of Scouters, disbandment was necessary. The Memorial Room was used for a short period by the Senior Scout section of the present Warminster Group in 1949/1950.
Yet another troop was formed in 1930, the 2nd Warminster (Minster) Troop. During the War this troop was kept going through help given by an American scouter, other adults including the Rev. Large, H. Brown Esq., and the efforts of the Scouts themselves, with Miss H. Marshman acting as Lady Scoutmaster, always ready in the background with helpful guidance.
The end of World War Two saw the return of ex-scouters to the district: Messrs. Houlton, Barber and Culverhouse of the 1st Warminster, and D. Wyer of the St. John’s. Mr. L. G. Turpin, an ex-sea scouter from Plymouth and L. Marchant were also in the town and ready to help. Building on the Minster Troop as the best surviving from the War years and a strong Cub Pack under the leadership of our present Akela, Miss J. W. Goodman, these scouters by an amalgamation of the three town troops formed the present group.
With the many “ups and downs” experienced since the War it will probably be of more interest to re-examine the history in greater detail than hitherto. In 1947 we started with seven Scouters, including one Lady Cubmaster. The group prospered and in 1948 the Summer Camp was held at Osmington Mills, near Weymouth, with six Scouters present. Because of the prohibitive costs of transport the Summer Camp of 1949 was held closer to hand at Hunstrete but with only three Scouters. Later in the year, however, we saw the arrival of the Rev. Norton, who formed a Rover Crew and was a great help to scouting in the town during his stay. With the Channel Islands as the venue, 1950 saw the first and only Rover Scout Camp. The Group Camp was held at Ladram Bay, near Sidmouth. The Seniors cycled and stayed an extra night before returning. The shortage of scouters persisted.
We now come to the darkest hour of scouting in Warminster since the War. The Summer Camp of 1951 was held at Eype, under the worst possible weather conditions, with only two Scouters helping. Later in the year the number of male Scouters was reduced to one! This was the year of the World Jamboree, which was attended by the Troop’s first post-War King’s Scout John Blagden. It was only due to the efforts of St. Boniface College Rover J. Presswell that the Troop survived.
Practically a new start was made in 1952, with Mr. A. Tracey as A.S.M., assisted by A.C.M. J. Blagden. The Summer Camp was held at Iford, in perfect weather, and was a great success. Senior Scouts were present, under S.M. R. Turpin, and also present was an ex-Scouter, J. Hunter, the local Youth Service Officer. Further highlights of 1952 were the combined Guide & Scout Fete held in the grounds of St. Boniface College in the summer, and a visit to London to see the Gang Show at the Golders Green Hippodrome. The P. L.’s saw the old year out with a night hike and the new year in with a “Bun Fight”, afterwards sleeping in the Scout Hut.
The record of 1952 would not be complete without mentioning the visit of H.R.H. Princess Margaret to the combined Scout & Guide Rally at Bowood. Several members of the group were camping with the district contingent and the Troop Flag was carried by Senior P.L.R. Middlebrook. At this function the whole pack was present and they were represented in the Guard of Honour by Leaping Wolf B. Airey.
In October the A. G. M. of the Group was held. The main theme throughout the evening was the shortage of Scouters. This was mentioned by the Chairman, Mr. Goodman, in his opening remarks and was further commented on by A.C.M. J. Blagden, who gave the Group report. The new District Commissioner, Col. J. Reed, introduced himself and added an appeal for men to adopt shorts like himself in the cause of scouting. This appeal was answered by Mr. H. G. House later in the evening, an old Scouter of the St. John’s Group, and Mr. A. Shilling, an ex-Scouter from London. It was decided that they should take out Warrants as G.S.M. and S.M. respectively.
1953 has been a year full of special events. A social in January was held for Senior Scouts to which were invited: Scouters, ex-Scouts, people interested in scouting and the local Guides. Later in the week a party and social was held for the whole Group. Two very enjoyable occasions. Organised by the Warminster Senior Scouts and opened by Mr. F. V. Cowie, the I. H. Q. Commissioner for Senior Scouts, the Wiltshire Senioree was held at Rushpool over Easter. Parents’ Evening, Coronation Events and training camps are such recent events to need no further comment but will take place in history in due time.
From the West Wilts Directory, 1951:
Warminster. (List of Trades Council And Trade Unions). Warminster And District Trades Council. Chairman, Mr. A.F. Sollars, 26 Sambourne Road. Secretary, Mr. H.A. Jones, 14 Fore Street.
1951
N.S.P.C.C. Local Committee, Warminster.
President: Mrs. Teichman.
Chairman: Mrs. V.J. Robinson.
Secretary: Mrs, Main, 11 Boreham Road, Warminster.
7th March 1931
Contrary to what some people think, the Scouts didn’t acquire the land near the south west corner of the Lake Pleasure Grounds (Town Park), where the Greenland Hut was erected. The land belonged to Warminster Urban District Council who gave permission for the hut to be built there.
The hut was not second-hand. It was built by Messrs Holdoway of Westbury, who submitted a much lower tender than any other of the local tenders received for the work. The cost was £300.
The specifications included “An excellent floor will be laid so that dances in aid of Scout funds can be periodically held there, and also other entertainments staged.” The money was loaned upfront to pay the cost and the Scouts repaid it over a long period by holding dances, whist drives and other events.
Lord Bath officially opened the hut on Saturday 7th March 1931. That evening a whist drive was held in the hut to raise funds towards the building costs.
The hut was to measure 60ft by 24ft (some reports say 60ft by 20ft) and was to be able to seat 300 persons at events and to store the equipment and gym items of the Scouts. It was lit by electric and heated by gas.
The previous scout hut at Woodcock (where Robin Close was built much later) had been in use about seven years and had been the initiative of W. A Greenland, who had in turn been a scout, scoutmaster and district commissioner. The new hut at Weymouth Street was named the Greenland Hut after him, “whose energy was due not only to the maintenance of interest in scouting in Warminster but also to the formation of other troops in the neighbourhood. In recognition of all he has done in this direction, it is proposed to name the new hut The Greenland Hut.”
Mr Greenland had already left Warminster before the hut was built, and he was unable to attend the opening ceremony.
From The Wiltshire Times, Saturday 5th April 1924:
Wiltshire Working Men’s.
The 37th annual meeting of the Wiltshire Working Men’s Conservative Benefit Society was held on Saturday. The year had been one of remarkable progress, the total membership having increased by 4,693. The number of sick cases reported was 5,075, as against 5,378 the previous year. The amount disbursed in sick pay had decreased from £13,894 8s. 6d. to £13,503 17s.
From The Wiltshire Times, Saturday 10th August 1912:
Warminster. Scouts’ Camp Equipped With Wireless.
Fifty Boy Scouts of Warminster and Westbury, in charge of Scoutmasters T.F. Fox and G.G. Hoare, are in camp in a field at Boreham. They had a rather damp experience, with heavy rain, for the first three days . . . . . . Their camp is equipped with wireless telegraphy, by which they have been able to communicate with a Scouts’ camp at Freshford.
From The Wiltshire Times, Saturday 12th March 1910:
Boy Scouts. General Baden-Powell Visits Wiltshire.
The Chief Scout, Lieut.-General Sir R.S. Baden Powell, the hero of Mafeking, attended a rally of the Mid-Wilts Boy Scouts at the Corn Exchange, Devizes, on Wednesday. Scouts had gathered from all parts of the county – including Seend, Warminster, Codford, Trowbridge, Bradford, Corsham, Chippenham, and Longleat. A bugle call by Scout Moore, of Trowbridge, was the signal for the troops to form up for inspection, after which came a series of demonstrations, including First Aid by the Trowbridge Scouts and hut-building by those from Seend.
Fine but dull weather on Wednesday 22nd September 1897 heralded the Review and Sports of the Church Lads’ Brigade, when companies from Warminster, Salisbury, Alderbury and Calne assembled at the Sheep Fair Field, near Warminster Station, prior to marching to Christ Church. The muster of 200 smart lads (the Salisbury contingent carried toy muskets) attracted considerable attention as they marched, headed by the Warminster Volunteer Band (led by Sergeant-Instructor Daly) and the Bugle Band.
As the lads entered Christ Church the Choir sang Onward Christian Soldiers. Rev. W. Hickman took the service and the lesson was read by Rev. R.L.A. Westlake. The new Vicar of Warminster, the Rev. H.R. Whytehead, gave the address, which was followed by the hymn Fight The Good Fight.
After the National Anthem the battalion marched to the field adjoining Christ Church Vicarage, where a review and an inspection took place. The officers on parade were Captains J.C. Coleman, W.J. Tanswell, Freestone, Smith, A.J. Douglas, Warren and Beazley; Lieutenants J. Bartlett, G. Ewen, E.L. Spencer, W.G. Burroughs, Kellow, Pearce, and Adams.
Under the command of Captain Wakeman the lads were put through several movements prior to inspection by Lord Bath. After the march past Lord Bath addressed them. He congratulated them on their turn-out and the excellent way they had marched past. He reminded them that to keep the mind healthy they must keep the body healthy. He hoped they would bear in mind, for the future, the lessons and principles they were now being taught.
After the lads were dismissed, the sports were held. In the physical drill competition (with guns), St. Thomas’s, Salisbury, won the first prize of six shillings. Warminster, led by Lieutenant Spencer, won the second prize of three shillings. There were two competitors in the bugle competition. This was won by bugler Arthur of Warminster. Bandsman S. Day was the other entrant. The six-a-side football tournament was won by St. Thomas’s, Salisbury, who beat the Christ Church A team, by 9 goals to 1. Because time was running out, only three out of the six arranged races were held. In the 100 yards flat race (for under 15s), 1st prize (3 shillings) was awarded to W. Vallis of Warminster, and the second prize (2 shillings) was won by W. Cassey of Salisbury. In the 200 yards flat race (again for under 15s) W. Vallis was the victor once more, and W. Hampton was the runner-up. In the 300 yards flat race, C. Tebbs was the winner and W. Vallis was the runner-up. In the final of the tug-of-war tournament, St. Martin’s, Salisbury overpowered the Warminster A team. Tea was then served at Sambourne School. At 6.45 p.m. the lads paraded for a tattoo, followed by a torchlight procession down Weymouth Street and through the town to the Station; the streets being lined with spectators.
Danny Howell writes:
The Christ Church Singing Class, at Warminster, was inaugurated during the autumn of 1891, with “the dual object of providing a pleasant and profitable way of spending the winter evenings and at the same time improving the musical tastes and affording a healthy recreation for the young of the town, especially of the Common.” The Rev. H.A. Hickin undertook the arduous duties of conducting, Miss Luke kindly consented to act as accompanist, and several musical friends of the parish came forward to assist in starting the classes. To enable youngsters from all walks of life to avail themselves of the opportunity, no fees were charged and the sheet music was sold to members at a reduced rate. As was anticipated and hoped, many young people who had not had the privilege of learning music during their schooldays were induced to join. To particularly assist these the first half-hour of each practice was devoted to the teaching of music theory.
The first public performance of the class was a rendition of J. Farmer’s oratorio, Christ And His Soldiers, with a full orchestra, at Christ Church on the evening of 19th January 1892. As a mark of respect to the memory of the Duke of Clarence, who had recently passed away, the oratorio was preceded by a solemn performance of Handel’s Dead March in Saul. A large congregation enjoyed the entire performance, which lasted for upwards of two hours, but a collection made afterwards was rather small considering how many attended – four pounds, twelve shillings, two and a half pence.
One reviewer noted “The whole of the proceedings passed off without a hitch and much of the success of the performance was due to the valuable assistance rendered by the orchestra, under the leadership of Dr. Alcock, whose name is sufficient guarantee for the efficiency of the band. Considering, therefore, the material of what the class was chiefly composed, and that with two exceptions the orchestra was purely local, it must be admitted that the rendering of the piece was highly creditable to the town and the promoters. The prevailing epidemic had somewhat thinned the ranks of the performers, who numbered rather under a hundred, and many of these were suffering from colds. The oratorio has been significantly described as a Messiah for the young, but though it is not so superbly grand as Handel’s masterpiece, still, with a full orchestra, the effect produced is grand. The class, therefore, was particularly happy in the selection of such a work for their first performance, especially when it is remembered, the object it has in view, and the manner in which the piece was rendered on Tuesday speaks volumes for the careful and painstaking tuition imparted by the conductor, the Rev. H.A. Hickin.”
The programme for Christ And His Soldiers, as performed at Christ Church on 19th January 1892, is reproduced below:
