The Origins of Friary Disco!
The Origins of Friary Disco!
1966 and the Advanced Party Report (Scout Association Strategic Review) saw the beginning of major changes in the Scout Movement perhaps remembered by most as the time when Scouts stopped wearing shorts (we all had long trousers for the first time when Friary went to Denmark in the summer of 1968). However, by far the most dramatic changes were the increase in the age range of Scouts from 11 to 14yrs, to 11 to 16yrs and the creation of Venture Scouts for those age 16 to 20 yrs. Senior Scouts and Rover Scouts were abolished.
It followed that the role of Patrol Leaders would be enhanced as 15- and 16-year olds with increased maturity would not only be capable of more but would be expected to assume a greater role in the training of the younger members of their patrols. Numbers in Troops would in time inevitably increase and so a more varied and challenging programme would be required.
As a consequence, the West Bridgford Scout Association ran District Patrol Leader Training weekends largely run by Bob & Charlie, in the spring of 1969 and 1970 based at Markfield in Leicestershire. Friary Patrol Leaders Kevin Hanbury (Beavers), Derick Ferguson (Eagles), Trevor Hoskins (Squirrels) and Bob Douglas (Wolves) attended both and benefitted from inspirational training in night navigation, survival, man management and team building skills amongst others. Moreover, they had the opportunity to meet with Patrol Leaders from most other Troops in West Bridgford and form bonds which were to have far reaching consequences. Entirely at their own initiative they formed in 1969 the first ever District Patrol Leaders Council (Chaired by Derick), Secretary Bob Douglas, which quickly introduced regular activity evenings for all Scouts in the District, a District Newsletter (Edited by John Beresford (5th WB), and established a West Bridgford Scout & Boys Brigade Football League (coordinated by Bob Douglas and Terry Laws (1st Edwalton).
In the autumn of 1970 the District Patrol Leaders Council ‘morphed’ into a wider reaching body to be known as ‘AIMS’ (Action, Interest, Movement in Scouting) and continued with the same broad objectives of being the voice of young people in the District, but by now realised that some funds would be needed to develop the scope of activity. At this time the Chairman was Derick Ferguson, Vice Chairman Andy Slapp (1st lady Bay),Secretary John Beresford (5th WB) and Treasurer Bob Douglas (3rd WB). Andy Slapp was also a member of the WB Baptist Church Youth Club and had become a DJ for their occasional disco’s and so in discussion over fundraising ideas an obvious conclusion was to try the same! It was decided that the West Park Pavilion on Loughborough Road would be our venue of choice as we wanted to reach the widest possible audience and not be hampered by any stigma surrounding church or scouts and so with hand drawn posters, focused on the two secondary schools and word of mouth our first ever fund raising disco aimed at under 16 year olds was run in West Bridgford!
It proved sufficiently successful to raise ample funds to secure ‘AIMS’ modest spending requirements for some considerable time ensuring that its objectives continued to be met and to gain the recognition of the District Commissioner at the time, Tony Lawford, who encouragingly embraced the concept of a voice for young people.
By September 1970 the anticipated growth in numbers triggered by the aforementioned changes came to fruition at Friary with the creation of Fox & Kestrel Patrols taking the numbers in the Troop to six Patrols of eight meaning the Troop was now 48 in total. At around the same time the Cub Pack had grown to six sixes (often of seven Cubs!) and the Venture Scout Unit numbered around twelve meaning the total Group strength was in excess of 100 for the first time. (Ultimately in 1984 the Troop numbers would peak at six patrols of nine – total 54).
At meetings of the Friary Scout Group Council during 1972 in recognition of the significant growth in numbers in the Group and the constraints of the present arrangement with Friary Church it was agreed, following a feasibility study to launch an appeal for funds to provide the Group with ‘bigger and better’ accommodation with a view to aiding the continued and improved training of our Scouts in becoming ‘first class and better citizens’. Spearheading the entire project was Alan Raine (former District Commissioner and father of John, at that time a Cub) supported by Geoff Collins (recent Venture Scout Leader) leading on Fundraising ) and Derick Ferguson (Venture Executive Chairman) leading on Function & Design.
At an early stage the Venture Scout Unit offered its services in support of Fundraising with the intention that it would pick up where ‘AIMS’ had left off by once more operating Disco’s at the West Park Pavilion. And so, 1972 saw the beginning of regular (usually the first Saturday of each month) disco’s using hired equipment from the Baptist Youth Club, until in mid ’73 it was decided (after a double booking of the equipment) that we would acquire our own equipment. In fact, thanks to the prodigious technical skills of Paul Taylor (Asst Venture Scout Leader) with support from Tony Everington, Venture Scout Leader, the Unit with much camaraderie undertook the building of this equipment as a late summer project to be ready by Autumn of that year! The record deck was built of wood partly covered in black vynil, with enormous speakers (normal at that time) measuring approximately 5ft high by 3ft wide and 18inches deep and lighting units as professional as any of that day ingeniously providing an infinite variety of light pattern courtesy of the control unit from an automatic washing machine! Much debate followed as to what ‘our’ disco should be called with eventually the imaginative ‘Kaleidrophonic Eye’- reflecting both music and sound being chosen!
As might be expected there was no shortage of Venture Scouts who wanted to hone their skills as DJ’s – some of the first being Ian Torr, Robert Robinson, Alan Siddons, Graham Lees, Rob Dakin and girls (Cub Leaders) Gill Taylor and Hilary Crown. Parents assisted with manning the door and taking the monies, a cloakroom and cafe were run and teams of ventures kept an eye on safety & security both inside and out. Timing can be everything in life and these events soon became extremely popular and frankly transformed Saturday nights in Bridgford for hundreds of young teenagers throughout the 1970’s and into the ‘80’s and we led that revolution! In addition, of course they raised a sizeable amount of money for the new Headquarters Fund – estimated in the region of £10,000, which was a massive amount at that time.
In addition, the Unit undertook private engagements most of which were extremely enjoyable events generating yet further income which was used to subsidise activities and expeditions. This Private Hire activity continued throughout the seventies, eighties and nineties as a bedrock of Venture Scout activity with variously upgraded equipment and subsequent generations of DJ’s and technicians and only came to an end post the millennium when after another strategic review the Scout Association abolished Venture Scouts!
