The Cornwall Memorial Window

Around 1947 a proposal was made that a fitting memorial to ‘Billie’
Redfern-Scout V.C would be a window in the Children’s Corner

His mother has made a substantial donation and the Guide and Scout
Movements said they would be pleased to co-operate.

When size and colours etc., had been sorted, it was decided that a correction of the original inscription would be made, and it finally read:-

“To the memory of William Gavin Redfern, Cornwell Scout, and
the young men of the 14th City Scout Group who made the
supreme sacrifice in the 1939-45 war. ”

The fund for this memorial stood at a healthy £91, and by the end of May,
1948, the window was completed and ready for fixing. Arrangements
were made for the window to be fitted in time for a special service held
on Sunday, 18th July, 1948 when the window was unveiled by Mr. Ronald
Copeland.

The Vicar at the time was the Rev. John L. Brown.

A quote from a letter by Mr. Kenneth Hulme, former Scout.

“Billy Redfern. Yes I did go to see him in hospital
I was just a Junior Scout and Mr. Stevenson took a group of us,
the entire troop, I think, and we held a Scout meeting by his (Billy’s)
side.
He was in an iron lung. It was possibly 1940.
Poor boy. I was too young to appreciate the situation.”

oo00oo

Basfords Green Necker

The first Scout groups were given single colour neckers different colours for each group.
As groups merged and new ones were created became the need for neckers with
multiple colours. Basford is one of the oldest groups in Newcastle being 2^nd
Newcastle and 14^th Stoke on Trent and Newcastle (Divisional number).

The group is getting on towards its 100 years of Scouting and we are very proud of
wearing the green scarf and the history of Basford Scouts.

In the 1930s, the numbers were given out then Basford became the 1st Basford (and
obviously only Basford!!), 2nd Newcastle (because there was a group at St
George’s registered slightly earlier but it closed in the late 1930s) 14th
Stoke on Trent and Newcastle (which was just a giving out of the numbers
throughout the Division) Porthill (I think but I’m not actually 100% sure) was
given the 1st Division number so I think they were 1st Porthill, 1st Burslem,
1st Stoke on trent and Newcastle.

BUT – there aren’t real records going back that far. The 1918 registration document
(i.e. pre the present numbers) has Newcastle (St George’s); Basford (St
Mark’s); Wolstanton (St Margaret’s); Brunswick; St Paul’s; St Patrick’s (RC);
Congregational; Alsager’s Bank; St Giles; Tittensor and Hanford Groups. – Of
which only Basford is still operational and never been closed.

Porthill has evidence which I am happy to accept of the existence of Porthill Scouts
only as far back as them playing football with scouts from Basford!!! At that
time young boys would get together with the “Scouting” publication –
So you are without doubt the longest serving group in Newcastle, the longest
operational group and probably just as able to claim to be the oldest as
Porthill.

Steve Broadhirst (ex Newcastle DC and Chairman of Basford Scout Group)