MEMORIES and recollections were evoked in Heavitree as the 2nd Exeter Scout Group opened its doors and welcomed visitors' contributions to rebuild and piece together the group's history.
The group marks its 95th anniversary next year, with event organiser Steven Frank citing Saturday's occasion as an opportunity "to move away from what can be an inward looking organisation".
The event came about after a clearance of the group's storage cupboards, where artifacts from a bygone era were found and placed on display.
The 2nd Exeter Scout Group is the largest in the district, with 135 young members and 26 volunteers. An expansive waiting list of budding members may also place them as one of the biggest in the county.
In attendance was Lord Mayor of Exeter, Councillor Rachel Lyons, cooks from the local Ghurkha restaurant as well as former leaders and members of the group.
Visiting the event was former Cub Scout Dominic Leaver, who was with the group during the 1980s and now has his son joining Beavers in January. Mr Leaver places the group's success down to the traditional activities that the organisation offers, with group camps, den building and the achieving of his Chief Scout award in 1986 being just some of the memories he told.
He was also quick to comment on the skills that he gained as a child: "Those who are successful in life have those social skills that are needed, and probably went through this organisation," he said.
It was also an important day for group scout leader Clare Hubbard, who was presented with flowers by the Lord Mayor to thank her for the contributions she had made to the group.
Clare began as a scout leader when she was just 16, continuing to join the local group whenever she moved saying it is "a good way to get to know people."
She names modernisation, the move to accept female members and heavy media coverage through new chief Scout Bear Grylls, as the reasons for the organisation's latest popularity rise.
The group is currently based in South Lawn Terrace in a hut that, according to Councillor Olwen Foggin, is an "important venue that is very well used".
The hut holds scouting activities four times a week as well as being home to a child-minders group and the Devon Real Nappy campaign. In the past, it has also held the local Sumba band and Alzheimer's café. However, the group may be facing relocation with Parklife Heavitree who plan to build an urban village hall in Heavitree Park as a replacement for the hut, which it deems as "unfit for purpose."
Despite the uncertainty in the group's future location, Mrs Hubbard predicts a "solidifying of the current situation" and cannot see an end to the group's increasing popularity.
