What happended to the 2nd Porty Scouts?

Charlie Turner · Post by **Charlie Turner** » 26 Dec 2007, 17:20

Good afternoon each and all

When I was a laddie, I was in the Cubs, Scouts and Venture Scouts at 2nd Portobello Sea Scout troop, at the Old Parish Church on Bellfield Street (though it was Melville Street then - or was it the other way round?).

Looking at the Edinburgh Scouts web-site recently, there was no mention of, or link to, the 2nd Porty Sea Scouts. Does this troop no longer exist? If not, what happened? Does anyone know?

Ta.

admin: moved to G&TT

kings roader · Post by **kings roader** » 26 Dec 2007, 23:52

Hello Charlie

Yeh the 2nd are no more Im afraid. Venture Scouts (which are now explorer scouts) folded a good few years back, and the scouts went a few years after.

The cubs did survive a bit longer but due to lack of leaders they had to pack in as well.

Scouting in Portobello is not in good shape, I was in the 9th Porty who were based at St Marks - just round from the 2nd - and we enjoyed a few nights of playing football, handball against the 2nds in the good old days.

3rds only have cubs and the 12ths at the royal high school are about to fold also

I had some great times in the scouts

teddygirl · Post by **teddygirl** » 27 Dec 2007, 12:14

Hi Charlie, my son went to the cubs and scouts at the Old Parish and went on to become a leader himself. Unfortunately it wasn't just a lack of leaders that forced them to fold, it was also a lack of boys joining. When he went I think they were lucky to have around six members. He moved on to help run a pack at Abbeyhill and again they used to have three or four boys turning up each week. He finally called it a day earlier this year due to other commitments so not sure if they are still running or not.
Fortunately the brownies and guides are still going strong.

Charlie Turner · Post by **Charlie Turner** » 28 Dec 2007, 22:33

Thanks all. That's sad news.

I know that the Scouts are often regarded as an anachronism in these times but I would never have experienced sailing, canoeing and hillwalking if it hadn't been for the Scouts.

I have particularly happy memories of summer Friday evenings, taking the canoes down to the beach, paddling out and surfing back in. And what seemed like endless weekends on Puffin and Fijit, sailing from Fisherrow.

Jim Colvine was the leader when I was there. He went to New Zealand. Has he ever been heard of in Porty again, I wonder?

This is all beginning to be like a history thread, so I'll stop. I have photos from camps that we went to, in the late 60s and early 70s. Would it be worthwhile scanning them and posting them on the history bit? Since they have people in them, would it even be allowed? If it is, I would be happy to do so.

Jim