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 ur  istory
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 n 1923, Reverend H. G. Marshall came to assist his father, the Vicar of St. Catherine’s, in the Parish of Tranmere and, in November of that year, formed the 10th Birkenhead Scout Group. The Cub and Scout Sections started with some of the boys from the Church’s Sunday School. Mr. Smedley and Mr. W. McCoy helped the Reverends to run the Scouts, and Mr. Marshall’s sister ran the Cubs. A band was formed in these first years, which quickly became the pride of Tranmere, and was in existence until the outbreak of the Second World War. Some band members formed the nucleus of a Concert Party, which was one of the methods of raising money in those days. The following rhyme, composed in those early days, sums up the Groups formation:-
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n 1923 a Troop of Boys they did agreethat their emblem it should bethe Golden Fleur-de-lys,and from this, St. Catherine’s ownthroughout the district is well known,with drums and bugles they marched along,a group of well nigh seventy strong. |
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 he troop met in the cellar, now known as The Den, of the Institute and until the war years, the Rover Section using what is now the boiler room as a den.
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n 1931, Reverend D. R. Marshall died and Reverend H. Hill took over the Parish. Reverend H. G. Marshall regretfully departed Tranmere and moved to Crewe, where he started another Scout Group. With the departure of Reverend H. G. Marshall and the arrival of Mr. E. A. Scott, there were a number of changes in Leaders although the Rover Section still continued to provide valuable helpers and instructors. The band continued and Mr. Scott set about trying to build up the Groups camping equipment, amongst his first purchases were ‘Icelandic’ tents and, from his initial, shrewd buying in the early days, the Groups stock of camping equipment grew, so much so that, in the 1970’s, the Group could have claimed to have one of the largest, and best, stocks of camping equipment in the town. The first camp was held at Nannerch, with the second camp at Radley, Oxford. Little is known of other camps in these early years except that one camp was held at Tarporley, Cheshire.
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 s Group Scoutmaster, Mr. E. A. Scott guided the Group through many difficult years until he resigned in 1956. Mr. Bill Plimley took over as Scoutmaster and the Group continued to prosper until the commencement of hostilities in 1939, when the Institute was commandeered as a First Aid Station. For a time the Group continued to meet in the cellar, then in 1940 meeting on Saturday afternoons until shop premises at 33 Church Road were acquired by the Church. The Groups meetings transferred to these shop premises but, as the membership of the Group began to build up again, larger accommodation was sought. A solution to the problem came when the 10th Birkenhead Group took over the 2nd Birkenhead Scout Group headquarters for the princely rental sum of five shillings per week. During this time the 10th Birkenhead Group continued to expand and, in 1943, decided to form a second Troop of four Patrols, with Mr. S. O. Ellams becoming the second Scoutmaster.
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 fter the war, with the Institute handed back to the Group, a Senior Troop was formed, the two Scout Troops merging into one Troop with six Patrols. The Scout Troop continued to meet on a Tuesday with the Senior Troop meeting on a Friday. Later, as people moved to the suburbs, the Troop reduced to five Patrols; Beavers, Lions, Seagulls, Swifts (the four original Patrols) and the Eagles. With the war over, Scouters began to be demobilised, and in 1948 we were probably at our strongest for Scouter strength, with Messers Scott, Ellams, Plimley, Hudson, Oldam, Westmore, Frankland, Leeming, Upton and Banks as well as Mrs Cullen and Miss Darwood.
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 kipper Scott’s retirement in 1956, after 25 years as Group Scoutmaster saw Allan Oldam taking over the reins. Allan led the Group until his tragic death in 1960, which was closely followed in the same month by the death of Skipper Scott. This was a sad, double blow to the Group but, due to both men’s efforts, the Group had the strength to continue. The memorial fund, collected for both men, was used to buy an Offertory Plate for use in the Church, memorial lamps for The Den and for the perpetuation of Skipper Scott’s Bible.
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 he 1960’s saw the acquisition of Rumah Kechil, a miner’s cottage in Cwm Penmachno, in the mountains above Blaenau Ffestiniog in North Wales. We share ownership of the cottage with the 2nd Greasby Scout Group, a partnership which guarantees the cottage is in use year round. Both our Cub and Scout Sections spend two weekends there each year. This North Wales Headquarters acts as a base for our outdoor activities with plenty of trails, ruins, castles and woods around the vicinity.
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n 2009 a Troop of Boys and Girls are found to be .... .... a Group of well nigh forty strong. |
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ue to marriage, and movement out of the district, there were a number of changes in Scouter strength and in 1950, we at last had to say a fond farewell to Bill Plimley, who left to study for the Ministry, as several of our other boys had already done. Mr. and Mrs. Hudson took over the running of the Scout Troop and Cub Pack until 1952, when Allan Oldam moved across from the Senior Section to take over the Troop.
