BOB-A JOB Week was an opportunity for Scouts and Cubs to help themselves and others. They would offer to do anything from babysitting to chopping wood or taking a dog for a walk.

In exchange, they would ask for a bob or shilling (5p in today’s money) – but would gladly accept more if the recipient of the service was willing.

This picture dates from 1956 when Scout leaders of the 44th Oxford (Temple Cowley) group briefed their Scouts on what they were expected to do during the week.

There were often complaints about Bob-a-Job Week. Boys who were not in the movement would often try to pose as Scouts and cash in to earn money for themselves.

Householders complained that they were asked time and again for jobs, while some said they had no calls at all.

Scouts and Cubs were told to make sure they wore either uniform or badge to identify themselves.

They were also issued with job cards to list the work done and money received, and told to give the householder a ‘job done’ slip to display so that calls were not made by other Scouts.

In a message to the Scouts in 1956, the Deputy Chief Scout, Sir Rob Lockhart, pointed out that the previous year, Bob-a-Job Week had raised £46,000 for the movement and he urged them to try to reach £50,000.

He said Scouts should go back to people who had paid them for jobs and “show our appreciation by doing a job as a good turn – that is doing it for nothing.

“And don’t forget that by how you look and how you behave, people will judge, not only you and your troop or pack, but the whole Scout movement. So be smart, cheerful and courteous, and do your jobs well and thoroughly.” At the time, there were 40 Scout groups in Oxford and district, with nearly 1,700 Scouts and Cubs. But there was a grave shortage of Rovers – Scouts aged 18 and over – and of potential Scoutmasters, partly due, it was thought, to the demands of National Service.

  • Memory Lane this week