THESE two Scout troops made sure they were well prepared to meet future challenges.

Both celebrated the opening of new halls in which they and the next generation of Scouts could enjoy activities to the full.

The bottom picture was taken in 1962 when the 22nd Oxford group opened their new Scout hall in Ridgefield Road, East Oxford.

The hall, which cost about £3,000 to build, furnish and decorate, was opened by Lieutenant Colonel H de Grey Warter, the Oxfordshire County Scout Commissioner.

Lieutenant Colonel Warter told Scouts and their families at the ceremony of the importance of the Scouting movement.

He said: “Scouting is not only a family affair but an international brotherhood. The more interest that is taken in Scouting, the better it will be for the world in general. So may Scouting go on, because I think it is one of the hopes of this world.”

District Scout Commissioner Mr FH Cattell said officials had set a target for every Scout group in the city to have its own headquarters.

He said: “A little while ago, we appealed for a very large sum of money, but it didn’t come in as we had hoped.”

However, the 22nd Oxford group had managed to erect its own hall, thanks to help from the Ministry of Education and the local authority but, more importantly, with a tremendous amount of work by parents, Scouts and Cubs.

Mr Cattell congratulated everyone on a magnificent effort in getting the hall built, equipped and opened.

A year later, Scouts at Old Marston celebrated the opening of their new hut.

The Vicar, the Rev Paul Rimmer, is seen in the picture above, dedicating the building in 1963.

The Oxford Mail reported: “The hut, which cost £500, will provide a permanent headquarters for the 100 young people who belong to the village’s Scout and Guide movements.

“Built on the disused school playground next to St Nicholas Church, it has taken a year for voluntary helpers to erect and decorate.”

Mr Rimmer paid tribute to the three leaders of the team of builders – group Scout leader Mr A Smith, Mr P Sheppard and Mr JH Casterton.

He said: “Without their help, the Scouts, Cubs, Brownies and Guides would not have had this building.”

The dedication followed a youth service in St Nicholas Church, in which the lessons were read by Scout Raymond Bulger and Mr Smith.