CAN you imagine this happening these days? The health and safety brigade would have a fit.

The 8th Oxford (Highfield) Scouts were doing a favour to their less fortunate colleagues.

Members of the Scout troop at the Wingfield-Morris Hospital at Headington, Oxford, were confined to bed, suffering from tuberculosis and other long-term ailments.

But that didn’t stop them enjoying Scouting activities like everyone else.

The Highfield Scouts persuaded haulage firm H Tuckwell & Sons to let them have a lorry and they did the rest.

They piled the young patients in the back and off they went to the Scout camp at Youlbury.

No-one seemed to mind that there was no protection from the elements.

The picture, taken in 1948, was sent in by George Springall, of Staunton Road, Headington, who was chairman of the Headington Scout Council.

As we recalled (Memory Lane, June 14), the Wingfield Scout troop was formed in 1929, thanks to Oxford’s famous Punch and Judy man, Percy Best.

He hit on the idea of forming a group to relieve the boredom of young patients, who spent many months in plaster at the hospital.

Over the years, thanks to the support of the 8th Oxford Rovers and their leader, ‘Skipper’ Leach, they were able to take part in many Scouting activities even if, in many cases, it meant doing so in spinal carriages lying flat on their backs.

They were wheeled out of their wards in their beds to take part in the annual drumhead service, they went for walks using mirrors fixed above their heads to see the world about them, and they also attended the Scouts’ annual St George’s Day service in Oxford’s Christ Church Cathedral.

On their visits to Youlbury, they practised knot craft and woodcraft and even managed to light fires on specially-built altars.

Do you recognise yourself or anyone else in the picture? Let me know.

  • To get involved in Scouting today, see the Oxfordshire Scouts website or call 0845 0945 207.