People and Personalities

Scouting was founded by Baden Powell in 1907, so that must make them one of the world's oldest scout groups. The group has provided scouting for young people continuously since 1909 including through two world wars.

The sea scouts' hut

What is more remarkable is that they are Sea Scouts. Somewhere in the 100-year history, the group took to the water in a town that's about as landlocked as it's possible to be!

In 1941 the scouts started to use the lake in the Capability Brown designed grounds of the Luton Hoo Estate. This is a beautiful location which few Lutonians have ever visited - unless of course you're in the 1st Luton.

The cake!

The lake is used for sailing, canoeing and powerboats operating as safety boats crewed by the more experienced Explorers. The leaders have the proper accreditation and are inspected regularly by the Admiralty to ensure that the scouts use the water safely and with respect.

For the centenary celebrations the lakeside was open to the public and many former Sea Scouts joined today's boys and girls on a beautiful July Sunday. Dragonflies hovered over the lake and only a good sailing breeze was lacking to make it a perfect day.

The secret of the 1st Luton's success is the attractiveness of the activities to young people- both boys and girls. They also have a good number of excellent adult leaders, several of whom have come "through the ranks" and are giving something back to scouting.

On the lake

There might have been some doubt over the continued use of the lake when Luton Hoo's future seemed uncertain. The main house is now a prestigious hotel and the owners, Elite Hotels, are happy for the scouts to continue to use the lake. In fact Elite have offered to convert a Victorian lakeside pumping station into a new boathouse with a shower block and meeting rooms.

The open day was a great celebration of scouting at its best. You wouldn't bet against the 1st Luton staying around for another 100 years and perhaps, one day, actually becoming the world's oldest scout troop.