Scouting in Caernarfon started in January 1908. The first meetings were held in the County School under the Leadership of T Williams and Kendrick Evans. The group was registered in April of the same year.

Scouts soon became part of the local community when a fire totally destroyed Victoria Mills in 1912 and Scouts helped by keeping a water supply moving during the fire.

Wolf Cubs was started in 1924 and by this time there were two troops meeting in Caernarfon, one met in the Drill Hall and one in the Barracks.

During World War II the number of Scouts dropped due to the lack of warranted leaders. Many leaders and older Scouts left to join the war, many did not return.

Over the years many young men have left Scouting with the highest award of the King's Scout and from the 1950s the Queen's Scout. A lot of work went into these badges, which shows the dedication of both the Scouts and their leaders.

There have been visits from the Chief Scout, Lord Rowallan, who presented Queen's Scouts awards to boys who had attained their badges.

Scouts from Caernarfon have given help to many troops staying in the area. In 1958 and 1962 they helped disabled Scouts have an experience of camping in the Snowdonia area.

In the early 1960s the Caernarfon troop got a Scout Hut of its own and now had their own HQ. It has been well used over the years, not just as a meeting place, but also to provide somewhere to sleep for many a Scout from other areas.

Scouts have visited most areas of Britain and have also camped in Germany and Holland. Even the Cub Scouts have been to France to visit Disneyland.

In 1996 two Scouts, Carwyn Williams and Kevin Roberts, were awarded Chief Scout's Commendation for Meritorious Conduct after helping in the recue of a collapsed fisherman on his boat at Victoria Dock, Caernarfon.

Last year was the centenary of the start of the Scouting movement and on 1 August 2007 all over the world Scouts renewed their promise at sunrise.

We were given permission to make our promise in Caernarfon Castle where we were joined by the Mayor of Caernarfon, Cubs and Scouts from the UK and Europe.

Today, 100 years after it was first began, Scouting is still going strong in Caernarfon. The uniform has changed and so have the leadership styles, but all sections are still taking part in all kinds of events and activities. They are doing sponsored events, camps and taking part in community services, just like Scouts in 1908.

To celebrate this we are to hold a Centenary Weekend at Felin Bach, Caethro, Caernarfon, on 15 to 17 August. On the Saturday we are inviting former Scouts to join us, along with the Chief Commissioner of Wales and, we hope, Chief Scout Peter Duncan. It should be a great way to celebrate 100 years of Scouting in the Caernarfon area.
Janice Brown