About Us

Bentley is a small village on the border of Surrey and Hampshire. We have a thriving Scout Group with around 100 youth members, and a team of dedicated amazing leaders.

We are very proud of our links with Baden Powell, who lived in the village at Pax Hill between 1918 and 1938. Pax Hill is now a Care Home, and still holds its links with Hampshire Scouts.

We provide fun, friendship, activities and much more for members aged 6 – 25 years old.

History

1st Bentley Scouts was a music troop, but was closed due to the 2nd World War. The rules stated that if a group closed for more than 6 months then you cannot use the same number again, but apparently, there was an exception made for the war, but the group were unaware of this, and in 1970 2nd Bentley Scouts was started.

In late 1969, Alan Atkins along with Miriam Coyle and John Christie, wanted to reform the Scout Group, and 2nd Bentley was formed. In the early days Sir William Pike helped by letting them use the building in his back garden, along with an outside toilet!

Sadly Alan Atkins passed away and John Christie became GSL, Miriam became Cub Leader and John became Scout Leader, with a small group of Cubs and Scouts. Over the years the Group began to grow, and by 1978 the Scout Hut was built on the recreation ground.

In 1979 the Group expanded with the creation of the Venture Scout Unit. This was lead by Brian Mayhew and its only two members, Bob Wilson and Ivan Barnett.

1985 the group introduced their first Beavers section. In 1988 Alan Hayes took over the role of GSL, and in 2006 the former original Venture Scout, Bob Wilson became GSL.

10 Things You May Not Know About Scouting

1. Scouting is for girls as well as boys.
2. Scouting is a global movement.
3. Young people can join at any stage of their development.
4. The Scout Association is a registered charity.
5. Scouting is great value!
6. Robert Baden-Powell, the Founder of Scouting was recently voted the 13th most influential person of the 20th Century.
7. Famous former Scouts include Paul McCartney, Billy Connolly, Stephen Spielberg and David Beckham.
8. Each day 100,000 people in the UK take part in Scouting activities.
9. Scouting for Boys, Baden-Powell’s blueprint for the Scout Movement is one of the most popular books of all time.
10. Scouting was 100 in 2007