The year 1908 saw the birth of scouting in South Africa, and in February the following year, the 1^st Malvern Scout troop was formed. This was the second troop to be formed in Kwa-Zulu Natal.

The following extract from a letter written by the original scoutmaster, Mr. A.W Trimmer in 1963, prooves interesting reading.

He wrote:

"I started a small troop in your Malvern in February 1909. I had just left the National Police and was occupying a small fruit farm behind the police camp. Two young boys brought me cutting from a newspaper outlining B.P's scheme and asked me to be their scoutmaster. The boys were Alfred Lunnis and Oliver Oehley. They next wrote to "General Baden Powell, England". He sent them out a copy of "Scouting for Boys". With this as their guide they collected about 10 other boys and we carried on with zest."

Thus the first Malvern Troop was formed and the original boys were:

Alfred G. Lunnis - Patrol leader

Oliver Oehley - Second

Edward Tyaas

Albert Tyaas

Duncan Lockhead

William Bowen

E. Thompson

Harold Bolton

Leslie Bingham

Lawerance Borain

There were no records of activity between 1914-1918 but we know that in 1919, the scoutmaster was Garth Green and the A.S.M was one of the original scouts, Harold Bolton. At this stage the groups name was 2^nd Umhlatazana and it was changed to 1^st Malvern in 1919. The first cub pack was started in March 1924.

In 1924 the committee chairman, Mr. Fred Phillips bought a wood and iron church hall in Northdene. The committee raised 40 pounds and had it transported and erected in Malvern. The place of the hall was not recorded. Malvern got its first Kings (now Springbok) scout in 1924. He was Eric Alcock. The committee raised 50 pounds and sent him to the Empire Jamboree.

In 1929 a close liaison with Toc H was formed. Together the 2 organizations built a brick hall in Coronation road. The hall was opened in 1932 and used until it was expropriated for a road in 1991.

It appears that the troop did not operate during World War 2. After the G.S.M. Wilson and Ronnie Walker revived the troop and the pack, it seems that the administration was run by T.O.C H during this period. The cub master between 1946 and 1949 was Elaine Vincent who increased the numbers to the point where cubs was held in the Methodist church (corner Hopewell and Main Rd's) as the scout hall was too small.

On the 22^nd March 1947 a rally to meet the British Royal Family was held, it appeared to be a memorable event.

In 1950, Mrs. Shipman took over the pack. Her husband, Wally, was the group chairman and Ron Taylor was scoutmaster. Ron married Joan Shipman and their son, Neville (died 1998) became a springbok scout in 1977. Leslie Shipman became Queen Scout in 1958. Ron, who died in 1999, served on the group committee for much of the 70's and the early 80's.

By 1950, plans had been made for additions to the scout hall in Coronation Rd. A concert was held to raise funds, and a kitchen, office and T.O.C h room were added onto the original building.

In 1953, the senior scouts took a trip to Lourenco Marques (now Maputo) for 2 pounds a head. The troop scouter at this stage was Aubrey Dorrington who lead the troop to great heights. They won many ambulance competitions, Efficiency camps, sports days and especially the Duke of Connaughts Sheild which was a shooting competition. This was the Empire shooting competition. Malvern were runners up in the competition. The team consisted of Robbie Brooks, Neville Lynne, J. Mitchell and Roy Ketley.

Robbie Brooks and Robbie Farquharson succeeded Aubrey Dorrington as scoutmasters. Mrs. Shipman was appointed ADC cubs in 1963. Mr. Norman Bond became group scoutmaster in 1957 and remained in office until 1961. He later became L.A chairman.

See our Springbok Scouts HERE