History of Scouting in London
As the capital city of the United Kingdom, London has played a key role in the development of Scouting. In 1909 some troops broke away from Baden-Powell's official Boys Scouts to form the British Boy Scouts. Sir Francis Vane was the leader and previously Baden-Powell's Commissioner for London.
One of the oldest Scout Groups in London is the 1st City of London Scout Group, which is still notable as the only Scout Group in the traditional City of London.
The 1st World Scout Jamboree was held at Olympia, London in the summer of 1920. Here Baden-Powell was designated as Chief Scout of the World.
The service performed by Scouts during war and particularly during air raids and the Blitz on London in World War II is recognised by their presence every year on Remembrance Day at the Cenotaph in London.
A small museum of the story of Robert Baden-Powell is housed at Baden-Powell House in London.
London Scouts celebrated the centenary of Scouting on 1 Aug 2007 in many ways, including the New Year's Day Parade in which many Explorer Scouts were led by the Enfield District Scout Band, LIVE 07, Festival of Scouting, and a Sunrise Ceremony at the London Eye. The first UK international camp of the new Scouting century was Campdowne 2008 in July 2008, where nearly 2000 participants from the UK and 23 other countries camped at Downe Scout Activity Centre.
John May from London become the first UK Scout elected to the World Scout Committee since 1994 at the 38th World Scout Conference in Korea on 16 July 2008.
Read more about this topic: Scouting In Greater London
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