1st Winchester Adopt A New Necker

On Friday 10th September 2004, the 1st Winchester H.Q. was filled to bursting point with Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, parents, leaders, Group Exec members and past leaders. They were all there for the presentation of new neckers to the uniformed members to celebrate over thirty years of successful scouting as the 1st Winchester Scout Group.

The evening started with a prayer given by the oldest surviving Group Scout Leader. An inspiring introduction and explanation was given by our Group Secretary who has served the group for twenty-seven years and told of many high spots in the group's history. The neckers were then presented by the Mayor of Winchester, a representative of AmecSpic / Siemens (who sponsored the new neckers) and our current Group Scout Leader to every uniformed member. The evening ended with group and individual photographs and a barbeque.

The 1st Winchester was formed as part of a major reorganisation of Scouting in the Winchester Scout District. This resulted in the amalgamation of the 13th (Weeke) and 18th (Littleton) Scout Groups. The neckerchief is a traditional part of the uniform and identifies the Group to which the wearer belongs. Since it's formation, The 1st Winchester Group have used a plain Royal Blue 'necker'.

The members have voted to adopt a new, more distinctive, design comprising of a double green & yellow stripe down the edge of the royal blue. The green and yellow were chosen because they were colours used by the two groups that combined to form the 1st. The main royal blue was retained to represent the last thirty-five years of successful scouting as the 1st.

Our Group Scout Leader said, "We have leaders and parents who were Cubs and Scouts in both the 13th and 18th Winchester and it is right that we should recognise our roots as well as the achievements of the present. Our members have much to be proud of and the new neckers are a symbol of this."