AROUND 75 people came together on Poole Quay yesterday to celebrate the birthday of the founder of Scouting.

Young people from Poole District Scouts were joined by their scout leaders and members of the public at the statue of Lord Robert Baden-Powell on the Quay to commemorate the anniversary of his birth in 1857.

The mayor and mayoress of Poole, Cllr Phil Eades, and his wife, Helen, also attended the special ceremony and placed wreaths over the statue's head.

Brian Woolgar, district chairman for Poole District Scouts, said it was something all Scouts felt was important to celebrate and recognise every year.

He said: “After I introduced the mayor of Poole and he had placed caplets around Lord Baden-Powell's neck, I read a poem, entitled The Magic Pipes by Hubert Blore.

“It starts with the line, 'A tiny flame on Brownsea, just an idea', which appears to touch on the creation of Scouting on the island.

“The mayor of Poole also awarded Natalie Annels from 1st Lilliput Port Cub Pack with her Silver Award, which is the highest accolade you can achieve as a cub.”

Brian also said that Cllr Phil Eades also spoke about Scouting and his own experiences as a young man and how Lord Baden-Powell met his wife, Olave, who was from Poole.

“Our numbers are growing every year that we meet on Lord Baden-Powell's birthday, since the statue was unveiled on Poole Quay in 2008, which is great to see.”

Poole District Scouts have around 1,500 members based across the town, ranging in age from six up to 25.

For more information on the Scouts in Poole, go to Poole-scouts.org