YOUNGSTERS and officials braved windy conditions at Poole Quay on Sunday to recognise the formation of the Scout movement for the first time since 2020.

Members of the Poole Scout District’s Beavers, Cubs and Scout groups joined Mayor Julie Bagwell along with scores of parents to place a chaplet around the shoulders of Lord Robert Baden-Powell’s statue yesterday morning to mark Scout Founder's Day.

“In Scouting, it sometimes helps to be a little mad” joked Poole Scout District chair Andrew Williams to the dozens of representatives and parents who gathered around the bronze life-size statue.

Held for the first time since 2020 due to the pandemic, Andrew said the weather failed to ruin the event. He told the Echo: “We just managed to squeeze in this event in 2020 and it now feels like normal service is resumed.

“It really was blowing a hooley. This is the first time I’ve required string and scissors to actually attach the chaplet to the statue because of the wind.”

Bournemouth Echo: Poole Scout groups in Poole Quay to commemorate Scout Founder's DayPoole Scout groups in Poole Quay to commemorate Scout Founder's Day

Mayor of Poole, Cllr Julie Bagwell, placed the traditional laurel chaplet and declared there was no better place than Poole Quay for the event – as the statue looks out towards Brownsea Island which was the location of the first Scout camp in 1907.

Erected in 2008, the Lord Baden-Powell statue required £25,000 of fundraising by Brian Woolgar, of Poole District Scout Council, and a £10,000 grant secured from developers by Poole council.

Andrew also said that local scouting has bounced back “brilliantly” since the pandemic with a 12 per cent increase in numbers.

Visit poolescouts.org.uk for more information.