In the summer of 1953, the senior scouts decided that instead of the traditional camp with the younger scouts, they would do something a little different.
The idea of a cycling tour met with approval and was duly organised by Assistant Scout Master Colin Ratcliffe.
The ambitious route went from Irby down through Cheshire and Shropshire and the Midlands as far as Oxford with the return journey being via Herefordshire and the Welsh border counties. The holiday lasted one week and covered over 400 miles with the scouts staying in Youth Hostels at strategic points of the tour.
All the details of the tour route were carefully recorded by Colin in a small booklet given to each participant. He also produced a map of the tour and a breakdown of the costs for accommodation and food for the holiday and this amounted to less than £2 per head !
One of the participating scouts was Conrad Guard, who emigrated to Australia a few years after this holiday. However, he has recently contacted us and sent us his original booklet, map and some photographs for which we thank him very much.
You can see these fascinating documents by clicking on the link below and it is also possible to contact Colin as he still lives in Irby.
Click below to view Conrad’s booklet, map and photographs
The idea of a cycling tour met with approval and was duly organised by Assistant Scout Master Colin Ratcliffe.
The ambitious route went from Irby down through Cheshire and Shropshire and the Midlands as far as Oxford with the return journey being via Herefordshire and the Welsh border counties. The holiday lasted one week and covered over 400 miles with the scouts staying in Youth Hostels at strategic points of the tour.
All the details of the tour route were carefully recorded by Colin in a small booklet given to each participant. He also produced a map of the tour and a breakdown of the costs for accommodation and food for the holiday and this amounted to less than £2 per head !
One of the participating scouts was Conrad Guard, who emigrated to Australia a few years after this holiday. However, he has recently contacted us and sent us his original booklet, map and some photographs for which we thank him very much.
You can see these fascinating documents by clicking on the link below and it is also possible to contact Colin as he still lives in Irby.
Click below to view Conrad’s booklet, map and photographs
