Scout Leader Scott Richards hails new standard, and reveals secret history of dissent.
When reorganisation came to Edinburgh Scouting in the 1990s, and Broughton Scouts transitioned from their formal name of the 11th Waverley Scout Group to 11th Leith Scout Group, they received a new flag to proudly display on parade and at camp.
In 2012, reorganisation affected city scouting once again, and Leith District combined with Portobello to form the rather unimaginatively titled Edinburgh North East District. Troops adopted the new name with little enthusiasm.
Perhaps because most leaders’ wishes on naming the new district were ignored, in recent years Broughton Scouts have continued to carry their older flags abroad to camps in Norway and the Ardèche, France,. It's even whispered that, in protest, some leaders continue to wear their old district badges under the new badge on their uniforms.
However, last month, Broughton Scouts finally moved with the times and gratefully received a magnificent new flag as a gift from the congregation at Broughton St Mary’s Parish Church.
The 11th Edinburgh North East Scout Group, or Broughton Scouts as they are commonly known, can now march behind their new banner at the Broughton armistice parade this November without fear of their out-of-date flags being discovered.
Made for the Scouts by the same company which make flags for the British Army, the new banner is magnificently stitched and drew admiring comments from congregation and Scout members after the presentation ceremony led by minister the Revd Graham McGeoch.