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Vic Clapham

50 WONDERFUL YEARS

1st Hillcrest Scouts with visitors about to head off on a hike, 1965.

A short history of 1^st Hillcrest Scouts

1958 saw the humble beginnings of the 1^st Hillcrest Scout Troop with eight Cubs.  Those early meetings were held for almost two years in the Highway Shell Hole M.O.T.H. Hall.  The Group colours being a red scarf worn over a kaki shirt, and red sock tops over khaki brown socks.

Mrs McAvery was the first Akela and founder of the 1^st Hillcrest Cub Pack.  In 1959 a Scout Group was formed by Vic Clapham - who had moved up from Durban to Botha’s Hill. (It’s interesting to note that his father, also named Vic Clapham, was founder of the famous Comrades Marathon.) Vic’s wife, Vivienne, also helped with the running of the 1^st Hillcrest Cub Pack.

In the early 1960s, 1^st Hillcrest secured a piece of land in Shortlands Avenue and raised one hundred Pounds to purchase an old army hut.  This then became the Group’s new home, which to this day, it still is.

In 1976 after much fundraising within the Hillcrest Community, a new and larger Scout Hall was built out of bricks.  The hall is now shared with the Hillcrest Guides and Brownies who had no fixed meeting venue prior to this.  The group has operated as the 1^st Hillcrest Scout and Guide Group since 1994.

During 1964/65 no adult leaders were available in the Hillcrest community to take on the role of Scout Master and 1^st Hillcrest was run by a handful of experienced Scouts who provided the boys leadership. Three of these Scouts achieved Springbok Scouts and one of them, Edgar Blomeyer, later becoming the Group Scout Master.  1^st Hillcrest probably owes its very existence to the splendid leadership and the wonderful holding operation by this handful of Scouts in the mid-1960s. 

As the Hillcrest community grew in the 1970s - 1980s, so did the 1^st Hillcrest Scout Group, becoming one of the largest in Natal.  In the 1980s there were 175 1^st Hillcrest Scouts, consisting of three Cub packs and two Troops with 25 uniformed adult leaders.  Today the 1^st Hillcrest Scout and Guide Group maintains its position as one of the largest Groups in the province with 104 Cubs, Scouts, Guides, Brownies and Teddies and 12 adult leaders.

1^st Hillcrest has a proud history of doing well in regional and national competition camps, swimming galas and raft races.  In the early 1990s 1^st Hillcrest took top honours for the best constructed raft and first across the line at the Weaver Raft Race at Hartebeestpoort Dam in the Transvaal on two occasions.

To date the 1^st Hillcrest Troop has produced 64 Springbok Scouts - the highest award a South African Scout can attain.  A number of our Scouts have also been fortunate to attend International Scouting Jamborees, representing the Hillcrest community on a global stage.

During our proud 50 years, approximately 3 000 Hillcrest lads and girls have been either Cubs, Scouts, Guides, Brownies or Teddies.

To celebrate our 50^th Anniversary we have planned the following:

• A 50^th Anniversary camp fire on Saturday 9 August, at the 1^st Hillcrest hall at 16 Shortlands Ave.  It’s a bring and braai, fires will be ready from 5 pm in the afternoon.  All are invited. 

• A book is being written on the history of 1^st Hillcrest.  It will be approximately 100 A4 pages and well illustrated with period photos through to more recent times.  The book is being written by Brian Thomas, himself a ex-Queen’s Scout and past 1^st Hillcrest Scout Master of ten years.

• A more formal evening and much needed fundraiser in the form of a dinner and show at the Heritage Theatre on Wednesday 15^th October.  The show is called “The King and Queen” with music from Elvis and the group, Queen, and will appeal to audiences of all age groups.  Tickets cost R185 per person including a two-course meal with a cash bar.  Brian Thomas’s book will also be launched on this occasion. 

For further enquiries regarding tickets, please contact:      ANTHEA RAWLINS:    072 204 4151

Should you have any general queries please contact:        STEVE CAMP:             079 391 1866.