In 1975, John Hinks was an assistant leader at 2nd Warwick. One night, he and a group of Venture Scouts decided carry out a survey around the new housing estate in Warwick called Woodloes Park. After gathering the results, the results showed local boys wanted to have their own Scout group on the estate. John passed this information to the District Commissioner, who suggested that he set up the new group himself.

 

The group officially started on the 14th of February 1977 at Woodloes Junior School. 8 boys turned up that night, alongside John’s wife Pam.


In 1980, the group decided they wanted to buy their own hut, this would allow them to run a wider range of activities than they were allowed in the school. The group heard that Coventry Technical College was carrying out building work and had some huts they wanted rid of, John approached the college and got the last hut, measuring 20ft x 90ft costing £100. The following Saturday was the deadline for taking the hut away, on arrival 2 artic lorries and 2 forklifts were waiting to take the hut down and away. John was joined by the venture scouts, as a team they had the hut packed and away by 5 pm that night.

 

Despite having a hut, the group had no land to put it on and had to be stored on a farm. The group approached Warwick council who were unable to assist, this led to John contacting local landowners in the Woodloes estate aria to see if they could help, in 1979 the hut was erected on a plot of land next to the Woodloes shops.

In the early 90’s the landowners sold the land to the local health authorities and so the group had to relocate once again. The search for a location started again, with out the hut the sections had to be spread out around the area temporarily. Beavers moved into Woodloes Primary School, Jubilee Cubs moved to the Ridgeway School, Prince of Wales Cubs used 2nd Warwick’s hut and the Scouts used buildings on Hatton Campsite.


It took 2 years to find a new location, the group used the time to start to raising funds to purchase of a new building. Many were worried during this time that 7th Warwick would be disbanded. Eventually, out of the blue, the local council found an area of land which was available. Ironically, the land offered had been suggested by the pack back in 1979, the group at that time were turned down. With fundraising and a generous grant from the Henry VIII Trust, the new building was purchased and built-in Bluebell Woods. It was decided that the building should not damage or require the removal of any trees, hence the angle the hut sits at.

 

Dates of interest:

 

  • 1977 - The group is founded

  • 2002 - The group celebrated its 25th anniversary

  • 2012 - The group celebrated its 35th anniversary

  • 2017 - We had our 40th-year celebrations

 

Sections in 7th Warwick:

 

  • Beavers

  • 2 Cubs Packs [Prince of Wales] & [Jubilee]

  • Scouts