THE STORY OF OUR SEA SCOUTS

Back in 1942, during the middle of World War II, a small group of older Scouts (aged 16–18) from the 167th Birmingham South Parade Methodist Scout Group wanted to get better at seamanship. So, they started meeting every week at Powell’s Pool.

By early 1943, they officially became 1st Sutton Coldfield Sea Scouts. At the time, things were pretty basic, no headquarters, and just one old boat to use. It was a sailing and rowing dinghy built way back in 1896 in Malta, later renamed Golden Hinde after Francis Drake’s famous ship.

Because it was wartime, supplies were limited. The group even had to get creative with their uniform, switching from khaki to navy blue, and making their neckerchiefs out of Blackout material and inch white tape (which wasn’t rationed). The design they came up with is still used today.

Money was tight, so they organised regattas (boat events) in 1943 and 1944 with help from the Walsall Sea Scouts. Together, they raised over £300, which was a huge amount at the time.

In 1944, the group achieved something special: recognition as an Admiralty Training Unit. Today, this continues as Royal Navy recognition, meaning the group is regularly inspected and counted among the top Sea Scout groups in the UK.

By 1947, thanks to fundraising and support from donors, they built their first headquarters on the site still used today. It was officially opened by the Mayor of Sutton Coldfield. At that time, there were already over 80 young people involved.

The group kept growing. In 1949, the Chief Scout, Lord Rowallan, visited and was rowed around the pool in one of their boats.

To help raise more money and expand the fleet, parents and supporters formed a fundraising group in 1950. Their hard work paid off in 1952 when a brand-new boat called Regina was launched, followed by Endeavour in 1956. Today’s boats are modern versions of these early designs.

As scouting became more popular, groups in the area were given numbers. So, in 1956, the group was also known as 10th Sutton Coldfield, but it proudly kept its original name.

Over the years, the group has won loads of competitions at district, county, and even national level, both in general scouting and Sea Scouting.

Since it all began, thousands of young people have been part of 1st Sutton Coldfield Sea Scouts. Many have gone on to careers at sea, including in the Royal Navy and merchant navy.

And today, the adventure continues, just like it started, with young people getting out on the water, learning new skills, and being part of something bigger.

THE ROVERS

Back in 1987, Powell’s Pool (in Sutton Park) was officially protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). That basically means it’s an important natural area, so only certain activities are allowed there. Because of this, people using the Pool had to look back at its history, especially how Sea Scouts had been using it over the years, to provide evidence for its continued use.

Scouts have actually been using Powell’s Pool for a long time. So, this is the story of those boats, how they started, how they changed, and why they’re still important today.

THE MARK 1 ROVER

It all started in 1926, when six Sea Scouts from 3rd Walsall built three Canadian canoes and set off on a 7-day adventure down the River Avon from Stratford. They loved it so much, they decided they needed a proper boat of their own.

In 1928, their Scout Leader, known as “Sargs” Stanley, was given a short sail on Powell’s Pool by the owner at the time, a retired Navy officer. At the end of the sail, the owner simply said:

“She’s yours, look after her.”

And just like that, they got their first boat, for free.

The boat was called Hope, later renamed Terra Nova. This changed everything. The group became more organised, focused on sailing, and officially became Sea Scouts.

As they grew, they needed something bigger. So they built the Mark 1 Rover, a 16-foot boat that could both row and sail. It was perfect for training and could easily switch between oars and sails.

THE MARK 2 ROVER

As time went on, improvements were needed. The Mark 2 Rover was an upgraded version, built with stronger materials like marine plywood and mahogany.

It was still around 16 feet long and designed to do everything:

• Rowing

• Sailing

• Even using an outboard motor

It was easy to tow, reliable, and became really popular.

The first two boats, Aries and Cygnus, were built in 1953. Over the next 20 years, more than 60 Rovers were built for Scout groups.

These boats weren’t just for training, they were used for real adventures. One Scout, Peter Hall, even sailed one around the west coast of Scotland in 30 days.

There were some big moments for 1st Sutton Sea Scouts

• The Group was registered as 1st Sutton Coldfield Sea Scouts early in 1943, with no Headquarters and only one old Sailing/Pulling dinghy. (Built in Malta in 1896 and renamed Golden Hinde after Drakes Ship.)

• In 1949, the Chief Scout, Lord Rowallan, visited and was rowed around Powell’s Pool.

• In 1952, the first Rover named Regina was launched after major fundraising.

• In 1956, a second boat called Endeavour followed.

The modern versions of these boats are replacements for those original wooden ones.

THE MARK 3 ROVER

By the 1970s, the older boats were wearing out. Repairs were becoming more common, and it was clear something new was needed.

The challenge was that there wasn’t a ready-made boat that could both row and sail properly.

So a new version was designed using fibreglass (GRP), stronger, longer-lasting, and easier to maintain.

It was a big investment at the time (£3,000 to create the mould), but once built, each boat cost around £1,200–£1,500.

The first Mark 3 Rover was launched in 1981, named Cygnus II, followed by others like Pegasus and Tom.

Soon, more groups, including 1st Sutton Sea Scouts, ordered their own.

ROVERS TODAY

Rover boats are still a huge part of Sea Scout life today.

At 1st Sutton Sea Scouts, the current fleet includes:

• Regina 2

• Endeavour 2

• Mariner

• Valiant

The newest addition, SSS Valiant, was launched on 2 August 2024 by Olympic and Commonwealth athlete Kevin Brown.

At the launch, all four Rover boats took to the water together, a proud moment for the group. The flotilla was led by an Explorer Scout, Kathryn, who had received a special for her outstanding contribution.

WHY ROVERS MATTER

Rover boats aren’t just bits of kit, they’re part of Sea Scout history.

They’ve:

• Trained generations of Scouts

• Been used on real adventures

• Evolved over nearly 100 years

And most importantly, they’re still being used by Scouts like you today.

THE HEADQUARTERS

Our headquarters has a bit of a “survival story” of its own.

In the 1950s, a new building replaced the original, but not in the way you might expect. Instead of stopping activities, the new HQ was actually built around the old one. Once it was finished, the old building was taken apart and carried out piece by piece. Scouting carried on the whole time.

Not long after, disaster struck. A fire badly damaged the building, and it had to be almost completely rebuilt, just in time for a huge international Scout event in Sutton Park in 1957.

Then, in the late 1960s, another fire destroyed the HQ completely. What you see today is the replacement, which has since been modernised and improved, but the spirit of the original lives on.

The building itself is designed to feel like a ship. In fact, the ship’s wheel inside was rescued from the fire, making it a real piece of the group’s history.

Because of this, the rooms all have proper nautical names. So when you’re here, you’re not just in a building, you’re part of a ship:

• The Galley – the kitchen

• The Heads – the toilets

• The Main Deck – the main hall

• The Boatswain’s Locker – where equipment is stored

• The Ward Room – a meeting space

• The Operations Room – planning and organising

• The Gun Room – another key activity space

It’s not just a HQ—it’s a ship full of history, rebuilt more than once, and still going strong today.