The year that started it all! On a Thursday evening the first Group Scout Master stood up at St Oswald's and presented a brand new Scout Group (Cubs and Scouts). She stood up and presented a green and red scarf (although no-one knows the reason why these colours where chosen) and it was accepted as the official scarf. They first met in St Oswald's Church Hall.

In 1930 the group was re-registered as a open group meaning boys of any faith could join. The group also opened it's own magazine "Tom-Tom".

In 1933 we opened our first Rover Crew (18+ year old boys). The first investiture took place in the partly built walls of the Church.

In 1935 a committee was formed to pave the way for constructing the groups own headquarter. They decieded it should be between the church and Norbury station and although they found a space (then North Surrey Golf Course- on Kensington Avenue)  it was denied a few weeks later.

In 1937 the Scout Troup was 39 strong and one of those boys was selected to attend the National Jamboree in Washington, USA. The same boy was later awarded the Military Cross. In the same year we also sent 19 boys to the World Jamboree in Holland. We also held our first jumble sale and raised £5.00.

1939 brought the outbreak of the war which greatly reduced the number of Scouts due to evacuations. The group also won the Croydon District Annual Sports. They found another plot of land for their own headquarters (adjacent to St Oswald's Hall) but this was turned down by the Council as not suitable due to future development plans.

Due to the war the Cub Pack was disbanded due to a lack of members and the Troup's numbers reduced to 20 boys.

The Cub Pack was re-started.

In 1943 the group held a "Good Turn Sale" and raised £25.00 which was donated to West Croydon Cub Pack for their Christmas Party. The Group could have easily used the money themselves as their funds where only £15.00 but chose to give it away. A local paper said of the 61st Croydon "While the rockets were hurled against England, the Troup made toys, sometimes in the air raid shelter and sold them, making over £40 in one afternoon".

In 1944 ex Troup member Captain Stuart Roderick was presented the Military Cross by Field Marshal Montgomery for his gallant part in the capture of Hertogenboch in Holland,

Over 80 old Scouts served in the forces over the war and despite obvious difficulties the Troup never missed a meeting (even during the blitz)!

The Group started to make enquiries into the purchase of a bombed plot (9 cottages had been bombed) of land.

Permission was granted for the erection of the Headquarter on the bombed land and bought for the price of £725.00.

In 1948 they unveiled a memorial plaque for the four Scouts who lost their lives during the war in the Lady Chapel at St Oswald's Church.

A year to remember in the life of the 61st! The land that had been bought was cleared and work started on the building of the front wall. The Group started seven year plan to raise £5,000 for the building of the HQ. The plan was grand, to have meeting rooms and a Scouters flat above. Unfortunately the cost was too great and the plan was abandoned.

In 1950 the 61st appeared on a TV programme called Picture Page live from Alexandra Palace showing off their skills with a Hindu Crinoline. This became a trademark of the 61st Croydon. An item made from a iron cross bar with ropes and blocks attached to it and could be spun. When spun it looked like the spokes of a wheel and tricks could be performed. At this stage the group was around 90 strong (around 30 Cubs, 30 Scouts, 17 Senior Scouts, 6 Rover Scouts and 7 Scouters. An exhibition was held which consisted of models, photos and a superb model of the HQ. The success of this and other fundraisers (with the help of local shops)  £1,000 was raised. Bob-a-job raised £43 4s 5d.

This year the phrase "A Place of Our Own" was first used in an appeal for money and they took the Hindu Crinoline to South Bank "Festival of Britain" Exhibition.

1952 was a dark year for the group as the then Group Scout Leader left and so did most of the Scouts and the group almost closed down.

But the 61st Croydon could not be kept down and by 1954 they had gained lots of new Scouts. The Scout Troup drew in the Cup Final and were presented with medals at the 39th Group HQ- The Quest. The Parents Committee was re-organised and ran a Whist Drive (a good social evening that continued for 20 years).  The first Christmas Bazaar (Sale of Work as it was called them) was run in the Church Hall.

By 1956 they had raised enough to place an order for the erection of the new HQ at a price of £1,800. The cost was so cheep due to it being a new revolutionary design, not tried before. The Committee raised another £300 and got a loan of £300 from Scout Headquarters.

During the building works the Group did not stop growing and due to the post-war bulge the Cub Pack became so popular it opened a second pack (meeting on a Tuesday). The total number of boys and leaders topped 100 for the first time (the exact total was 107). The Christmas Bazaar raised £70 7s 4d.

The 61st Croydon Scout Headquarters was opened on the 6th June 1959 by the Town Commissioner and dedicated by the Bishop of Croydon. With their new Headquarters "The Enterprise" the Scouts split into 2, firstly due to the number of Scouts and also to make use of the hall on as many nights as possible.

Sadly due to a lack of leaders, two Troup's could not be maintained and they were merged again.

Johnny Byrne, a well known Crystal Palace Football Player came to The Enterprise to present the Cub Football Team with their winners medals. The Group held their Summer Camp in St Ives and the Senior Scouts decided they could walk from Truro, only a 8 hour walk and only one arrived on a stretcher with a broken leg!

In 1962 the Group put on a Group Show called "Birds of a Feather" and despite press reports it was an unqualified success, unfortunately it wasn't repeated. The Scout Football Team was promoted to the 1st Division in the District League and Vic Rouse, Crystal Palace Football Player, Goalkeeper presented their medals.

This year a third Cub Pack was formed as the numbers continued to grow. The Headquarters was extended for form a kitchen at the side and a cycle shed was moved to the opposite side of the site. The Cub Pack gathered in Epsom Downs to greet the new Chief Scout, Charles Maclean, in a day name Operation Touchdown (he was due to visit lots of different sites by helicopter). Unfortunately in true Scouting fashion it rained all day and it was impossible for the helicopter to take off. The Leaders and Cubs waited in the rain, because of their uniform their died their underwear blue and green. It was renamed Operation Washout. 

In 2004 the 61st Croydon merged with the 11th Croydon.

This year turned the world upside down but due to the determination of the Scouters and Leaders they adapted to Online Scouting. 2020 brought the outbreak of Covid-19 and we quickly took to Zoom meetings within two weeks. Coming up with activities to do online was a new challenge but with perseverance and ingenuity we got there. Our Scout section closed for 7 months due to a lack of leaders but reopened in October joining with the 1st Crystal Palace.

In 2021 we continued with online Scouting until we had a new challenge, running meetings while everyone stayed 2 meters apart. With hoops in the park and spots on the floor we were very happy when these restrictions were lifted and we could go back to running around together.  In September we moved our Scouts back to our own HQ with a new leadership team. All sections closed at the beginning of December due to a Covid-19 outbreak in our children,

2022 included the project of doing up the hall. We did the hall up with getting the electrics refitted, putting in a new kitchen and clearing out the upper hall. 

In 2023 we enjoyed using the upper hall which allowed us to grow.

Lets see what adventures this year has in store!