The Third 25 Years (1975 - 2000)
The 1970s saw Mick Garside as Scout Leader for the first time. During these years, he promised that each Scout who brought a new member could join their own patrol. This lead to Falcon Patrol growing to be 10 strong (meaning that this patrol had more members than the entire of another local Troop).
A memorable Summer Camp during this period was the one held in Wales at Haffodylyn Isaf. Whilst few Scouts spoke any Welsh on arrival at the camp, by the end they knew the Welsh translation of 'field in the river' - Haffodylyn Isaf!
150th had its own marching band that was very successful in the early 1970s. It was led by Clive Hawley, who was also Assistant Scout leader with Mick Garside. The band attracted Dave Tomlinson, a star drummer from the Sheffield City Scout Band, who came to coach the drummers and soon became another Assistant Scout Leader at 150th. Think of it as the drumming equivalent of Barry Bannon coming to coach your under 15's football team.
The band played at Bramall Lane in the national competition, coming away with the prize for best Eb band. Other notable performances were when drums were fitted with green and gold lights, all controlled from Mick Garside's master-control box.
John Hemmingham
Picking up a bugle in cubs and bugling through his days at 150th, John went on to form the Sheffield Wednesday band. This started in 1993 when John took a bugle to a Sheffield Wednesday match and played a classical piece in the last 10 minutes. His actions gained attention and soon later, the terrace band he'd formed was playing at Euro 1996 as the England Supporters Band.
John’s England Band released a single for Euro 1998 (It reached 14 in the charts and was the biggest selling drum and bugle hit of the 1990s). However, it was to be 12 years until the band charted again, reaching #15 in 2010 with Cabanga (Come on England) - the biggest selling electro drum and bugle hit of the century so far.
John and his England band have played all over the world. Without the 150th band, maybe none of this would have happened.
The skills learned as a patrol leader at 150th seem to have stood John in good stead as he also later became Chief Exec of Sheffield Wednesday Supporters Trust, an exec at Leeds United and then a senior figure in the SWFC Women's set up. Whilst his later roles were better paid than a patrol leader, they didn't involve using a bucket for a toilet in a farmers field - so arguably they were much, much easier.
If you don't recognise John's work yet - just wait until the next international football tournament and listen for the sound of trumpets and drums - that's John. If you want sing along, the words go like this:
"Durr durr.
Durr durr.
Durr durr, durr durr, durr durr.
Durr durr durr durr.
Durr durr durr duur.
Durr durr durr durr,
Durr durr duh...
England!"
A memorable Summer Camp during this period was the one held in Wales at Haffodylyn Isaf. Whilst few Scouts spoke any Welsh on arrival at the camp, by the end they knew the Welsh translation of 'field in the river' - Haffodylyn Isaf!
150th had its own marching band that was very successful in the early 1970s. It was led by Clive Hawley, who was also Assistant Scout leader with Mick Garside. The band attracted Dave Tomlinson, a star drummer from the Sheffield City Scout Band, who came to coach the drummers and soon became another Assistant Scout Leader at 150th. Think of it as the drumming equivalent of Barry Bannon coming to coach your under 15's football team.
The band played at Bramall Lane in the national competition, coming away with the prize for best Eb band. Other notable performances were when drums were fitted with green and gold lights, all controlled from Mick Garside's master-control box.
John Hemmingham
Picking up a bugle in cubs and bugling through his days at 150th, John went on to form the Sheffield Wednesday band. This started in 1993 when John took a bugle to a Sheffield Wednesday match and played a classical piece in the last 10 minutes. His actions gained attention and soon later, the terrace band he'd formed was playing at Euro 1996 as the England Supporters Band.
John’s England Band released a single for Euro 1998 (It reached 14 in the charts and was the biggest selling drum and bugle hit of the 1990s). However, it was to be 12 years until the band charted again, reaching #15 in 2010 with Cabanga (Come on England) - the biggest selling electro drum and bugle hit of the century so far.
John and his England band have played all over the world. Without the 150th band, maybe none of this would have happened.
The skills learned as a patrol leader at 150th seem to have stood John in good stead as he also later became Chief Exec of Sheffield Wednesday Supporters Trust, an exec at Leeds United and then a senior figure in the SWFC Women's set up. Whilst his later roles were better paid than a patrol leader, they didn't involve using a bucket for a toilet in a farmers field - so arguably they were much, much easier.
If you don't recognise John's work yet - just wait until the next international football tournament and listen for the sound of trumpets and drums - that's John. If you want sing along, the words go like this:
"Durr durr.
Durr durr.
Durr durr, durr durr, durr durr.
Durr durr durr durr.
Durr durr durr duur.
Durr durr durr durr,
Durr durr duh...
England!"
In mid-1970s, the rules for Cubs were rewritten and it was decided that they were old enough to go on camps. The 150th Cubs has held a Cub Camp every year since then with committed leaders taking on the responsibility for up to 30 members. The Cub Leaders during this time included John & Dianne Westwood, Eric Vickers, Janet Rotchell, Janet Robinson, Andrew Gibson and Anne Green.
The 150th formed their first ever Beaver Colony in the mid-eighties. This was for youngsters aged 6-8 years who had been previously excluded by the rules on age ranges. Carol Wilson (who would go onto become a successful Groups Scout Leader - GSL) was the first Beaver Leader assisted by Ken Knowles (who later took over as Beaver Leader when Carol stepped up to the role of GSL). Ken continues as a Beaver Leader today, having loyally served the young people of the local community for over 25 years!
The 1990s came and disaster was to strike the 150th. The Scout Hut was set alight and our building was lost. This devastated many in the Group. Initially with heavy hearts, fund raising was was increased to add to the 'HQ Fund' that had been started 13 years earlier to try to raise the huge sum of money needed to buy our own building again.
The Church kindly helped us with meeting space for some of this time, but when it came to them refurbishing their own hall, it was time for the 150th to move to a hall in Worrall.
In 1976, the Venture Section (15-21) was formed. In under 20 years the members had formed their own team, AC Malin, who first contested the 1995-96 season. The team had mixed fortunes for example taking a dramatic 3 goal lead in the first 5 minutes against Tork. Although they scored a further three goals, their performance fell away and the team conceded goals in quick succession, losing 11 goals to 6. Other notable successes included slotting 6 past Webbs Lads in a 10-6 defeat and hitting the back of the net 5 times against Totley Tigers in a match with a final score of 24-5. Unsurprisingly, the team were relegated, having only picked up 1 point all season.
Few records exist of their glories in the fourth division but the September 1996 group newsletter trumpeted "All Change for AC Malin" in bold writing. Less legible was the sub-headline which read "Apart from the Results." The Venture's second season included a tightly contested match against Inter Barnsley which ended in a 27-0 defeat for AC Malin.
Whilst success on the field was limited, the Ventures had a period of success in other competitions. This included winning the Shadow Night hike in Clumber Park and success in the lake district's Dragnet 50-mile competition.
In the mid 1990s, the Group were excited to discover that the old United Reform Church at the top of Loxley had come up for sale. On the outskirts of the Peak District and with its own spacious grounds that could be used for camping, the location was perfect. The Group attempted to buy it but its offer was beaten by a local businessman.
The United Reform Church disappointment for the Group did not last long as, by 1996, it had plans to buy and extend Wadsley Church's Parish Rooms. The Parish Rooms was previously a house that was used by different groups run by the church. Around £40,000 had been raised and a mortgage was taken out to cover the cost of the building work. The extension was completed and you can see it today as our main room - The Wilson Hall.
For 2000 onwards... click here.
The 150th formed their first ever Beaver Colony in the mid-eighties. This was for youngsters aged 6-8 years who had been previously excluded by the rules on age ranges. Carol Wilson (who would go onto become a successful Groups Scout Leader - GSL) was the first Beaver Leader assisted by Ken Knowles (who later took over as Beaver Leader when Carol stepped up to the role of GSL). Ken continues as a Beaver Leader today, having loyally served the young people of the local community for over 25 years!
The 1990s came and disaster was to strike the 150th. The Scout Hut was set alight and our building was lost. This devastated many in the Group. Initially with heavy hearts, fund raising was was increased to add to the 'HQ Fund' that had been started 13 years earlier to try to raise the huge sum of money needed to buy our own building again.
The Church kindly helped us with meeting space for some of this time, but when it came to them refurbishing their own hall, it was time for the 150th to move to a hall in Worrall.
In 1976, the Venture Section (15-21) was formed. In under 20 years the members had formed their own team, AC Malin, who first contested the 1995-96 season. The team had mixed fortunes for example taking a dramatic 3 goal lead in the first 5 minutes against Tork. Although they scored a further three goals, their performance fell away and the team conceded goals in quick succession, losing 11 goals to 6. Other notable successes included slotting 6 past Webbs Lads in a 10-6 defeat and hitting the back of the net 5 times against Totley Tigers in a match with a final score of 24-5. Unsurprisingly, the team were relegated, having only picked up 1 point all season.
Few records exist of their glories in the fourth division but the September 1996 group newsletter trumpeted "All Change for AC Malin" in bold writing. Less legible was the sub-headline which read "Apart from the Results." The Venture's second season included a tightly contested match against Inter Barnsley which ended in a 27-0 defeat for AC Malin.
Whilst success on the field was limited, the Ventures had a period of success in other competitions. This included winning the Shadow Night hike in Clumber Park and success in the lake district's Dragnet 50-mile competition.
In the mid 1990s, the Group were excited to discover that the old United Reform Church at the top of Loxley had come up for sale. On the outskirts of the Peak District and with its own spacious grounds that could be used for camping, the location was perfect. The Group attempted to buy it but its offer was beaten by a local businessman.
The United Reform Church disappointment for the Group did not last long as, by 1996, it had plans to buy and extend Wadsley Church's Parish Rooms. The Parish Rooms was previously a house that was used by different groups run by the church. Around £40,000 had been raised and a mortgage was taken out to cover the cost of the building work. The extension was completed and you can see it today as our main room - The Wilson Hall.
For 2000 onwards... click here.