Ham Scout Group:

News

We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Henry "Hen" Savill in May 2021. Henry was the group's longest serving member having been part of initial "Ross Rover crew" that founded the group in 1945. Henry joined in 1948 and went on to become a leader and a group scout leader for many years and served on Richmond Scout District Council thereafter. He was awarded some of scouting's highest honours, including the Silver Acorn. His family were likewise deeply involved in running the group for many years. Hen remained involved in the oversight of the group, regularly attending group executive meetings and sharing his experience and wisdom well into his nineties! A fundamental part of the history of the group, St Andrew's Church and the local community. He will be remembered with gratitude, fondness and admiration by all that knew him.
Listen to many of Hen's local memories on the Ham is Where the Heart is website and read his obituary in the St Andrew's Church newsletter for May 2021.
8 September 2020: Ham Scout Group received a substantial boost for their scout hut renovation fund with the generous donation of £89,640 from the former Ham Institute Charity on its dissoluion.

Ham Scout Group was officially registered in 1946 during the post-war expansion of local housing and will be celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2021. The scout group's HQ is hidden in the far corner of Grey Court School playing field, near the Ham Common end of the Avenue that leads towards Ham House. It was hand-built in the late 1960s by local parents, their families and tradespeople. Now, over half a century later, the hut needs considerable interior renovation to continue to serve the group and local community. The kitchen and toilets in particular need replacement and, ideally, made accessible for those with reduced mobility.

Chairman of Ham Scout Group, Ken Bailey, said "This donation is a fantastic foundation for our renovation fund and we are hugely grateful for this generous gift. It is a great way of ensuring the former Ham Institute continues to benefit local young people and families for years to come."

He paid tribute to Ham Institute Charity trustees, Keith and Louise Dilloway, for their hard work over many years and for overseeing this final chapter of the Institute's history.

The full refurbishment is expected to be extensive as much of the interior woodwork needs repair or replacement and the building would benefit from insulation and other energy efficiency improvements.
4 August 2020: Reluctantly, the Ham Fair committee have decided to cancel this year's Ham Fair, as no permission has been received from Richmond Council, nor is any expected for the foreseeable future. The fair had already been postponed during lockdown from its normal June date to September in the hope that restrictions would have lifted. Planning is now under way for a fair in 2021. We are pleased than the majority of stallholders are supportive and are looking forward to holding this great local event once again.
14 Jan 2019: We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Professor Mike Holwill, former scout leader and group scout leader for many years at Ham and who, until the end, was a supportive member of the group executive committeee. A memorial service was held on 30th Jan at St Richard's Church, Ham following a family funeral in the morning. Our thoughts are with Mike's family and friends.
11 Jan 2019: We were sad to learn of the passing of Richard Millard, who was group treasurer for twenty years from the 1980s. A memorial service was held on 31 Jan at St Richard's Church, Ham. Our thoughts are with Richard's family and friends.
10 Jan 2019: We have expanded our Facebook presence. Please Like our page! :)
3 Jan 2019: We have started configuring OSM to help manage the group administration.
Dec 2018: We are hoping to renegotiate our lease with Richmond Council to permit greater community use of the hut.

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