New HQ in 1972 for rapidly growing Cub Scout group

The pack was founded by Mr and Mrs Deare and membership had been limited to boys who attended Harlands School, its sponsor.

That didn’t stop the waiting list growing and growing, and by early 1970, a gentleman called Sir Ralph Clarke was approved to see if he could lease a suitable piece of land for development.

Before the HQ was built, Mr Deare had handed over the reins to John Button.

He, in turn, gave control of the Cub pack to his wife while he set about establishing a Scout troop for the older boys.

By this time, the group had become independent of Harlands and some meetings were being held in St Richard’s Church as well as on the Harlands field.

Things proved so popular, a second Cub pack was in the process of being formed in 1972 to provide space for the boys who could not get into the Wolf Cub pack.

When the HQ finally opened, Cubs formed a guard of honour to welcome guests to the site.

The Mid Sussex Times reported: “The sun shone and the smell of log fires permeated the air for the opening ceremony.”

It was estimated that £6,000 had been spent on the site.

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