The Estate - Bevendean History Project
Scout and Cub Hut Construction at Lower Bevendean
SELF-HELP SCOUTS
The “do-it-yourself” gang of the 59th Brighton Scout Group will save £1,000 by building their own headquarters.
It would have cost the group at least £3,000 for the type of building needed for the 70 Scouts and Cubs. They just could not afford it.
So, under the foremanship of Assistant Scoutmaster Alf Lakin, a gang of Scouts and parents are now tackling the job themselves.
Work started in June when Alf, a 42 year old carpenter and joiner, of Hornby Road, Brighton, first pegged out the site at Heath Hill Avenue, Lower Bevendean. Ever since, he has spent every spare moment forging ahead with the building.
And, with his genial manner Alf has persuaded electricians, builders, plumbers and drainage workers to lead a free hand.
For three years Alf pressed for new headquarters to replace the old cramped hut.
The scouts and cubs new hut nearing completion in 1962.
Finally, the Ministry of Education offered to pay £1,000 towards the scheme and the local education authority said they would give £500. By organising fetes and jumble sales the group reached their target of just over £2,000.
Christmas is the completion target; I hope we will be able to have our annual party here." Alf said last night.
Everything has gone to plan. But for Alf there is one big disappointment. “I wish more parents had come along to help,” he said. If they had we might have been in the place this month. Now we are going to be handicapped by the dark nights.
From a local newspaper report in c1962.
Brighton Council received a notification that the building work had been completed dated 8 April 1963.
If you have any memories of the cubs and scouts at Lower Bevendean please contact the website using the contact page.
