This year sees the 100th anniversary of Scouting. Lauren Murray spoke to Scouts old and new to see what the movement means to them today

OVER the past century the world has changed beyond recognition - but Robert Baden-Powell's Scouts have in many ways stayed the same.

Roger Butcher, of Worcester, was 11 years old when he joined the St John's Scout troop.

Now aged 60, he is the Worcester district archivist and is having as much fun as ever.

"Underneath it hasn't changed at all," he said.

"They want fun, some adventure, some challenges and they want to succeed. It's no different from the children 30, even 100, years ago."

Celebrations for the 100th anniversary are already under way.

He has held a fun day at Elgar Technology College, where he put on a display of Scouting history, including rare photographs, letters sent from Scouts during the First World War, old flags and even older uniforms.

"The photographs show how much it has changed," he said.

One series of images showed Scouts felling a huge tree, a favour to a farmer in return for letting them camp on his field.

"It was an exercise in how to use an axe," said Mr Butcher. "I've heard it said that our roots are in the past but we look to the future.

"In the early days they were teaching semaphore and morse code, nowadays it's the internet and using computers."

The fun day was the first of many special events to mark the 100th anniversary and more than 300 young people - boys and girls - took part.

County secretary Ian Leake, aged 70, of Worcester, was there. He joined the movement as a Cub in 1945. At the age of 17 he became a leader and only stopped five years ago.

"Boys have changed in their expectations," he said. "And what we teach has changed as things have advanced, but there is the same strong belief that Scouting is about the outdoors.

"Camp is where we really work. Where we can empower the boys and really get them to grow up.Camp is the highlight of the year."

Jack Ryan, of St Peter's, Worcester, joined the Rover Scouts in Sydney, Australia, when he was 17 years old.

Now aged 79 and still wearing his fleur-de-lys badge, he remembers bush-walking, sailing, canoeing and swimming being top of the list of activities.

He also recalled the nickname Broomstick Warriors, a term which referred to the staves that Scouts used to carry.

"I'm still in touch with my Rovers. I've been back for reunions a number of times," he said.

Mr Ryan said when he came to this country his mecca was Gilwell Park. The 110-acre centre in London is known as the home of Scouting.

"When I got there I didn't know anybody but I knew I was walking into friends.

"It doesn't matter where you go, if you're wearing the badge you have got friends."

Scout leader Fern Fellowes, aged 23, agreed. She said: "I've been on courses where I don't know anyone but you're instantly friends."

Miss Fellowes is lucky enough to be going on the 21st World Scout Jamboree in Hylands Park, Chelmsford, Essex, this July.

"I'm more excited than the children because it still seems so far away for them but I can't wait."

District commissioner Nigel Brookes can sum up the Scouting movement in a word.

"Fun," he said.

"It's got to be fun because, if it's not, it's not worth anything."

"It's something to do on a Friday afternoon"

MEMBERS of 1st Worcester, Dom Brown and Tris Rogers said Scouts is definitely "something to do on a Friday afternoon".

Thirteen-year-old Dom joined two years ago.

"One camp we went on we had to go into the woods. It was scary, I thought there were people standing outside the tents. It was good though."

The boys said collecting badges was part of the fun.

Tris, aged 12, earned his Communications Badge when he took part in Jamboree On The Air.

"I was talking to people from different countries over the radio," he said. "They were from places like Italy and India. It was pretty good."

He's now looking forward to getting his IT badge.

"You start with something easy like turning on a computer safely, turning it off safely, how to open a programme, easy stuff like that - then at the end you get to create your own website."

"Scouts is good fun," said Dom. "Yeah," added Tris. "It's something to do on a Friday afternoon."