The Invergordon Archive
No: 1327 Contributor: Gordon Legge Year: 1950
Invergordon ScoutsThe picture was taken on 15th May 1950 when the Invergordon Troop was camped at the Highland Gathering park for an inspection by the Chief Scout, Lord Rowallan.
All aspects of the art of camping and turnout were inspected and our proficiency in firelighting, cooking and semaphore was examined. The cooking was much better than the semaphore and I remember his that his Lordship was unimpressed with the latter and with good reason. We were overawed to be in the presence of a Peer and to be introduced to him.
The patrols were named after animals and were: the Swifts, the Lions, the Peewits, the Wolves and the Foxes. I was eventually promoted from Second in the Wolves to Patrol Leader in the Lions. The PL filled in the Register at the meetings and collected the weekly "subs" of 2d.
The annual camp was the highlight of the year and the Scout Masters at Invergordon were imaginative in their choice of venues. Hugh Ross was Scoutmaster at this time assisted by Jackie (Coogan) Fraser. Hugh had taken over from Tom Cumming, an ex-military man. All the gear for the camp was packed into Hugh's ex-army 5 ton Ford truck and then the troop was packed into the remaining space. Those who could not be fitted in were transported otherwise. We camped at Dyce, Inverurie, Bonally (Edinburgh), Stornoway, Portlethen and Hopeman during my time with the troop.
The picture shows the Swift Patrol and the members are named left to right:-
Front row:- George Munro, Hamish Ross (Skipper), Billy Brownhill, Ian MacPherson.
Back row:- Ross Budge, Justin Calder, (Patrol Second - note the stripe on the LH pocket) Iain Legge (Patrol Leader), Walter MacLean, Michael MacPherson (the Black Prince).
Picture added on 05 March 2010 at 12:07
Yes I remember the Black Prince - it would be interesting to know why an Invergordon boy inherited the title of an English King. Also, why was Jackie Fraser known universally as Jackie Coogan? There was an American actor called Jackie Coogan who played the Kid in the Charlie Chaplin film of that name. This same actor also played Uncle fester in the Adams family!
In my time Jackie was the effective leader of the troop as Hugh Ross did not always show up. I think Hugh enjoyed the "military" aspect of scouting whereas Jackie tended to run things as a boys’ club. Hugh had a very fine yacht which favourite Scouts went sailing with him. I never got on board - just as well as I could only "doggy paddle".
And just to end, why was "Tootie" Mackenzie so named?
In my time Jackie was the effective leader of the troop as Hugh Ross did not always show up. I think Hugh enjoyed the "military" aspect of scouting whereas Jackie tended to run things as a boys’ club. Hugh had a very fine yacht which favourite Scouts went sailing with him. I never got on board - just as well as I could only "doggy paddle".
And just to end, why was "Tootie" Mackenzie so named?
Added by Bill Geddes on 11 March 2010
The Black Prince was quite a character, often wondered where the nickname came from and why he had it. I knew Michael, he only lived a couple of streets from me at the bottom of King St...