Lancaster & Morecambe Association
From Log Book kept by R.E. Wright, 4th Lancaster *
Lancaster Mail and North Lancashire Journal
July 1, 1910. Price: ONE HALF-PENNY
(* SATURDAY NOON, JUNE 25TH, 1910)
Local Scouts
Meeting of the Lancaster and
Morecambe Masters
A meeting was held in the Y.M.C.A. Institute, last evening, in connection with the Lancaster and Morecambe Scout-masters' Association. Mr. H. S. Beeton (the secretary,) read his monthly report, in which it was stated that all the scouts had been supplied with Roman (enrolment?) cards, which was a symbol of the true scout, The object of having the symbols or marks of distinction was that the householders would be aware that, unless a scout is able to produce his Roman card he is only an imitation. So many complaints had been received from householders about smaller boys going round from door to door begging, and the householders did not understand whether they were really scouts or not.
Election of Officers.
It was proposed and seconded, Captain Beckwith, of Hest Bank, be appointed chairman of the association.
Mr. H. S. Beeton was appointed secretary and treasurer combined.
It was resolved that the committee should consist of scout-masters of registered troops in Lancaster and Morecambe.
Mr. Wright : Would it not be wise to open the committee to ministers. -----?
Mr.Beeton : We will extend our committee later when we see it is necessary.
The next item on the agenda was: The access to lands.
This question provoked much discussion. Mr. Beeton said there was no doubt about it the association had now passed the stage of ridicule and the time would soon come when landowners would consent to allow the scouts the same privileges as the Territorials will be allowed during the next few weeks.
Continuing, the speaker pointed out that he had made both public and private appeals for the loan of land, but they had in each case been politely refused. Something would certainly have to be done in the matter if the success of the movement was to continue, otherwise the enthusiasm, which had hitherto been so keen, would fall off.
Having been refused by certain landowners, Mr.Beeton
thought there was only the marsh or
the moors on
Clougha
in the question. "The land we want," he said, "is the land which is least used
by its owner. A
scrap of, say, two hundred and fifty square yards would be suitable."
After further discussion on the matter, Mr. Beeton expressed the idea that he thought it would be possible, in the near future, to persuade some of the landowners who had already refused the proposal, to lend them their land.. He did not see why Lord Ashton and Mr. H. L. Storey should not be approached on the subject. The meeting agreed that this course should be taken.
Harold Fraser Beeton was born c. June 1880 in Southampton Row, Bloomsbury, London.
In the 1901 census he is shown as a University Undergraduate living in Croydon.
According to the newspaper article dated February 6th, 1911 regarding the
formation
of a Troop at Halton, he is described as “of Lancaster Grammar School”,
suggesting
that he was a master there perhaps.
He was also Scoutmaster of the 3rd Lancaster (LRGS) - see opposite.
