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History of Walton Firs camping siteUse the timeline below to navigate the history of Walton Firs. A more detailed history is also available as a PDF file.  Year: 30s - 40s - 50s - 60s - 70s - 80s - 90s - 00sDownload history A detailed history of Walton Firs camp site. To view, you will need Adobe Reader, installed on most computers. If your computer does not have Adobe Reader, you can download it free from the Adobe website. 1930s1930s – Walton Firs was a private golf club. The old wooden bungalow, now the Service Team quarters, was the club house. 1936 – "Scottie Robertson", a Scout, discovered the abandoned 9 hole golf course and through him a number of groups used the site for weekend camps. 1937 – Wandsworth, Putney & Barnes District hold a camp on the site. 1938 – Imperial Headquarters (now Scout Association Headquarters) purchased the property. The Commissioner dealing with the transaction was Colonel Walton. Walton may have also made a considerable donation to the purchase. Consequently the site was named ‘Walton Firs’. 1939 – Site officially becomes Imperial Headquarters Property, but the outbreak of War on the 3rd September prevents any official opening or camps taking place. During the War, a Royal Artillery Anti-Aircraft Battery was stationed on the site. 1940s1943 – Olave, Lady Baden-Powell officially opened the site, planting an oak tree to commemorate the event. The tree was later destroyed in the hurricane of 1987. 1945 – After the War Bill Currie became Warden with Assistant Camp Warden, Bill Nutt. 1950s1950s – Peter Lankaster is appointed as permanent Bailiff (as the Warden was then known). The original bridge over the ravine was built and work carried out to build workshops and a small building which became known as “Smokey Joes”, housing a shop in the summer and accommodation in the winter. 1960s1960 – Peter became a Field Commissioner and Mr Normal Squibb took over as Bailiff. Norman continued the development work, fencing the site and extended the plumbing, providing stand-pipes in the camping areas. 1964 – Malcolm ‘Mac’ Smith took over as Warden. The Training Hut in the ‘Cub Scout Field’ was built. 1969 – Mac died on site in 1969. An English Ash tree was planted in his memory. 1970s1970s – Bill Cook became Warden and ran the site for twenty years. In this time, the Ladies toilets + a new toilet block were added and the Pembroke building erected. The new Providore was build as well as a new Bungalow for the warden and family. The cedar wood bungalow became Service Team accommodation. 1973- Walton Firs ‘Cub Scout Day’ was instituted. 1977 – Scout Air Riffle Championships started, hosted at Walton Firs. 1980s1989 – Bill Cook retires. Dave and Sue McIntosh take over as Warden. 1990s1990 - 3000 new saplings were planted to replace trees damaged in the storms of the late 1980s. Archery, climbing & abseiling, canoeing and an adventure course were added to the site. The site was also rewired and had a new water system fitted. All of these jobs were completed with the help of the volunteer service teams. Late 1990s - A third accomodation building was added using a second hand timber building from Brunswick Square in London. This provided a building with bunk rooms sleeping 24, a wash room suitable for people with special needs, kitchen and dining area. 2000s2000s - New activities added including a maze, frisbee golf and giant games. Toilet blocks refurbished with more ladies toilets added. 2006 - New suppliers for sweets and drinks that do not contain artificial additive and colourings are being sourced. |
My visit to Walton Firs...When I first visited Walton Firs it was a golf course to this day some of the bunkers can be seen, often used as patrol...David Clark - read more Keep up-to-dateJoin our email newsletter: |
