The history of Scouting in Stockingford goes back to 1930 when Sir Francis Newdegate made an area of land opposite the Round Towers available for a Scout headquarters to be built. The building was completed in 1931 and, after the opening by Sir Francis, the 1st Stockingford Scout Troop took up residence.

It was in late 1941 that the vicar of St Paul’s parish church decided that it would be a good idea if the church had a Scout Group of its own. The Cub Pack was formed first and held its inaugural meeting in January 1942.

The first meeting of the Scout Troop was held on the 9th of February 1942 but the Group was not officially registered at the Imperial Scout Headquarters until July 1942.

During 1941 the Battle of Britain had inspired the formation of a new branch of the Scout movement called Air Scouts and it was decided to make the 2nd Stockingford Group an Air Scout Group. At that time the uniform was a grey serge shirt, navy blue shorts, a navy blue beret and a royal blue neckerchief. Some time later the group were allowed to add a badge to the neckerchief. This badge was in the form of a red sword on a yellow shield to symbolise the sword of St. Paul.

The Cubs also wore a grey jersey instead of the usual green one.

Ralph Oakey had previously been the Assistant Scout Master of the 4th Nuneaton Scout Group and it was largely due to the help given by his old Troop in loaning equipment that the 2nd Stockingford Group were able to undertake proper Scouting activities in the early days.

On Monday 26th November 1945 a group of interested people gathered together and formed the 2nd Stockingford Air Scout Group Committee whose purpose was to be “To raise money to provide the Scouts with headquarters and equipment.”

When the Imperial Scout Headquarters extended the age range of boys being trained to include those aged fifteen to eighteen years of age a war service patrol of Senior Scouts was formed. Support for the new Patrol came from the Vicar and Church Council as the sponsoring authority and Church Farm who provided a meeting place and camping facilities.

The untimely death of Ralph Oakey left the Group without a Scout Master. The role was largely filled by the Senior Patrol who supplied instructors and later Scouters for the various sections. Ralph’s parents were anxious to provide a suitable memorial to him and decided that the foundation of a library of books on Scouting subjects would be appropriate. Nuneaton Public Library were kind enough to provide a space in the library and administer the books until a more suitable location was agreed. Initially there were sixty books which were housed in a specially built case. The first book loaned out was Scouting for Boys by Baden-Powell. It was borrowed by Ralph’s father, Mr. WJ Oakey, who said that it was the book which had given his son the most pleasure.

By 1948 the Group consisted of 3 Senior Scouts, 30 Scouts, 20 Cubs, 2 Assistant Scout Masters and 1 Scout Master.

During 1948 the Troop helped out with the “Great Jam Jar Collection” where Troops throughout the District collected jam jars which were sold to aid charity. Over twenty thousand jam jars were collected in the District which led to a jam jar famine in the town. There are reports of parents besieging H.Q.’s in an attempt to buy back their jam jars at 3d each.

The war meant that some of the members had their Scouting activities interrupted to serve in the forces. One of these was Mr. Ken Bond, who had been a founder member of the Group in 1942, first in the Troop and then in the war service Senior Scout patrol. On joining up he managed to continue his Scouting with a forces Rover Crew. After the war Ken rejoined 2nd Stockingford and received his A.S.M. warrant in 1948. Ken’s wife, Mary, had formerly been a Guide and later became an assistant at the 1st Coton Cub pack before moving to the same position at 2nd Stockingford. Ken went on to become Group Scout Master and eventually District Commissioner. Although he is no longer a uniformed member of the Scouting movement Ken is still on the Executive Council and is an active member of the warrants committee.

Another founder member was Ken Hoskisson and in 1945 was the first Group member to be awarded the King’s Scout Badge. Ken served first as assistant Scout Master and later as Cub Master before following Ken Bond to the position of Group Scout Master. It was during his time as Assistant Scout Master that Ken married Muriel Bone, the Assistant Cub Mistress, at what was the event of that year (194 ??). The Scouts and Cubs formed a guard of honour at the wedding. When Ken resigned as Group Scout Master he continued to be involved with the group as a committee member. When Ken and Muriel resigned from the Committee (197 ??) it was noted that Ken had been with the Group for 32 years and Muriel for 28 years.

By 1953 the Group had a membership of 33 Scouts and 22 Cubs.

In 1957 the AGM report shows that the Cub Pack had won the District Silver Wolf Trophy for the fifth year in succession – a fine achievement.

In 1959 the group opened its new headquarters at the junction of Westbury Road and Haunchwood Road. The Official opening was carried out by one of the groups founder members Mr. Vic Fordham. The ceremony was attended by The Mayor and Mayoress of Nuneaton (Coun. and Mrs. Moreton), The Town Clerk (Mr. AA Crabtree), Coun. And Mrs. Stain, Mr. HC Betts (President of Nuneaton Scouts), Mr. GE Gray (District Commissioner), Rev A Crowe (Curate of St Paul’s church) together with many friends and past members of the group. At the opening ceremony Ken Hoskisson was presented with his Group Scout Master’s Warrant and Mrs. J Storer was presented with her Cub Leaders Warrant.

In 1962 the Group was to become the District “Premier Group” for that year.

In January 1963 Robert Arnold was selected to attend the World Jamboree in Greece. And in April of the same year new flags were purchased for the Troop and Pack.

In 1963 Vic Fordham died and a memorial fund was set up in his memory. The fund was to be known as “The Vic Fordham Memorial fund for the advancement of Air Scouting”. The fund initial treasurer was Mr. G Arnold and the target capital to be invested in the fund was £250. This funds purpose was to help the Scouts with flying activities. The fund was to hold the original capital and the interest used for funding the flying activities.

In February 1964 the Eagle Patrol won the National Air Scout Competition.

The groups maximum recorded membership was reached in 1967 when the total census return recorded 76 members within the group. This was also the year that the Group celebrated its 25th Anniversary. A Service of Thanksgiving was held at St Paul’s Church on Sunday 11th June at 3 p.m. The Group also donated a wrought iron flower stand to the church.

During 1968 the group became an open group and will now accept all boys instead of only Church of England members.

During 1997/8 a project was started which was to turn into a brand new centre for the community of Stockingford. The project was made possible by grants given during a major fund raising effort to refurbish the old Scout Hut and the St John Ambulance Hut adjacent to the Scout Hut. The Scout Group vacated the old Scout Hut at the end of May 1998 and continued at the Parish Hall, the Scouts were unable to find a free evening at the Parish Hall and shared meetings with Nuneaton North Scouts. The Vale View Community Centre was finished and the various groups stared moving in during October and November 1999.