NUMBER 5

On Lol’s retirement as GSL in 1978, his successor in the important role of the Group Leader had been taken on by Malcolm Faircliff who became the first scouter to become GSL who joined the Group as a cub. He received his GSL’s warrant 32 years after his investiture into the Cub Pack. Malcolm held the position of GSL with all its administrative responsibilities with style and authority but regretfully he felt he had to resign his warrant as GSL after four years due to business commitments and the time it was taking to travel from his home in Richmond to Headquarters. However he was not lost to the Group accepting the invitation to become Vice-President and in early 1990 he became President of 1st Cheam following the death the previous November of Lol Sergeant. Malcolm held the President’s office for twelve years, until his untimely death shortly before Christmas in 2002. He was 68.

Number 6

In 1982 when Malcolm stepped down as GSL his successor in the role as head of the Group was taken on by Mike Helps, another Scouter who had joined 1st Cheam as a cub. He had been invested into the Pack at the age of eight in 1943. Mike enjoyed many highlights in his active years within the group, perhaps the the one that gave him the most personal satisfaction was the gaining of the King’s Scout award, eight years after joining 1st Cheam as a Cub. Mike’s two years of National Service saw him serving in the Royal Marines before returning to 1st Cheam and becoming leader of the new Venture Unit where he became involved taking the elder boys hill climbing, caving, canoeing visits to Bethesda. in North Wales and to Norway mixing with the Scouts of Trondheim, plus many varied adventurous activities as well as carrying out himself much maintenance work at the Group’s camp-site at Boxhill. Mike’s contribution and his input into Scouting was rightfully recognised by the award of the Medal of Merit in 1977, the Silver Acorn in ’89 plus a bar to the award in 1998. On his standing down at the age of 65 in the year 2000 after 17 years as GSL Mike was given the rare honour by the Chief Scout of being appointed Honorary Scouter. Though not enjoying the best of health Mike contributes tirelessly whenever he can to the well being of the Group,

Number7

Upon Mike’s retirement as GSL in 2000 John Haizelden was invited by the District Commissioner to take on the role of Group Scout Leader, 1st Cheam; an invitation John said he was privileged to accept.

John’s scouting began in 1948 when he joined the 1st Royal Tunbridge Wells Group as a cub. He remained with the Kent group throughout his boyhood enjoying all the practical aspects and challenges of scouting. Having moved to Cheam and attended the basic Cub Scout Leaders training wood badge course John received his warrant as an Assistant Cubmaster in the 1st Cheam Pack in 1979. In 1994 he received his Long Service Decoration for fifteen years as a warranted Scouter. In 2004 John was awarded the Medal of Merit “in recognition of outstanding services.
During his six years as GSL John led the Group through its memorable 75th anniversary celebrations in 2003. He later sat on the steering committee shaping the pattern of acceptance when girls could join Scout groups to create mixed scouting. John retired at the beginning of 2007 but is still involved in a practical role and continues as dedicated as ever to his charity work with Rotary. Though in retirement, John remains a very welcomed and popular member of the 1st Cheam hierarchy within which the present team of Scouters were delighted when the Chief Scout appointed John an Honorary Scouter.

Number 8

With John Haizelden slipping into retirement and being relieved of the overall responsibility of 1st Cheam it was time for the eighth Group Scout Leader to step forward. Jonathan Long became the third GSL who had joined 1st Cheam as a Cub, he himself being invested into the Pack in the autumn of 1965 during the years Lol Sergeant was Group Scout Leader. Jonathan went on to become Scout Leader in 1983 and proceeded to organise and lead 24 annual troop summer camps until the invitation came for him in 2007 to become the eighth GSL of 1st Cheam. For outstanding services Jonathan was awarded the Medal of Merit in 1989. In 2010 his continued contribution to Scouting was recognised with the award of The Silver Acorn.