An evening with Witney Buttercross Scout Group

A real delight to visit Witney Buttercross Scout Group this evening and spend time with the Marlborough Cub Pack, one of five Cub packs within the Group.

For those who do not know it, Witney Buttercross Scout Group is something of a powerhouse. With more than 400 young people and around 40 adults in uniform, it is one of the largest Scout Groups in England. Based in a former chapel on Marlborough Lane, right in the heart of Witney, it has clearly become a place of belonging, energy and ambition for generations of local children.

The Group as it exists today was formed in 1970, beginning with a single Cub pack and Scout troop. It has since grown into five Beaver colonies, five Cub packs, four Scout troops and an Explorer unit. That growth does not happen by accident. It reflects sustained commitment from leaders who provide a rich mix of indoor and outdoor activities, all designed to help young people develop confidence, character and a sense of possibility.

The evening itself was a joy. The Cubs, aged eight to ten, were full of curiosity and entirely unfiltered honesty. Questions ranged from the practical (“How much did your suit cost?”) to the wonderfully direct (“Have you ever used the sword for real?”).

What struck me most, though, were the deeper conversations that followed. There was genuine pride in living in Witney, a feeling shared across the room without prompting. There were thoughtful questions about faith (“Is the King a Christian?”) and searching curiosity about what the role of High Sheriff actually involves. It was a reminder, if one were needed, that children are far more interested in the world around them than we sometimes assume, and that they ask the best questions when given the space to do so.

The evening ended, appropriately, with a game of ladders, which I very sensibly sat out and observed from the sidelines.

I left feeling energised and optimistic. Scout Groups like Witney Buttercross are not just delivering activities; they are shaping citizens. In rooms like this, with questions asked and confidence growing, you can see the foundations of a healthy, hopeful community being laid.