75th Anniversary Family Camp

75th Anniversary Family Camp

🏕️ 75 Years, 147 Campers, and a Visit from Filey — Our Anniversary Camp was Something Else

Queen Charlotte's Wood welcomed 37 families, special guests, a Bubbleman who stayed five hours longer than planned, and the son of the man who started it all 75 years ago.

WHOLE GROUP · CAMPING · COMMUNITY · 75TH ANNIVERSARY

Some camps are great. Some camps are the kind you'll still be talking about in another 75 years.

Our 75th Anniversary Family Camp at Queen Charlotte's Wood, Frodsham was firmly the latter. Thirty-seven families, 147 campers in total, day visitors, special guests — and a weekend so packed with memory-making that one parent put it perfectly: "Knackered but filled with happiness."

The activities were everything you'd hope for and more:

🔪 Knife work with Jungle Jim
🔥 Fire lighting
🍕 Pizza making
🏹 Soft archery and axe throwing
🚀 Bottle rockets
💧 Slip 'n slide
🔬 The Wonderweaver Science Show
🫧 The Bubbleman
🎵 Campfire and singing

The Bubbleman was booked for three hours and stayed for eight. "I was having so much fun," he said. We're not surprised — the energy at that camp was something special.

But the moment that made this camp truly historic was the arrival of Ian Clarkson — son of Reverend Eric Clarkson, the man who founded 25th Allerton St Mary's Grassendale Scout Group 75 years ago. Ian travelled from Filey on four trains to join us, was picked up at the station by Jane, and threw himself into everything — including knife work with Jungle Jim, the campfire and the celebrations.

The connection runs deep. Rev Eric later moved to Filey where he also led Scouts — and 25th Allerton is now formally twinned with 1st Filey Scout Group, who Ian helps lead. He had to head back to Filey on Tuesday to help prepare for their own first birthday party. The Scouting family, alive and well across the country.

After camp, Jane drove Ian to Liverpool to visit something brand new: The Eslington Street Project — a joint adoption of the wide pavement and grassy area opposite the Scout hut on St Mary's Road L19, taken on by 25th Allerton and the Cressington Wombles together, in memory of Rev Eric, who particularly loved spring flowering bulbs. On Monday, Ian joined the Monday Cubs in planting daffodil bulbs in the project area. A quiet, beautiful moment — 75 years on from where it all began.

Highlights from the weekend included the Wonderweaver very nearly pouring liquid over Ahmeek's head, dad Jonny getting so absorbed in knife work he completely forgot the time, and Cub team member Sparrow apparently transforming into a cheetah at some unspecified point during the proceedings.

And Jungle Jim's knife base was so popular all weekend, he had to regularly stop and fuel up on coffee just to keep going.

A massive thank you to Richard Ramsaran, Group Events Coordinator, for organising the entire camp — and to every single member of the camp team who made it run so beautifully. And to Ian, for making the journey and sharing the moment with us. It meant more than words can say.

Here's to the next 75. 💛

Want to be part of what comes next? There's a place for you on our team — info@25th-allerton.com

Get in touch

Address

The Scout Hut,
St Mary's Road,
Grassendale
Liverpool
L19 0NE

Contacts

info@25th-allerton.com

Discover the 25th Allerton Scout Group in Liverpool, Merseyside, where young adventurers can explore, learn, and grow together.