New HQ Ground-breaking Ceremony
We held a ceremonial ground-breaking ceremony on Saturday 9th November 2019 for our new HQ in St Nicholas Park, Warwick and also made a plea for on-going support to complete and fit-out the new building in 2021!
The ceremony began with a colours ceremony, with the Sea Scout Red Ensign flag being raised on the site of our new HQ building.
Viv Bosworth, 2nd Warwick Sea Scouts Chair, welcomed everyone and explained that we still need support to raise the final funds for our new HQ. Marc Gadsby, Group Scout Leader explained more about the importance of the new HQ to the group and Warwick.
‘Warwick District Council is very pleased that after 10 years of fundraising and in their 60th anniversary year that 2nd Warwick Sea Scouts can start building work on their new HQ. The new facility will enable the group to expand, giving even more of the district’s young people and children the opportunity to join and benefit from the many life-long skills and experiences they offer’
Graham Illingworth, Chair of Warwick District Council
‘This is a fabulous way to celebrate our 60th anniversary in 2 weeks’ time. It’s amazing to look back on the history of the group and see how we have grown from our small beginnings in 1959, gaining Royal Navy recognition in 1987, to now building our amazing new hut. We are really looking towards the next 60 years, and hope with one final push, we can secure the final funds to finish our new hut, which will be a real benefit to youngsters in Warwick for the next 60 years and beyond!’
Marc Gadsby, Group Scout Leader
For more details on what we now need to raise please visit : Funding Update
If you can help us with the final funds we need; donate any goods to help fit out our new hut or would like to join us as a leader, please email seascouts@2wk.org.uk
Greswolde Construction, a local construction company, began building work on Monday 11th November and it is due to last about 5 months.
Neil Pitchford, one of our assistant scout leaders, dug the first hole in the ground with the help of two Beavers. Neil has been involved in the group for over many years, with his children also being part of the group, and it was over 10 years ago that he first began the drive for a new hut for the group when he was Group Scout Leader.
‘It is amazing to see the new hut about to be built. It has been a long hard journey to get to this stage, and we have had numerous plans, designs and sites for our new hut over the years. We’ve also had to put huge efforts into fundraising too. It’s great that the future of the group will now be secure and that my grandson, a Beaver in the group, will have a new hut to see him grow through the group, so he can also benefit from the opportunities that my children have had at 2nd Warwick.’
Neil Pitchford, Assistant scout leader
Rupert Griffith from King Henry VIII Endowed Trust, who have donated £25k to our new HQ helped break ground, along with former members Alan Haywood and Stuart Alford, who have also supported our appeal.
Cllr Neale Murphy, Major of Warwick also got a turn with the silver spade, helped by two scouts!
