Mr Head (left) outside the dilapidated scout HQ with Mr John Cave (centre) chairman of Rushden District Scout Council and Mr Dennis Austin, district commissioner.

Evening Telegraph, 13 November 1986, transcribed by Greville Watson Scout HQ Facelift Rushden scouts have launched a £20,000 appeal to improve their headquarters. The project will involve replacing the present flat roof with a pitched one and providing a committee room, office and storage space. It will also include extending and enlarging toilet and catering facilities. The improvements will cost about £40,000, and the group has been promised grant aid from the County Council of £9,000.

Various fundraising events in the past have netted £10,500.

Mr Peter Head, vice-chairman of Rushden District Scout Council and chairman of the HQ extension project committee, said repairs and extensions were necessary following rapid deterioration of the flat roof over the last few years.

“The last appeal we made was 10 or 11 years ago when we extended the HQ to its present size.  We anticipated the next project would be going upwards and it is our intention to carry out that work as soon as possible.

“Ideally, we would like to install the new roof in the first couple of months of next year.”

Rushden District Scouts caters for 14 groups covering Higham Ferrers, Irchester, Irthlingborough, Raunds, Ringstead and Woodford as well as Rushden.

The headquarters in Skinners Hill are used for meetings, activities and a training centre for boys and leaders within the district and occasionally the county.  They are also used for the Pop In youth group run by the police, which attracts about 140 youngsters.