Scout museum opens its doors

Members of Macclesfield and Congleton District Scouts enjoyed the reopening of the District Scout Museum at Barnswood Scout Camp recently.

The ceremony at the well-attended event was performed by the Mayor of Macclesfield, Cllr Adam Schofield who with local MP, David Rutley, were given a tour of the Museum speaking with Scout Chaplain and Museum Curator, Trevor MacKay, and Co-Curator Tracey Parry, about the tremendous efforts of the local volunteer team to restore the Museum, over many years.

The Museum was the inspiration of the late Norman Gosling, the former President of the local Scouting District, who worked tirelessly to raise much-needed funds to secure a grant from the Cheshire Building Society to set up the Museum. Mr Gosling succeeded in furnishing the Museum, obtaining archives and exhibits on the rich history of scouting from afar as America, Africa, Canada and beyond, as well as from local scout groups or former scouts. As David learned on his visit, the local District Scout Committee is committed to preserving and promoting Mr Gosling’s impressive seventy-year legacy of scouting in the local area, by continuing to make the Museum an interesting, educational and inspiring place for the young people who visit it.

Sir Nicholas Winterton, the former MP for Macclesfield, and his wife, Lady Ann were also present at the opening ceremony, in recognition of Sir Nicholas’ longstanding support for the local scouting movement, which included opening the original Barnswood Museum in 2007.