Group history

1912

  • The 14th Midlothian Bonnyrigg Boy Scout Troop started meeting in a hut in old Broomieknowe.
  • The Scoutmaster was Mr Richard Horsburgh, a tailor from 25 Polton Street, Bonnyrigg.
  • The Scouts held a fundraising concert for the miners’ strike fund.
  • There was a Midlothian County Boy Scouts Rally at Polton House on Saturday 20 July 1912.
    Henry Dundas, County Commissioner for Midlothian, addressed the rally.
    More leaders were needed!

1915

Black-and-white photo of a group of about 15 boy Scouts in uniform sitting and lying on a grassy hillside
The first known picture of the Bonnyrigg Scouts, at Heriot in 1915
  • The 14th Scouts go and see Baden-Powell at a rally in Edinburgh.

“The only time I saw the Chief Scout in the flesh with my troop 14th Midlothian Boy Scouts, at that time our Scoutmaster was ‘young’ MacTaggart of well known Midlothian family”

James L Anderson (Scout)
  • Wolf Cubs were beginning!

1916

  • The Scouts move on to their current site at Eldindean Road.
  • Wolf Cubs become an official part of the Association.

1917

  • Senior Scouts introduced in the UK.
  • The following year, Senior Scouts were renamed Rover Scouts.

1929

  • 26th Midlothian (Lasswade) merges with the 14th Midlothian Bonnyrigg.
  • Doug Smith joins the group from the 26th Lasswade Group, as a Scout.

1937

  • As part of a contingent of Midlothian Scouts, Tommy Hope from the 14th attends the 1937 World Jamboree in the Netherlands.
  • This is the last World Jamboree that Baden-Powell attends before his death.
Undated black-and-white group photo of uniformed Scout leaders and young women posing in three rows in a hall

1939

  • Doug Smith becomes Scoutmaster.

1948

  • After Doug Smith returns from the war, a fund is started. Its purpose: to build a new hall.

1966

  • 18 years on, the hall fund meets its target.
  • In November 1966, the 14th Midlothian Bonnyrigg Scout Group’s new hall is opened.
  • The Chief Scout’s Advance Party Report is published.
  • Wolf Cubs are renamed Cub Scouts.
  • Introduction of new Promise and Law.

1967

  • Boy Scouts are renamed Scouts.
  • The Boy Scout Association becomes The Scout Association.
  • Changes in uniform and training following the Advance Party Report’s recommendations.

1981

  • Beavers begin at the Scout Hall.

1986

  • The 22nd Midlothian Lasswade closes, and its leaders and members join the 14th Midlothian Bonnyrigg Scout Group.
  • At this point the 14th had 2 Beaver Colonies, 3 Cub Packs, 3 Scout Troops and a Venture Unit.

1994

  • Bonnyrigg Scouting Magazine Issue 1 is printed.
  • Issue 16, the Millennium Issue, was printed in 2000; that was the last issue.
  • 15 Scouts and 6 leaders from St Cyr L’Ecole, France, visit Bonnyrigg in an exchange visit.
Outside of the 14th Midlothian Bonnyrigg Scout Hall, a single-storey brick building with a flowering tree in front

1995

  • The following year, Scouts from the 14th Midlothian Bonnyrigg visit St Cyr L’Ecole in the return visit.

1998

  • The group launches its first website. It’s such a novelty then that we get a front page story in the Midlothian Advertiser.

1999

  • Doug Smith, ‘the father of Scouting in Bonnyrigg’, dies aged 83. He had been an Assistant Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, Group Scout Leader, Group Treasurer and District Commissioner (Southern Midlothian). He was a holder of the Medal of Merit, Long Service Decoration and Silver Acorn, and received the bar to the Silver Acorn.

2002

  • Following a review of the sections, The Scout Association closes Venture Scouts and introduces Explorer Scouts and Scout Network.

2008

  • Following a restructuring of Scottish Scouting, the Scout group is now part of Midlothian District and South East Scotland Region.

2011

  • We double our membership in 2 years.

2012

  • We celebrated our centenary by holding:
    • a centenary parents’ evening
    • a centenary group camp at Lapwing Lodge
    • a centenary ceilidh at Lasswade Rugby Club
    • a centenary Christmas disco

2013

  • We are successful in getting funding from the Gourlaw Fund, courtesy of Scottish Coal and Midlothian Council, for:
    • replacement of the heating system with gas central heating
    • replacement and decoration of the toilets
    • replacement of the emergency exit doors
    • a complete electrical rewire of the Scout Hall, including the installation of external lights and a fire alarm

2014

  • We received a donation from IKEA Straiton of a new kitchen, which has now been installed entirely by volunteers.

2016

  • The Scout group had record demand, and a waiting list of 74 young people who could join the Scout group now.
  • The Thursday Cub Pack opened on Thursday 25 August 2016.
  • The Friday Beaver Colony opened on Friday 2 September 2016.
  • The Scout group now has over 200 members, the highest number in its 104-year history.
  • We have 9 sections: 3 Beaver Colonies (Monday, Tuesday and Friday); 3 Cub Packs (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday); 2 Scout Troops (Monday and Wednesday) and a Friday Explorer Scout Unit.

2025

  • Planning permission granted for disabled access ramps and an upgrade of the toilet facilities in the hall. Funding is being sought.

2026

  • There are currently 144 young people in the Scout group, with a waiting list of 55.
  • This year Cubs celebrated their 110th birthday and Beavers celebrated their 40th birthday.
  • Beavers were trialled in Bonnyrigg (and elsewhere) from 1981, before becoming an official section of UK Scouts in 1986.
  • We now have 7 sections: 2 Beaver Colonies, 2 Cub Packs, 2 Scout Troops and an Explorer Unit.