🚀 go-pugleaf

Coming to London, then you might be expecting to stay in Baden-Powell
House but you will find it closed from 4th November 1996 to 16th March
1977 for major refurbishment.

In 1942 Lord Somers, Chief Scout of the British Empire launched an
appeal to the Scout of Great Britain the purpose of which was to raise a
fitting memorial to B-P.  In making his announcement the then Cheif
Scout expressed his strong desire to see the fulfilment of one of B-P.s
most expressed dreams that there sshould be a scout home in London the
city of the founder's birth and the capital of the country in which
scouting started.  "This will be a great centre, dedicated to the B-P
way of life", said Lord Somers, "a house where Scouts from all parts of
the world will be welcome and feel at home, a common meeting ground
where the Scout Law can be seen in actual practice."

Baden-Powell house is the fulfilment of that dream, opened on the 12th
July 1962 by her majesty Queen Elizabeth II.   Since that date the house
has seen millions of Scouts and Guides from all over the world some
passing through London for just a few hours or others staying for
several days at a time.   When it was opened the house was considered to
be very modern with excellent facilities.  35 years later the time has
come to update those facilities to equal or better than those required
by todays visitors.

The cost of this will be in the region of 2million pounds most of this
will come from the Baden Powell Memorial Fund.  The major features in
this developemnt will be to increase the bed capacity from 115 to 180
and for all the rooms including the conference facilities to have air
condition.  

Bookings after re-opening are being taken and help can be given to find
alternative Scout accommodation by telephoning 0171 584 7031 or FAX 0171
590 5235
-- 
This mail from Chris Wilkinson, Group Secretary ScoutBase UK
http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/    -    chris@scout.demon.co.uk
      ScoutBase UK - The Scout Association's Web Site