Certificate found in the Scout
Hut dated 1967. Best Troop
in a Camping Competition.
Hut dated 1967. Best Troop
in a Camping Competition.
This is one of four magazines
found from 1968. It contains
many historical facts of the
Group
found from 1968. It contains
many historical facts of the
Group
53rd History
53rd St Barnabas Scout Group Cyprus
Venture scout Magazine
dates 1987.
dates 1987.
The 53rd started in 1958 by Mr George Beavers at the request of the boys in the
school where he was then Headmaster. The first unit to appear was a Cub Pack
with six cubs and gradually increasing to twelve. But by this time it was necessary
to start a Scout Troop as the original Cubs were now old enough to become
Scouts. Tigers was the first patrol to be formed then Panthers as numbers
increased. ( expanding to Wolves and Cobras by 1962-3 )
At first an old manor house was used by the Group as a meeting place and it was
not until 1962 it moved to St. Barnabas Church. The groups members were
mostly British families from WSBA residing in Limassol. A Scout Hut was built for
the 53rd by the Royal Engineers next to St Barnabas Church. In the early 1960s
the 53rd ran two Cub Packs and had a Troop of four to six Scout Patrols. Scarf
colours varied over the years: Navy 1958-1963; Red with a yellow half inch band
inset stopping at the woggle in 1963 which changed to gold with a black border in
1971-1975 ( todays colours ). The Group was very active with many camps in both
of the SBAs as well as the Troodos Mountains. Throughout the 1963-1964
troubles the 53rd continued to meet. When a 4pm curfew was imposed by the
British on Service families, Friday Scout night was moved to Saturday morning. At
the same time Bob-a-Job was still successfully carried out, despite the movement
restrictions.
In February 1967 the 53rd Senior Scouts camped in snow on the top of Troodos,
and on 3 Sept 1967 four 53rd Senior Scouts were awarded their Queens Scouts
at Happy Valley. On the same day the Seniors discarded their Group scarf and
were presented with brown scarves, and become a Venture Scout Unit.
By now the Group census recorded 130 Cubs and Scouts and the Scout hut in the
grounds of St Barnabas Anglican Church was too small. So in September 1967
the Group accepted accommodation in the disused NAAFI complex on 16th June
Street in the form of a 40x18 feet Nissen hut. The Scout HQ in the grounds of the
Anglican Church was taken over by a Greek Cypriot Group (the 61st?).
The groups numbers grew in 1968 to 180 strong with cub meetings almost every
night of the week. They were named Monday Pack to Friday Pack. Scouts from the
53rd took part in the Horse Shoe Hikes, District Competitions and had a very
active program.
The Group closed when the Turks invaded Cyprus in June 1974. British families
were evacuated from Limassol to Akrotiri and then finally repatriated to UK. It
re-opened briefly after the Turkish invasion, becoming a multi-national Group
running the British scheme and eventually closed in 1975.
The Group was opened again in 1981 by Ben Whelan and the group became the
first mixed Scout group on the Island for boys and girls. The program was rich with
camps in Happy Valley, participating in Horse Shoe Hikes and challenging
activities which set a trend for many years to come. The group followed the British
Scout Scheme until 1986 and had a leading role in the WSBA District, the group
also took part in activities with Cypriot Scouts in Limassol.
In 1986 two new Leaders were appointed by the Limassol District Scout
Association to run the Group. They were succeeded by John Stavrinidies in 1988
who led the group together with Peter Elton and Richard Vlamis, two old scouts
trained by Ben Whelan.
The group carried on meeting at St Barnabas Church until 1992 when it was
asked to leave. The Group Scout Leader, Richard Vlamis, finding the Group
homeless at this time moved it to its present day location. Over the next years the
Group obtained two containers and a room in the District Building. The program
remained challenging and the spirit of the 53rd carried on.
In 2001 a new Group Scout Leader was appointed, Alexi Chrysostomou. He led
the group until summer 2004 when it closed.
The Group was reopened by Richard Vlamis in March 2005 and by 2007 the group
became one of the biggest groups in Limassol. During the 2007 St Georges Day
events held in Limassol the Group built two towers at the Stadium with the help of
Peter Elton who now was back in Uniform. In the summer of 2007 two Explorer
Scouts, Dalia Fakir and Marina Bangbang, represented the 53rd at the World
Jamboree which was held in the UK. The same year three Explorers gained their
Republic Awards, the first since 1988.
In March 2008 the 53rd celebrated 50 years with a three day active weekend. All
GSL's from 1981 were present.
school where he was then Headmaster. The first unit to appear was a Cub Pack
with six cubs and gradually increasing to twelve. But by this time it was necessary
to start a Scout Troop as the original Cubs were now old enough to become
Scouts. Tigers was the first patrol to be formed then Panthers as numbers
increased. ( expanding to Wolves and Cobras by 1962-3 )
At first an old manor house was used by the Group as a meeting place and it was
not until 1962 it moved to St. Barnabas Church. The groups members were
mostly British families from WSBA residing in Limassol. A Scout Hut was built for
the 53rd by the Royal Engineers next to St Barnabas Church. In the early 1960s
the 53rd ran two Cub Packs and had a Troop of four to six Scout Patrols. Scarf
colours varied over the years: Navy 1958-1963; Red with a yellow half inch band
inset stopping at the woggle in 1963 which changed to gold with a black border in
1971-1975 ( todays colours ). The Group was very active with many camps in both
of the SBAs as well as the Troodos Mountains. Throughout the 1963-1964
troubles the 53rd continued to meet. When a 4pm curfew was imposed by the
British on Service families, Friday Scout night was moved to Saturday morning. At
the same time Bob-a-Job was still successfully carried out, despite the movement
restrictions.
In February 1967 the 53rd Senior Scouts camped in snow on the top of Troodos,
and on 3 Sept 1967 four 53rd Senior Scouts were awarded their Queens Scouts
at Happy Valley. On the same day the Seniors discarded their Group scarf and
were presented with brown scarves, and become a Venture Scout Unit.
By now the Group census recorded 130 Cubs and Scouts and the Scout hut in the
grounds of St Barnabas Anglican Church was too small. So in September 1967
the Group accepted accommodation in the disused NAAFI complex on 16th June
Street in the form of a 40x18 feet Nissen hut. The Scout HQ in the grounds of the
Anglican Church was taken over by a Greek Cypriot Group (the 61st?).
The groups numbers grew in 1968 to 180 strong with cub meetings almost every
night of the week. They were named Monday Pack to Friday Pack. Scouts from the
53rd took part in the Horse Shoe Hikes, District Competitions and had a very
active program.
The Group closed when the Turks invaded Cyprus in June 1974. British families
were evacuated from Limassol to Akrotiri and then finally repatriated to UK. It
re-opened briefly after the Turkish invasion, becoming a multi-national Group
running the British scheme and eventually closed in 1975.
The Group was opened again in 1981 by Ben Whelan and the group became the
first mixed Scout group on the Island for boys and girls. The program was rich with
camps in Happy Valley, participating in Horse Shoe Hikes and challenging
activities which set a trend for many years to come. The group followed the British
Scout Scheme until 1986 and had a leading role in the WSBA District, the group
also took part in activities with Cypriot Scouts in Limassol.
In 1986 two new Leaders were appointed by the Limassol District Scout
Association to run the Group. They were succeeded by John Stavrinidies in 1988
who led the group together with Peter Elton and Richard Vlamis, two old scouts
trained by Ben Whelan.
The group carried on meeting at St Barnabas Church until 1992 when it was
asked to leave. The Group Scout Leader, Richard Vlamis, finding the Group
homeless at this time moved it to its present day location. Over the next years the
Group obtained two containers and a room in the District Building. The program
remained challenging and the spirit of the 53rd carried on.
In 2001 a new Group Scout Leader was appointed, Alexi Chrysostomou. He led
the group until summer 2004 when it closed.
The Group was reopened by Richard Vlamis in March 2005 and by 2007 the group
became one of the biggest groups in Limassol. During the 2007 St Georges Day
events held in Limassol the Group built two towers at the Stadium with the help of
Peter Elton who now was back in Uniform. In the summer of 2007 two Explorer
Scouts, Dalia Fakir and Marina Bangbang, represented the 53rd at the World
Jamboree which was held in the UK. The same year three Explorers gained their
Republic Awards, the first since 1988.
In March 2008 the 53rd celebrated 50 years with a three day active weekend. All
GSL's from 1981 were present.
Flag Pole made by Thales
and Jack in 1985 still
apart of the 53rd.
and Jack in 1985 still
apart of the 53rd.
From Left:
Edgar Altenburger GSL 1986-88
Ben Whelan GSL 1981-86
Peter Elton SL 1989-92 EL 2006-09
John Stavrinidies GSL1988-92
Alexi Chrysostomou GSL 2001-04
George Tikkos Chief Scout
Richard Vlamis present GSL
Edgar Altenburger GSL 1986-88
Ben Whelan GSL 1981-86
Peter Elton SL 1989-92 EL 2006-09
John Stavrinidies GSL1988-92
Alexi Chrysostomou GSL 2001-04
George Tikkos Chief Scout
Richard Vlamis present GSL
53rd Leaders in 2006.
From Left: Richard ( Skip ),
Stephanie and Elias.
From Left: Richard ( Skip ),
Stephanie and Elias.
53rd Leaders in 2007-08
From Left: Peter, Marieffie,
Eros, Stephanie and Skip.
From Left: Peter, Marieffie,
Eros, Stephanie and Skip.
53rd Leaders in 2009 - 10.
From top left: Marina, Dalia,
Mastou and Laura.
From Bottom Left: Grace,
Yolanda, Chris, Skip, Tracey,
Stephanie and Effie.
From top left: Marina, Dalia,
Mastou and Laura.
From Bottom Left: Grace,
Yolanda, Chris, Skip, Tracey,
Stephanie and Effie.
53rd Leaders in 2008 - 09.
From Left: Skip, Stephanie,
Chris, Peter, marios and
Tracey.
From Left: Skip, Stephanie,
Chris, Peter, marios and
Tracey.