Rose Hill pupils recently celebrated the birthday of former student and Scouts founder Robert Baden-Powell and reveal how the school is motivated by his message…
Pupils at one of Tunbridge Wells’ leading prep schools have marked the 166th birthday of Robert Baden-Powell, their noted former pupil who is famous for being the founder of the Scouting movement.
Baden-Powell, whose birthday was on February 22, attended the school in the 1860s under Headmaster Thomas Allfree. He credits his time at Rose Hill, when he explored the nearby common and woods, with the creation of the Scouts many years later
His book ‘Scouting for Boys’ was the fourth-bestselling book of the twentieth century and sold 150 million copies. He kept in touch with the school until his death in Kenya in 1941.
In his final letter to the Scouts, Baden-Powell wished the Scouts a happy life: “One step towards happiness is to make yourself healthy and strong while you are a boy, so that you can be useful and so you can enjoy life when you are a man.”
It went on to say: “Try and leave this world a little better than you found it and when your turn comes to die, you can die happy in feeling that at any rate you have not wasted your time but have done your best. ‘Be prepared’ in this way, to live happy and to die happy – stick to your Scout Promise always – even after you have ceased to be a boy – and God help you to do it.”
A spokesperson for the co-ed Rose Hill School, which accepts pupils aged 3 to 12, told the Times:
“The school is very proud of its links with the founder of the Scouts and Girl Guides. Last year the school launched its own Scout troop to join the already thriving Cub, Brownie and Rainbow clubs.”
Philippa Lang, Scout Leader and Deputy Head added: “The Scouting movement is as important today as it was when it was founded in 1910.
“Our pupils face very different challenges, but the ambitions of the movement are still the same, which in essence is to be a good citizen. Our pupils spend time working as a team, as well as spending time outdoors, using their resilience to overcome challenges.”
If your child is interested in joining the Rose Hill Scouts, the troop is open to both girls and boys in Years 6 to 8. For information, contact: philippa.lang@rosehillschool.co.uk
