Rydal School proved to be a strong influence on scouting in both Colwyn District and in the scout county of West Denbighshire. Not only was there a strong Wolf Cub section but at least six scout troops existed, with four active at the same time. Many of the leaders came from amongst the school staff with several becoming leaders within the district and the county.

Some notes from former pupil and Scout, John Tucker. 10th October, 2004

My recollections cover only the period 1940-1946 when I was at Rydal, first in the junior  school and then in the senior school from 1942- 1946.  The junior school Cub Pack was  at Beech Holm, one of the two school boarding houses in Pwllycrochan Avenue, Colwyn Bay under Miss Corlett, one of the mistresses whilst the scouts were at Walshaw in Oak Drive – 3/4 mile away.  Headquarters for the troop was in the lodge and we had half a dozen patrols.  L.V.”Toc” Turner a master and old scout was Scoutmaster – and also a Rowen (Scout Camp Site) regular in the 1930’s.  Headquarters was later in The Coach House at Hathaway House, Lansdowne Road in Colwyn Bay.

(During the war) The Senior School was evacuated to Oakwood Park, a former hotel set in grounds about a mile and a half from Conwy on the way up to Sychnant Pass. The buildings in Colwyn Bay were taken over by the Ministry of Food.

A full troop was run with a small section of Sea Scouts, about a patrol in strength which was under Dr. K.G. (Doc) Britton as Scoutmaster. Toc (L.V. Turner) was again involved in Scouts and also the Chaplain. W “Math” Mathews”. The headmaster A.J. Costain MA was closely into North Wales Scouting and was District or County Commission for, I think, West Denbighshire.  I believe he was awarded the Silver Acorn about 1943-44.

The Sea Scouts began with an oared ex Naval Whaler, kept on the River Conway and later a converted ships boat “Fair Winds” with a small cabin forward and a dinghy as tender.  The boat was powered by an Austin 7 Marine Conversion, the work being done in the Science Lab and Workshops at School by the Scouts under Doc Britton.  We used to manage about 12 knots with a full running ebb tide!

Rowen (Scout Camp Site) was used by Rydal and I camped there.  Scouting began in  school long before the war and possibly as far back as the 1920’s but school records should be able to help.

J. Tucker, Hazlemere, Surrey