This is Scouting’s centenary year and, as Natalie Harrison reports, an islander helped bring the Jamboree to the UK. Steve Sarre took the pictures

THOUSANDS of Scouts from around the world set up camp over the past fortnight at Hylands Park, Essex, for the centennial World Scout Jamboree.

Led by Guernsey unit leader Andy Roussel and his three colleagues, 36 island youngsters joined in the fun on the Jamboree site, which covered over 1,000 acres of rolling English countryside and took more than 30 minutes to walk across.

West Explorer Josh Gabriel, 15, said that the event – which encompassed water-based and community projects among many others – had been absolutely amazing.

‘At the opening and sunrise ceremonies, to see 40,000 people waving their neckerchiefs around was absolutely remarkable,’ he said.

In keeping with the message of peace conveyed by the organisation, a flock of doves was released above the crowd following the early morning ceremony, in which Scouts were asked to renew their promise.

At 8am across the world, they were joined by 28 million other Scouts.

And they were entertained with a host of acts over the fortnight, including Robbie Williams and Kylie tributes.

The Guernsey Scouts arrived right in the middle of a downpour, said Mr Roussel, but by the time they got to their sub camp, it was bright sunshine.The whole of the UK contingent got there day before the other Scouts so that they could set up camp for their arrival.

The event brought together representatives from every Scout county in the UK and also Scouts from across the world.

Daniel Wray, 16, said that he expected to keep in touch with the Scouts he had met from other countries – the Guernsey tents were flanked by those from Kenya and Sri Lanka.

And what of inter-island rivalry between Jersey and Guernsey?

It seems the organisers were expecting it, with the island groups’ sub camps situated on either side of the site.

‘We’ve met with them before, because we had a camp in Jersey before we came here.

‘But we don’t see them that often. But relations between us are fine – a bit of friendly rivalry,’ he said.

Malaysian Scout leader Tuk Sing Kho was over with a group of 160.

‘The Scouts are enjoying it here and are looking forward to their next Jamboree already,’ he said.

‘They’re meeting Scouts from all over the world.’

Enough marquees to cover five football pitches were used, with 32 lorry-loads of food delivered every night to the sub camps where the Scouts were based.

‘It’s hard to describe just how big the site is,’ said Bailiff Geoffrey Rowland, a former Cub Scout and president of the Bailiwick of Guernsey Scout Association, who visited the site with wife Diana and son Peter.The Bailiff’s son had, years earlier, been a central figure in a South African conference promoting the UK as the destination for the centennial celebrations. And his efforts paid off. Fifty years after the World Scout Jamboree was last held in Britain, the thousands of 14- to 17-year-old boys and girls gave a traditional three-fingered salute of success to the event.

But though true to its roots, the organisation has certainly seen some changes.

Nowadays, badges can be earned for everything from skateboarding to writing press releases.

The site was also home to four supermarkets, a range of stalls run by charities – and even an olde-Englishe-style tea shoppe.

Deputy Bailiwick commissioner Eric Grimsley, who is writing a series of articles on the history of Scouting in Guernsey, dressed up as the town crier, beckoning people into the venue, which was run by the organisation’s International Service Team staffed by volunteers.

To commemorate the occasion, the Bailiff was given a special Guernsey jamboree neckerchief, which was tied in a friendship knot by one of the Scouts.

‘I’m feeling younger by the minute,’ said the Bailiff, proudly displaying his new neckwear.

‘There are just so many activities and a real sense of engagement and fun.’