Searching for Flags for a Centenary
by John Smith
This year (2022) is the centenary of the formation of the 1st Port Glasgow and 2nd Renfrewshire Rover Scouts who were formed in 1922. I am part of a small team of former members of the Rover crew that is trying to celebrate this centenary. We are helped by having in our possession a wonderful set of memorabilia in a tiny suitcase. It contains many historical writings that cover the years 1909-1970, and an extensive set of names of past Scouts and Rovers. It also contains a vast amount of photographs (over 500) that cover that whole period of time from 1909 to 1970.
We are however always on the lookout for additional memorabilia that will add colour to any exhibition that we plan to make. One of our group (Murray Paterson) is a member of the New Parish Church in Port Glasgow, and as the churches have amalgamated, and the Scout troops amalgamated it has become a repository of the Scouts, BB and Guide flags of the past.
We obtained permission to go and carefully photograph the flags that are stored In the church.
The church itself is a major piece of history of Port Glasgow. For many years it was called the Port Glasgow Parish Church, with its Church Hall in Victoria Street. A church was built here in 1717 with the capacity for 800 parishioners. A large percentage of them were Glasgow folk and they demanded the right of having the balcony pews in the church. Eventually the church grew in numbers as the town prospered. In 1774 a Chapel of Ease was built and was called the Newark Parish Church. The old church in Church Street was replaced in 1823 by a new church that was built on pillars so as not to desecrate many graves in the centre of the churchyard.
The inside of the church is quite beautiful.
The flags are clustered on the balcony of the church.
There are three flags that are part of the history of the 1st Port Glasgow and 2nd Renfrewshire Troop. Two flags are normally displayed on a procession or march. One of them was always the United Kingdom flag, the Union Flag.
The second flag would be mostly the flag that states who the troop are.
The third flag is special in that it was unique to the 1st PG and 2nd Renfrewshire. In 1913-1914 one of the Birkmyres (who was a member of the Princes Street Church), presented Colours to the church, and that was this flag.
The time between 1909 and 1922 was an exceptional time for the 1st Port Glasgow 2nd Renfrewshire Scout Troop. Undoubtedly they were the premier Scout troop in Scotland. Every year from 1911 to 1921 the Scouts took part in the Benmore Shield. This was a national competition for Scouts and the 1st Port Glasgow won it every time. That is why you see in the next photograph the tassels that represent the wins of the troop.
So we managed to get our images of these important flags. Thanks to Robert Guthrie of New Parish Church for being so helpful.