IN THE early years of the last century the Scouts of the 2nd Silsden (St James) group regularly went camping with their leader, local teacher and musician Ambrose Longbottom.

They are pictured here at their summer camp at Grange over Sands just before the First World War. Third from the left is Tom Stocks, who was to lose his life serving in that war.

Another favourite spot for the troop was Wood Nook, near Riddlesden where they learned to build fires, give first aid and navigate by the light of the stars.

There was also a 1st Silsden Scout group, based at the parish church and led by shopkeeper Harold Haw.

Both groups disbanded during the war years, as a result of so many of their members leaving for the battlefields, and they were not revived until the mid-1920s.

Picture of the Scout group courtesy of Cathy Liddle.