9th World Scout Jamboree: Difference between revisions

{{infobox WorldScouting | type=event| image = 9th World Scout Jamboree.jpg | caption = 9th World Scout Jamboree | name = 9th World Scout Jamboree | location = [[Sutton Park]], England | country = United Kingdom | members = 30,000|  f-date = 1957}}  

The '''9th World Scout Jamboree''', also known as the '''Jubilee Jamboree''', was held at [[Sutton Park]], [[Birmingham]], England, for twelve days during August, 1957. The Jamboree marked dual milestones as it was both the 50th anniversary of the [[Scouting]] movement since its inception at [[Brownsea Island]] and the 100th anniversary of the birth of Scouting's founder [[Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell|Robert Baden-Powell]]. Held concurrently with the World Jamboree was the 2nd [[World Scout Indaba]] and the 6th [[World Rover Moot]], as well as the third [[World Camp (Guiding)|Girl Guide World Camp]].

All the events took place on adjacent sites within Sutton Park. As well as the 33,000 participants from 85 countries, an additional 17,000 [[British people|British]] Scouts were camping on other organised sites spread over a fifteen mile radius of Sutton Coldfield and attending the daily organised events at the main campsite, giving a total attendance of 50,000 Scouts in residence, with a further 7,000 being bussed in from troops all over England for day long visits that were spread over the 12 days of the Jamboree.   

The vast undertaking was under the leadership of [[Rob Lockhart|Sir Robert Lockhart]], Deputy Chief Scout, as the Camp Chief. He was assisted by Chief Executive Scout Commissioner [[Fred Hurll]] who was Deputy Camp Chief. The Jamboree's Executive Commissioner was [[K. H. Stevens]] the permanent commissioner at [[Gilwell Park]], Scouting's permanent campsite near [[London]], who oversaw the organisation of the many satellite camp sites.  

The Jamboree was formally declared opened on 1 August by [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]], who wore his Ranger Scout uniform, accompanied by the [[British people|British]] [[Prime Minister]], [[Harold MacMillan]]. The Jamboree was closed on 12 August by the World Chief Guide, [[Olave, Lady Baden-Powell]], who gave her speech alternately in both English and French. <ref>[http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/history/inter/jambo.htm#1957 Scoutbase 1957 Jamboree]</ref> Lady Baden-Powell was accompanied by the [[Lord Mayor]] of [[Birmingham]]. The concurrent ''Jamboree-Indaba-Moot'', known by most as '''JIM''', was opened by [[Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester]].   

In conjunction with the Jamboree the Scouting Association promoted a week long [[Gang Show]] at the Hippodrome Theatre in central Birmingham between 5 August and 10 August, led by [[Ralph Reader]] and featuring the full 150 strong cast from his London based Gang Show. Buses were provided each evening to bus up to 500 campers into the city centre for the show. Daily rail excursion charter trains were laid on to transport the international Scouts on sight-seeing trips to various British cities, including [[Nottingham]], [[Leicester]], [[Loughborough]], [[London]] and [[Cardiff]].