CHATTING idly over supper one evening, about what they would do if they came up on the pools, book-keeper Mr S Partington told Bolton businessman Mr W M Watson that he would give up his job and set up a shop.

It would be a Scout and Guide shop, he said. As scoutmaster of the 40th Bolton, St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church troop, he was well aware what a nuisance it was for Scouts and Guides to have to pay sixpence postage on a threepenny booklet from London and to have to go to Manchester for larger items of camping equipment and for official uniforms.

It was also irksome for a lad who had gained a badge to to apply to the badge secretary in his one hour on duty each week and then, possibly, to have to wait for the badge to be applied for and posted.

“Then why don’t you cast around for support from Scouters?” asked Mr Watson, who immediately promised his own backing.

Within weeks, the financial backing was available and in July 1964 premises were acquired in Bowker’s Row, and after a three ton waggon had taken three loads of rubbish away, six scouts set to work with contractors to knock down walls, lay a new floor and paint the shop.

Mr Partington, the Scoutmaster gave up his job and together with the cub-mistress at St Andrews, Mrs Helen Ireland, he ordered the stock.

The shop became an agency for the official Guide and Scout uniforms, part profits from which were ploughed back into the movement to provide items which had not been available before. At last guides and scouts didn’t need to travel to Leigh and Manchester for their uniforms and equipment.