Irlam,Cadishead,Rixton with Glazebrook old photos
2nd Irlam Cub-Scout Group
THE (WARRINGTON) GUARDIAN, FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 1969
JUNIOR CORNER
BOY SCOUT CUSTOM
THAT'S PREHISTORIC
When a troop of Boy Scouts is divided into smaller groups, called patrols, these are usually named from animals or birds. There can be lion, lynx, lark and linnet patrols.
By forming into groups named from living creatures, Boy Scouts are following a custom which goes back to prehistoric times and is still practised by some tribes in the less advanced parts of the world. Men whose lives are spent in close contact with wild animals seem to develop a special liking for the creatures around them and in some cases grow to believe they are related to particular species.
American Indians, particularly those living in the far west, had a system whereby different families within a particular tribe each had a separate set of laws according to the animals chosen as their mascots. They carved on tree trunks their special animal alongside some of their ancestors. These are called totem poles.
Wounded seal
Sometimes no member of a family was allowed to kill the totem animal, though they were occasionally allowed to do so under special conditions. A family linked with the bear might be obliged to kill a bear once a year, then eat it with due ceremony so that its strength would go back into the family.
This system of grouping families round particular animals was given up in Europe long ago, but traces of it remain. Some Scottish clans claimed that their ancestors were seals, and the MacCongail family in Ireland were supposed to be descended from a seal-woman. An Irish story tells of a young man who had wounded a seal and was about to kill it when it cried out "Spare your old grandfather!"
'Pig-people'
The Orkneys, which lie off the northern coast of Scotland, are said to be named from two Pictish words meaning "islands of the pig" and the tribe of Picts which once lived there were called the Orce, or "pig-people". Many skeletons of pigs have been found among prehistoric remains in the Orkneys. From the appearance of the bones, it is believed that the pigs were used for important sacrifices.
Long after families had ceased to be directly linked with animals, men-at-arms made use of animal signs in a different way. Kings, noblemen and knights who fought in complete suits of armour had to choose emblems which would enable them to be recognised. These emblems were painted on their shields. Many kinds were used; lions, leopards, deer, wolves, eagles, and swifts (called "martlets") were particular favourites.
Animals are still used in a similar way, though not by warriors. Recent examples were the lion and the tiger. The lion was used for marking eggs and the tiger for advertising a motoring product. It would be easy to make a kind of paper zoo by cutting out and collecting the various creatures - horses, deer, cats, dogs, penguins, puffins, etc. - whose pictures are used to advertise something or other.
Safety symbol
If this subject interests you, you could put your ideas to good use during the summer holidays. The British Safety Council are running a campaign called "Operation Matthew" and for it they want children to design a national children's hospitals, orphanages and special schools safety symbol which they will use during the next 10 years.
Of course the symbol need not be an animal or a bird, but competitors are asked, not only to draw the symbol, but to make it in the form of a cuddly toy.
The first prize will be 100 Premium Bonds, but there will be many more prizes in three different age groups.
The competition closes on September 30, 1969. Entry forms and full particulars can be had from "Operation Matthew," British Safety Council, 163/173 Praed Street, London, W.2.
Image from article information: It's great fun being a Cub. These lively lads from Irlam, Lancs, have cause for celebration. They won a trophy - (The Parkinson) - just before this picture was taken.
More information on image:
Hats off to these jubilant members of the 2nd Irlam Cub-Scout Group pictured here with the Parkinson Trophy which they carried off from the Urmston and District Cub-Scout Sports for the first time in the group's history this month.
2nd Irlam Cub-Scout Group
THE (WARRINGTON) GUARDIAN, FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 1969
JUNIOR CORNER
BOY SCOUT CUSTOM
THAT'S PREHISTORIC
When a troop of Boy Scouts is divided into smaller groups, called patrols, these are usually named from animals or birds. There can be lion, lynx, lark and linnet patrols.
By forming into groups named from living creatures, Boy Scouts are following a custom which goes back to prehistoric times and is still practised by some tribes in the less advanced parts of the world. Men whose lives are spent in close contact with wild animals seem to develop a special liking for the creatures around them and in some cases grow to believe they are related to particular species.
American Indians, particularly those living in the far west, had a system whereby different families within a particular tribe each had a separate set of laws according to the animals chosen as their mascots. They carved on tree trunks their special animal alongside some of their ancestors. These are called totem poles.
Wounded seal
Sometimes no member of a family was allowed to kill the totem animal, though they were occasionally allowed to do so under special conditions. A family linked with the bear might be obliged to kill a bear once a year, then eat it with due ceremony so that its strength would go back into the family.
This system of grouping families round particular animals was given up in Europe long ago, but traces of it remain. Some Scottish clans claimed that their ancestors were seals, and the MacCongail family in Ireland were supposed to be descended from a seal-woman. An Irish story tells of a young man who had wounded a seal and was about to kill it when it cried out "Spare your old grandfather!"
'Pig-people'
The Orkneys, which lie off the northern coast of Scotland, are said to be named from two Pictish words meaning "islands of the pig" and the tribe of Picts which once lived there were called the Orce, or "pig-people". Many skeletons of pigs have been found among prehistoric remains in the Orkneys. From the appearance of the bones, it is believed that the pigs were used for important sacrifices.
Long after families had ceased to be directly linked with animals, men-at-arms made use of animal signs in a different way. Kings, noblemen and knights who fought in complete suits of armour had to choose emblems which would enable them to be recognised. These emblems were painted on their shields. Many kinds were used; lions, leopards, deer, wolves, eagles, and swifts (called "martlets") were particular favourites.
Animals are still used in a similar way, though not by warriors. Recent examples were the lion and the tiger. The lion was used for marking eggs and the tiger for advertising a motoring product. It would be easy to make a kind of paper zoo by cutting out and collecting the various creatures - horses, deer, cats, dogs, penguins, puffins, etc. - whose pictures are used to advertise something or other.
Safety symbol
If this subject interests you, you could put your ideas to good use during the summer holidays. The British Safety Council are running a campaign called "Operation Matthew" and for it they want children to design a national children's hospitals, orphanages and special schools safety symbol which they will use during the next 10 years.
Of course the symbol need not be an animal or a bird, but competitors are asked, not only to draw the symbol, but to make it in the form of a cuddly toy.
The first prize will be 100 Premium Bonds, but there will be many more prizes in three different age groups.
The competition closes on September 30, 1969. Entry forms and full particulars can be had from "Operation Matthew," British Safety Council, 163/173 Praed Street, London, W.2.
Image from article information: It's great fun being a Cub. These lively lads from Irlam, Lancs, have cause for celebration. They won a trophy - (The Parkinson) - just before this picture was taken.
More information on image:
Hats off to these jubilant members of the 2nd Irlam Cub-Scout Group pictured here with the Parkinson Trophy which they carried off from the Urmston and District Cub-Scout Sports for the first time in the group's history this month.