Boy Scouts, Lord Baden Powell & the Wimbledon Common Windmill 

This photograph was taken of the historic preserved Windmill on Wimbledon Common. It is something that London Tourists miss but is a gem. There is a small museum, which used to be the Millers residence. Lord Baden Powell stayed at the Wimbledon Common Windmill and wrote his book Scouting for boys. There is a commemorative plaque above the entrance door. Lord Baden Powell had just come back from the Boer war in South Africa where he had used small boys as scouts during the siege he was enduring. This formulated an idea to channel the energy of young boys into something more positive than just hanging around on street corners. He used the tranquility of the Windmill’s location to focus his mind and energy into formulating his ideas and putting them down on paper. As you know Scouting, cub scouts, beavers, Explorer Scouts, venture scouts, brownies, and guides have spread nearly all over the world. Every four years there is an international Scout Jamboree. These activities rely on voluntary leaders to perform the role of Scout Leaders, Group Scout Leader, Guider, Brown Owl and Arkala . There is a huge scout network like the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts WAGGGS the Scouting association. Many camp sites are run around the country. The most famous is Gilwell Camp Site. Camping is great. Getting city kids out in the big outdoor in tents under canvas, cooking their own food is wonderful for them