This month the 1st Elstree Scouts celebrate their 95th anniversary, making them one of the oldest scout troops in the world.

The troop was formed after war hero Lord Baden-Powell attended a house party at the home of Arthur Pearson, who published the book Scouting for Boys.

At the meeting Baden-Powell met Percy Everett, Pearson's literary editor, who lived in Elstree.

The men discussed launching a new youth organisation — the Boy Scouts, and Baden-Powell invited Everett to the first ever scout camp, held on Brownsea Island.

Soon six village boys founded the 1st Elstree Scouts, meeting in a room over a stable at Mr Everett's private house, Oaklands, in Barnet Lane. The scouting pioneer's wife wanted to use the room as a chicken coop, but eventually she lost out to her husband's new hobby.

The troop often went camping in the countryside surrounding Elstree, where they once met a character called The Sailor, a rotund, tattooed ex-seaman, who kept ferrets in his shirt and taught the boys how to catch rabbits and build camp fires.

By 1909 scouting was becoming popular all over Britain, and the Scout Association was established. Mr Everett was made county commissioner for Hertfordshire and Middlesex, and Alec Portsmouth took over as Elstree's leader.

During the First World War the Elstree scouts carried messages for soldiers camping outside Elstree village, and collected eggs for wounded soldiers being treated at a temporary hospital in Allum Lane. They also helped out with chores at the hospital.

In 1921 the 1st Elstree Guides was formed, and in 1930 Percy Everett was knighted for his services to scouting and guiding.

Don Clark joined the 1st Elstree Scouts in 1950, and he enjoyed it so much he became a scout leader as an adult. He said scouting helped to build character, and gave boys the chance to enjoy camping and other outdoor activities.

"One of the things that first started in the 1950s was that the Elstree troop got involved with scouts from other countries."

In 1958 two German scouts joined the Elstree scouts on a camping trip to Devon, and in 1976 the village troop travelled to an international scout event in Switzerland.

The friendships formed during these international exchanges helped to dispel some of stereotypical images of foreigners that were prevalent at the time.

In 1967 the 1st Elstree incorporated the 2nd Borehamwood Scouts, and businessman Charles Booth from Barnet Lane helped the new, larger troop to establish new headquarters, at Everett House in Arundel Drive.