NOSTALGIA: Legendary founders of scouting for boys and girls visit Portsmouth

February 22 would have been the birthday of the man who brought boy scouting and girl guiding into existence.
Seen on the focsle  of HMS Implacable are Portsmouth Sea Rangers in 1937. Lord and Lady Baden-Powell are in the middle. 
Picture: Robert James CollectionSeen on the focsle  of HMS Implacable are Portsmouth Sea Rangers in 1937. Lord and Lady Baden-Powell are in the middle. 
Picture: Robert James Collection
Seen on the focsle of HMS Implacable are Portsmouth Sea Rangers in 1937. Lord and Lady Baden-Powell are in the middle. Picture: Robert James Collection

February 22 would also have been his wife’s birthday, but the amazing thing is there was a 32-year age gap between them. However, they married in 1912 and had three children.

Robert Baden-Powell was born on February 22, 1857, and Olave Baden-Powell (née Soames) was born on February 22, 1889.

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Robert was in the army and served in South Africa during the Second Boer War most famously successfully defending Mafeking during its 217-day siege.

A detail of the first picture showing Robert Baden-Powell and his wife Olave. The photo comes from the Robert James Collection and the man in the cap is Mr James's grandfather Ralph Davidson.A detail of the first picture showing Robert Baden-Powell and his wife Olave. The photo comes from the Robert James Collection and the man in the cap is Mr James's grandfather Ralph Davidson.
A detail of the first picture showing Robert Baden-Powell and his wife Olave. The photo comes from the Robert James Collection and the man in the cap is Mr James's grandfather Ralph Davidson.

He began the scout movement on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour in 1907. He retired from the army in 1910 and formed the Boy Scouts Association. He died in 1941, aged 83.

Olave Baden-Powell took over the guiding movement in 1915 after her husband had tried but failed to integrate girls into the scouts. Olave took up the mantle and girl guiding never looked back.

After the Second World War she travelled the world establishing girl guide movements.

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She died in 1977 and her ashes were taken to Kenya to be interred with her husband’s.

A detail of the first picture showing Robert Baden-Powell and his wife Olave. The photo comes from the Robert James Collection and the man in the cap is Mr James's grandfather Ralph Davidson.A detail of the first picture showing Robert Baden-Powell and his wife Olave. The photo comes from the Robert James Collection and the man in the cap is Mr James's grandfather Ralph Davidson.
A detail of the first picture showing Robert Baden-Powell and his wife Olave. The photo comes from the Robert James Collection and the man in the cap is Mr James's grandfather Ralph Davidson.

In this photograph the couple were visiting Portsmouth and are seen with local Sea Rangers on board HMS Implacable in 1937.

On Sunday night my colleague Bob Hind will be publishing a superb photo of Implacable. Look out for it here about 8pm.