Arthur William Gaskin
1891-1975

"By the death on February 1st in Lutterworth of Mr Gaskin, 10 days short of his 94th birthday, Sheffield has lost her oldest surviving Scout, whose contribution to Scouting in this City has been great. He came to Sheffield in 1917 to take up a teaching appointment at King Edward VII School. By September 1920, he became Scout Master of the 29th Sheffield (Montgomery) Troop. In February 1925, he was appointed ADC of the Western Division, in addition lending a hand to Troops in trouble. In June 1927, he founded the 167th (King Edward VII) Troop, resigning in 1950.

He attended World Jamborees in 1924, 1929 and 1937 ( and possibly 1933). He was a pioneer in taking Scouts to overseas countries such as Algeria, Switzerland and Jamaica.

He gained his Wood Badge in 1923, being one of the early holders of this award. He gained the Medal of Merit in 1929 and the Bar thereto in 1938. For many years, he ran the Sheffield Training Troop and Pack benefitting the large number of Scouters who attended.

He was one of those people who got things done without any fuss and was never known to 'get rattled'. I once told him that I thought that he owed his long life to his placid nature and he agreed that there might be something in that.

After living on his own for about 40 years, the last three months of his life were spent in Lutterworth in the home of a great-niece. The funeral took place on February 6th at Lutterworth and the City Scout Council was represented by George Outwin, Barrie Reaney and yours truly".

From a Tribute in Scout News by W G L "Wiggles" Smith