B.P's 6

Here are some facts about Lord Baden Powell who is also called B.P:

LORD BADEN POWELL (1857-1941)

1. His full name is Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden Powell. The origin of his name is as follows:

• Robert Stephenson was the name of his Godfather.

• Reverend Baden Powell was his father’s name

• His name is Smyth Powell.

2. While young, he also played the Piano and the Violin, he was an ambidextrous artist and enjoyed acting and spending his holidays yatching or going on expeditions with his brothers.

3. The events that led up to Lord Baden Powell forming the Scouting Movement are as follows:

• During the siege of Mafeking, a Cadet Corps (a group of underage white boys below fighting age) were performing odd jobs. Baden Powell was deeply impressed with their courage and decided to use them as a later object lesson for his near-formed scouting movement.

• In 1910, on the advice of King Edward the VII, he retired from the army and started promoting scouting.

• In August 1907 he held the first camp for 22 young scouts at the Brownsea Island to test his ideas. He was acclaimed Chief Scout of the world at the first Jamboree held in 1920.

• With the help of some of his associates, this scouting movement became gradually popular in other countries too.

4. The Scouts and Guides shake hands with the Left Hand. Baden Powell adopted this idea from the Ashanti Tribe of Africa who believed that a brave warrior, who holds the shield in one hand holds out his left hand to show trust in someone.

5. In 1912, Baden Powell met his future wife Olive St. Clair Soames on the Ocean Liner, Arcadian.

6. Baden Powell’s first book on the scouting movement, ‘Scouting for Boys’ sold about 150 million copies to become the fourth bestselling book of the 20th Century.

These facts are to commemorate Lord Baden Powell’s birthday, known as the Thinking Day, which was celebrated yesterday, the 22nd of February.