THANK you for the prominent report of the recent fire at the 1st Tavistock Scout Group headquarters in last week's issue of the Times.
I should like to clarify the situation for the parents of our members, for other users of our hall and for our many friends in the town.
What was set alight on Friday was not 'a pile of timber' but Scout pioneering poles stacked in a purpose-built store attached to the building. The Devon Fire and Rescue Service had to be called out for a second time on Saturday morning, when the fire was found to be still alight and doing more damage to the building, rendering it temporarily unusable. The cost of the necessary repairs and other expenses approved by the insurance loss adjuster is now in excess of £6,000.
We expect repairs to be completed in the next three weeks. In the meantime we have been lucky in providing alternative venues for meetings of our two Beaver Colonies, two Cub Packs and the Scout Troop.
We are very grateful to Tavistock Parish Church and to the Tavistock Under-fives in Courtlands Road for their help. Thank you also to the many people who have expressed concern.
David Clough
Group chairman
1st Tavistock Scout Group