Milnrow Scouts keep their promise

The members gather together before setting off on their trek

Ex and current members of the Milnrow Scout Group kept a promise they made years ago when they met for a reunion on Saturday (13 November 2010) night.

Every few years, a team of Milnrow Scouts trek up Blackstone Edge, a piece of moorland 1323 feet high, a windswept crag that overlooks Rochdale.

In 1990, at midnight on the eve of the Armistice Day Parade, a group of 1st Milnrow Scouts climbed to the Aiggin Stone at the top. When they reached it, they made a promise to meet at midnight on the year 2000, to see if they could do it all again.

After wheezing to the summit, they discussed how they weren’t getting any younger, and 10 years was too long a time. So they agreed to repeat the ordeal in 5 years, and in 2005 they made it to the top again.

Saturday (13 November 2010) was the time for the scouts to meet again.

Seventeen members of the 1st Milnrow Scout Group met at the White House pub for a meal and a few drinks before fourteen of the members and five dogs set off on their trek to the Aiggin stone.

The Aiggin Stone is a medieval guide stone for travellers, marking the summit of the ancient road.

Trevor Winn, registered instructor for the Scout group said: “People came from all areas of the country, Aberdeen, Exmouth, Northumbria, Cardiff, Blackpool, Macclesfield, Leeds, Whitworth and Milnrow just to take part and meet old friends.”

Mr Winn said: “Unfortunately we chose the wrong time as the weather as we set off was miserable with rain and low cloud but this did not deter us and we duly reached the Aiggin Stone and there renewed the Scout Promise and vowed to meet yet again in 10 years time.”


Mr Winn added: “Most of the participants took part in the Remembrance Day parade along with the current Beavers and Cubs and should be congratulated for this especially when they could quite easily have had a lie in after the previous evening’s exertions.


“Once again a superb re-union with plenty of memories revived and friendships renewed.”


Mr Winn concluded: “Roll on 2020!”