St Michael and St Johns Loyola Scout Group Clitheroe

26/09/2026

*** Loyola Scouts featured by the BBC ***
We’re really pleased to share this lovely piece from the BBC about our farewell to the Old Stables and the next chapter for our Scout Group. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8x2zz4vr2g6o
It captures a very special moment in our history: saying goodbye to our long-standing home on Lowergate, celebrating more than a century of Scouting connected with Loyola in Clitheroe, and looking ahead to our future at Clitheroe United Reformed Church.
Thank you to BBC Radio Lancashire and reporter Sumaiya Motara for joining us on Wednesday evening and speaking to members past and present.
This is a proud moment for our young people, volunteers, families and everyone who has been part of the Loyola story over the years.
One chapter closes — another begins.

The Loyola Scout Group is saying a final farewell as the building will be sold by the church.

25/09/2026

A little piece of Loyola history…

As we say goodbye this week to the Old Stables, we’ve been sorting through decades of Group archives and came across this wonderful scrapbook diary.

Inside was the original newspaper cutting from the opening of our new Scout and Guide headquarters in Lowergate in 1981.

The headline reads:

“New Scout headquarters is an example to others”

The article describes how a four-year project transformed the old stables at Stanley House into a new headquarters, at a cost of around £20,000 — twice the original estimate.

Perhaps the most poignant words are those of Group Chairman John Cowman:

“It is an impossible dream come true. The project seemed totally beyond our reach, but we have made it.”

More than four decades later, those words feel particularly special as we leave the building that generations of Scouts and Girl Guides subsequently called home.

What was once a dream became a place filled with friendships, adventure, laughter and memories.

And now, as we close that chapter, we take those memories with us into the next one. 💚

23/09/2026

A few more photos from a very special evening at the Old Stables.
It was lovely to see so many generations of the Group together in one place - current Scouts, former members, volunteers, families and friends.
A huge thank you again to everyone who came along, helped with the evening, shared memories and made it such a fitting farewell.
These photos capture some of the atmosphere perfectly.
One chapter closes — another begins.

23/09/2026

A very special farewell to the Old Stables

This evening we marked the end of a remarkable chapter in the history of St Michael & St John’s (Loyola) Scout Group.

We were delighted to welcome the Mayor of Clitheroe, Mary Robinson, and Mayoress Helen Guiver, together with District Lead Volunteer Glen Fendall, former members, families, volunteers, friends and supporters of the Group.

A reporter from BBC Radio Lancashire also joined us, speaking to members old and new about their memories of Loyola and what Scouting here has meant to generations of young people.

Our heritage display brought together photographs, documents, badges, pennants and memories from the 1920s onwards, telling the story of more than a century of Scouting connected with Loyola in Clitheroe.

The evening ended with a deeply moving final flag ceremony in the Old Stables.

As the Group flag was lowered for the last time, Explorer Scout, Scout and Cub Scout flag bearers dipped their section flags in a final salute, lowering them until they touched the floor as the Group flag came fully down.

The flag was then removed, carefully folded and presented to District Lead Volunteer Glen Fendall.

It was an incredibly poignant moment and brought more than a few people to tears as we reflected on the generations of Scouts and Girl Guides who have passed through these doors.

Thank you to everyone who came along, shared memories, looked through the displays and helped make the evening so special.

This is not the end of the Scout Group. It is the closing of one very important chapter as we prepare to begin the next at Clitheroe United Reformed Church.

A century of memories behind us - and a new chapter of Scouting in Clitheroe ahead. 💚⚜️

22/09/2026

FAREWELL TO THE OLD STABLES – TOMORROW EVENING

Tomorrow evening we will be opening the doors of The Old Stables, Lowergate, Clitheroe for a special farewell and heritage evening celebrating the remarkable history of St Michael & St John’s (Loyola) Scout Group.

📅 Wednesday 23 September
🕖 8.00–9.00pm
📍 The Old Stables, Lowergate, Clitheroe

We’ve been busy putting together a heritage display featuring photographs, documents, badges, pennants and memories from the 1920s onwards, telling the story of generations of Scouts and Girl Guides connected with Loyola and this building.

It is a chance for former members, volunteers, families, friends and members of the local community to come back, look through the displays, share memories and help us celebrate more than a century of local Scouting history.

☕ Tea, coffee and refreshments will be available.

This is not the end of the Scout Group. We are simply closing one very special chapter before beginning the next at Clitheroe United Reformed Church.

If you were ever a Scout, Cub, Beaver, Guide, Brownie, leader, volunteer or supporter here, we would especially love to see you.

Please share this with anyone who may have memories of Loyola or the Old Stables.

Come and help us celebrate the past, say farewell to our old home, and look forward to the next chapter of Scouting in Clitheroe.

20/09/2026

WE’VE MOVED — ACROSS THE ROAD!

A huge thank you to the amazing team of parents, Trustees, volunteers and young people who helped move our Scout Group from our long-standing home on Lowergate to Clitheroe United Reformed Church - URC yesterday.

It was a monumental task, but around 14 people completed the move in under four hours. There was plenty of hard work, teamwork, fun and laughter along the way - a wonderful demonstration of what our Scouting community can achieve together.

Our equipment is now safely installed in our newly refurbished storeroom (and loft area), ready for the next chapter of Scouting in Clitheroe.

This Wednesday, 23 September (8-9pm), we will gather at our former Lowergate headquarters to say a proper farewell to the building that has been our home since 1981 and to celebrate the many generations of Scouts and Girl Guides who have shared friendship, adventures and memories there.

Although we have only moved across the road, this is a significant moment in our Group’s history: the end of one chapter and the beginning of an exciting new one.

Thank you to everyone who helped make it possible.

16/09/2026

We welcome everyone regardless of gender, belief or ability.

We're proud to be a . scouts.org.uk/volunteer

09/09/2026

Generations of young people have passed through the historic group

06/09/2026

***Farewell to Loyola Scout Group – marking the end of an era***
After more than 100 years of Scouting history, and more than 75 years at The Old Stables on Lowergate, St Michael and St Johns Loyola Scout Group Clitheroe is preparing to leave its long-standing home.
Our current building has been sold by its owner, St Michael & St John’s Church, and we are required to vacate by the end of September.
The Scout Group is not closing. We are a thriving Scout Group with active Beavers, Cubs and Scouts, supported by adult volunteers and Explorer Scout Young Leaders, and we are relocating to Clitheroe United Reformed Church. As part of that move, we will also be changing our Group name to reflect our new home and future.
Our page gives a good flavour of how active the Group is and the kind of opportunities our young people are enjoying:
St Michael and St Johns Loyola Scout Group Clitheroe
We have existed continuously since at least 1924, and generations of young people have passed through Loyola - making friends, learning skills, camping, adventuring, serving the community and growing in confidence.
We would like to invite former members, parents, volunteers, friends of the Group and members of the local community to join us for a simple farewell gathering.
Wednesday 23 September
8.00pm–9.00pm
The Old Stables, Lowergate, Clitheroe
This will be an informal drop-in with light refreshments available. There will be an opportunity to share memories, see the building one last time and mark the end of this chapter.
At the end of the evening, our Scouts will perform a final flag down as St Michael & St John’s (Loyola) Scout Group, before we move to our new home at URC.
If you have any old photos, memories, badges or stories from your time with the Group, we would love you to bring them along or share them with us.
Please share this with anyone who has been connected with the Group over the years. It would be lovely to see people there and hear their memories.

22/08/2026

From summer camp to sailing boats — what a week for Loyola Scouts!

Just one week after returning from Chamboree, many of our Scouts were straight back into adventure today — taking their sailing taster session to the next level and working towards their Scout Sailing Staged Activity Badge.

For some, this was only their second time in a sailing boat. Today they were rigging boats, learning how to control the sail, working together on the water, building confidence, and discovering that sailing is a lot more fun once you start to understand what the wind is doing!

There were plenty of smiles, a lot of learning, and some brilliant teamwork from our novice sailors.

A massive thank you to Rachael from Lancashire School Sailing Association for doing such a fantastic job coaching and encouraging the Scouts, and for helping them develop new skills on the water.

This is what Scouts is all about: adventure, confidence, friendship, trying new things, and learning skills for life.

Could your young person benefit from opportunities like this?

We have a small number of spaces available in our Scout section for young people aged 10½ to 14. We are also looking for more adult volunteers to help us keep offering activities like sailing, camps, cycling, hikes and outdoor adventures.

You do not need to have been a Scout before, and you do not need to be an expert. Flexible help from adults makes a huge difference — and you might even find yourself learning something new too.

Please message the page to find out more or share this with a family who might be ready for their next adventure.

Loyola Scout Group, Clitheroe
Giving young people a place to belong.
Preparing them with skills for life.