DEVIZES Scouts and Cubs went back to basics at the weekend in the first event celebrating 100 years since the troop was first set up.

Devizes Scouts claim to be only the second Scout troop in the world, set up in June 1908 by Lt Col Kenneth Steele, a brother-in-arms of founder Lord Baden-Powell at the siege of Mafeking during the Boer War in South Africa.

Lord Baden-Powell visited Devizes in March 1910, just two years after the local troop was founded.

Col Steele lived at Springfield House in Potterne Road. He received his Scoutmaster's warrant in November 1908, so beginning a proud tradition that continues today.

The centenary cook-in at the Scout Hut, officially opened in 1919, is the first of a series of weekend events there, gradually taking the Scouts through their history and bringing them up to date by next spring.

The Scouts will learn about wood whittling, starting fires by rubbing two pieces of wood together, boiling up billy cans to make tea and all the old-fashioned survival skills that would endear them to Ray Mears.

Later on in the summer there will be a outdoor mini-Gang show on the lawn beside the hut and a trip to Brownsea Island, where Lord Baden-Powell founded the Scouts in 1907, is planned.

Next Easter two local Scout crews will take part in the Devizes to Westminster canoe race, which was founded by Rover Scouts Laurie Jones, Brian Smith, Pete Brown and Brian Walters in 1948.

Meanwhile, the Scout Hut itself will be getting a facelift and the Phoenix Explorer Scouts have already been redecorating the Venture Scout hut at the rear of the site.

Scout leader Glynis Galloway said the centenary gave the troop a chance to learn all about its history and heritage.

She said: "They are getting very excited about the next year. They will learn why Scouts give a left-handed handshake and the significance of the wood beads given to new Scout leaders.

"We are very proud of our past and our badge is the Devizes Castle from the town arms with the year 1908. That always impresses other groups when we go to international camps.

"We have a lot of archive material that we hope to put on show at a series of open days we will be having. We would welcome reminiscences from past Scouts and from parents who might have been Scouts, though not necessarily in Devizes."

It is hoped the centenary year will end with a huge commemorative service in St John's Church but that is still being discussed.