Alec J. Spalding

Infobox Person
name = Alec J. Spalding


image_size = 175px
caption =
birth_date = 1923-08-09
birth_place = Middlesex, England
death_date = 2007-10-02
death_place = Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland
other_names =
known_for = Scouting
occupation = radar operator agricultural economist
nationality = British

Alec J. Spalding (1923-08-09–2007-10-02) was a prominent figure in the UK Scout Association, serving in the 24th Glasgow (Bearsden) Scout Group for over fifty years. In recognition of his service to Scouting, he received the Silver Wolf and was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire. He died of cancer at age 84.cite web
url= http://www.24thglasgow.org.uk/AJ.htm
title= AJSpaldingMBE
accessdate= 2008-02-10
author= RCSS
date= 2007-10-05
publisher= 24th Glasgow (Bearsden) Scout Group] cite web
url= http://www.glasgowscouts.org.uk/article-111007.html
title= Gone home: Alec J Spalding MBE
accessdate= 2008-02-10
author= Colin Scott, Tom McCubbin
date= 2007-10-11
publisher= Greater Glasgow Scout Group ] cite web
url= http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/hqdocs/tpoints/tp-45.htm
title= Talking Points Edition 45: August 1996
accessdate= 2008-02-10
year= 1996
month= August
publisher= ScoutBaseUK
quote= The Committee were delighted that the following Members had been honoured for their services to Scouting and/or to the community: … MBE … Mr Alec Spalding, former District Commissioner, NW Glasgow ] cite web
url=http://www.theherald.co.uk/search/display.var.1767869.0.alec_spalding.php
title= Alec Spalding
accessdate= 2008-02-11
date=
author= The Herald
authorlink= The Herald (Glasgow)] cite web
url=http://www.yourannouncement.co.uk/176956
title= Spalding - Alec : Obituary
accessdate= 2008-02-11
date=
author= The Herald
authorlink= The Herald (Glasgow)
quote= SPALDING — ALEC. Peacefully, at Gartnavel General Hospital, on Tuesday, 2nd October, 2007, Alec J. Spalding, M.B.E., aged 84 years, former Scout Leader and leader in charge of 24th Glasgow (Bearsden) Scout Group. Funeral service at Clydebank Crematorium, North Dalnottar, on Saturday, 6th October at 10.30am. No flowers please but donations, if desired, to Cancer Research U.K.]

History

Education

Spalding attended Glasgow Academy, and went on to study Agriculture at the University of Glasgow. His studies were interrupted by his military service, but were resumed after the war. He graduated with a BSc in 1948.

Military service

Spalding volunteered to join the Royal Navy in the early 1940s and served as a radar operator in the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the rest of World War II until being demobilized in 1946.

Career

After graduation, Spalding worked as an agricultural economist at the West of Scotland Agricultural College from 1948 to about 1954. He went on to work at Scottish Agricultural Industries until taking early retirement in 1981.

Involvement with Scouting

Spalding was a Boy Scout with the 24th Glasgow (Bearsden) Scout Group, and in 1939 he was awarded the King Scout Badge. He returned after military service in 1946, and took up a series of leadership positions over the course of more than fifty years, including Scout Leader (leading "A" Troop), Scouter in Charge (acting Group Scout Leader of the 24th), and District Commissioner.

After visiting Kandersteg, Switzerland in 1947, he took a party of 36 Scouts and leaders to the Kandersteg International Scout Centre in 1949. This commenced a tradition of biennial visits to Kandersteg by Scouts from the 24th Glasgow (Bearsden) Scout Group. Spalding also organised numerous other expeditions across Europe and North America.

Spalding's Scouting activities also included running the group's biennial jumble sale. He was also a keen photographer, and often contributed pictures and text about scout activities to the local paper.

Spalding was also known for his enthusiastic rendition of songs like "Three Blind Mice", "Sing a Song of Sixpence", "Ging Gang Goolie", "Green Grow the Rushes, O", and "The Wild Rover" at camp fires.

List of works

* "The 24th 1908–1988: a history of the 24th Glasgow (Bearsden) Scout Group", May 1988, ISBN 0951343904
* "Activities and Expeditions for Youth Groups", 2007
* "Games and Activities for Scouts", 1985 (reprinted 1996), ISBN 0-85174-502-4

See also

* Bearsden
* Scouting in Greater Glasgow

References