SCOUT LEADER

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20909, 14 September 1939, Page 10

SCOUT LEADER

DEAF AND PARTLY DUMB LIFE DEVOTED TO SLUM LONDON, August 21 Boy Scouts who will represent South London at a Scouts’ ICavalcade at Earl’s Court, W„ next month, have been trained by a man who is deaf and partly dumb, reports the Daily Herald. Sixteen years ago Frank Garter, now aged 34, of Ridsdale Road, Annerley, S.E., was invalided out of the Navy because a stroke of paralysis left him with his physical handicap. A chance visit with a friend at Penge to a Scout meeting gave him the idea of devoting his life to slum boys whose only playground is the street. " 1 saw 13 boys playing together and resolved that, although I was severely handicapped, 1 would bring this happiness to other boys,” he told the Daily Herald yesterday in sign language. " 1 became a Scoutmaster, and found it terribly uphill work at first. " My Scouts were unable to understand me, but I learned to lip-read, and they studied the deaf and dump language.” After 11 years he had a troop of 60. Then he started a troop at Bell Green, S.E., beginning with four boys. Now the troop numbers 78. The lads are the best swimmers and crickclers among Scouts in Soulh London, and they are to represent the district at the Scouts’ Cavalcade.