About Us

The Andromeda Explorer Scout Unit originally started as Chesham Explorer Scout Unit (Chesham Pod) in 2000. This Pod was started up by Suzanna Gowlett (Suzy) and Richard Wheeler (Weebs). There were two sister Pods, Tylers Hill and Misbourne.

We were and still are based at 3rd Chesham (St Mary’s) Scout Hut, Broad Street, Chesham. Buckinghamshire. All leaders at that time were from 3rd Chesham Scout group and included: Douglas Brown, Philip Clark, Matt Hancock and myself Ken Hancock. We then wore the 3rd Chesham Scarf of Claret and Gold.

Suzy and Weebs stepped down in 2001 with myself taking over as leader and Douglas Brown, Philip Clark and Matt Hancock as assistant leaders.

Soon after the Tylers Hill Pod leader had to step down due to ill health and so as to not let the Tylers Hill Pod close their Explorers joined us at Chesham. As the Tylers Hill had a Red Scarf, It was decided to rename the group to Andromeda (the explorers at the time choosing the name), and the new scarf was Red from Tylers Hill and Gold from 3rd Chesham.

Over time the leaders have changed with Doug and Matt stepping down and others such as, Nigel Legg, Matthew Brazier, Matthew Allibone and Gill Reynolds coming and going over time.

Deborah Nixon (known as Debs) and Craig Jones joined us in 2010 and have stayed with taking a major role in running the group.

We have also been lucky enough to have Danny Talhadas and Graham Warner join us as leaders in 2021, and Rebecca Jennings and Joshua Lynch joining us in 2022 and have taken the Unit from strength to strength.

We started doing the Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award Scheme with the Bronze level in 2002/2003, then stepped up to the Silver level in 2004/2005. Finally the Gold level in 2006/2007.

We have had many leaders help us with running the DofE as Supervisors over the years, all the Leaders mentioned above and; Andi Mace Chalk, Charles Cox, Oliver Mace, Janet Sealy, Carol Warner, Paul Norris, Chris Gaynard, Becky Thorp, Simon Pearce, Matt Doody and Andrew Elliott.

We have been running the DofE every year except 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. So far we have had 162 start the bronze level with 146 complete it, 124 start the silver with 95 complete it, 78 start the gold with 56 complete it and 11 have gone further to complete their Queens Scout Award. We also join in with the Misbourne Explorers to provide the DofE practice and expeditions.

We have also run Summer Camps every year again except 2020 due to Covid.

The Unit has changed in numbers from as few as 35 and at one time as many as 70 Explorers. We are now (May 2023) currently at 54 members.

Andromeda Leader Team