Thirty-two 8-11 year-olds from the 5th Dronfield Hilltop Cubs had a sleepover with a difference recently. They had a night at the museum!
Thirty-two 8-11 year olds from the 5th Dronfield Hilltop Cubs had a sleepover with a difference recently. They had a night at the museum!
Great British Car Journey, the award-winning classic car museum in Ambergate, Derbyshire, hosted the pack for a very special, action-packed sleepover.
Assistant Cub Scout Leader and organiser Chris Smith explained: “Last September I appealed for Cub Sleepover ideas and got some great responses and Great British Car Journey came up trumps! The pack had an absolutely brilliant time. It was the perfect venue for a sleepover.”
Ahead of bedding down for the night amongst the museum’s classic cars, the Cubs enjoyed a range of activities, including rides in the Rolls-Royce (Jam Roll) which once belonged to Lord Baden Powell, the founder of the Scouting Movement.
The Cubs arrived at the museum with their sleeping bags once it had closed its doors to the public for the day and left the site before it reopened the next day.
General Manager Ian Gardecki who oversaw the sleepover said: “It was a great fun to host the 5th Dronfield Hilltop Cubs. Despite all the activities and pizza supper, the excitement meant there wasn’t much sleep. I heard reports that some of the Cubs were asleep on the backseat of their parents’ cars before they’d even left our car park the next morning!”
Chris added “The Cubs’ activities included driving an electric car, going out in Baden Powell’s Jam Roll, a 1930s Wolseley and a 1980s Bentley, several different activities in the museum and a workshop session. We finished with our own ‘Pinewood Derby’ races with cars made on a Cub and parent evening the week before and decorated at the sleepover. We couldn’t have asked for better.”
Following the successful event, Great British Car Journey is hoping to welcome other Scout, Girlguiding and Cubs groups who are looking for sleepover with a difference. To find out more, call the Great British Car Journey team on 01773 317243.
Arrival of Baden Powell’s Rolls Royce marks 1st birthday of Great British Car Journey
Derbyshire’s Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers have welcomed the most important car in the Scout movement’s 114-year history to Great British Car Journey.
‘Jam Roll’, Lord Baden Powell’s Rolls Royce, has gone on display to the public at Great British Car Journey, marking the classic car visitor attraction’s first birthday on 22 May 2022.
The 20hp Rolls-Royce, which was manufactured in Derby, was originally presented to Baden-Powell, along with a caravan (Eccles), at the 1929 World Jamboree on the Scouting movement’s 21st birthday.
The car was subsequently named ‘Jam Roll’ in recognition of its connection to the Jamboree and Rolls Royce.
The unique car boasts the Scout Fleur de Lys emblem, etched with the Scouts motto ‘Be Prepared’ on the radiator in place of the traditional Spirit of Ecstasy or ‘Flying Lady’, making it one of a kind.
Now, 93-years after it was presented to Baden Powell, ‘Jam Roll’ has joined the collection of classic cars at Great British Car Journey. The arrival of the car at the attraction was extra special for the Cubs in attendance, as it helped them earn their Collectors Badge.
Tom Stoddart, One of the Trustees of B-P Jam Roll Ltd which owns the car, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Jam Roll is now on display at Great British Car Journey and available to be seen by Scouts and Guides throughout the world. Retaining the car in Derbyshire was very important to us. It is an important piece of Scouting history, and we know that it will be well looked after by Richard and his team.”
Richard Usher, CEO of Great British Car Journey said: “We are thrilled to have such a uniquely historic car in the Great British Car Journey collection. It is a wonderful way to mark the 12-month anniversary of opening the attraction.”
Scouts around the world were asked to donate a penny per member and enough was raised to buy ‘Jam Roll’ and ‘Eccles’. Lord Baden Powell used the Rolls Royce and Eccles for many years and after his death in 1941 his family sold it to private owners. It was seen infrequently at Scouts events before being acquired by BP Jam Roll Ltd, a trust established to purchase in the car in 2008 ensuring it stayed in the country.
Following Jam Roll’s purchase by the trust, of which Lord Baden Powell’s grandson the Hon. Michael Baden Powell is a trustee, the car was sympathetically restored by Scouting volunteers and members of the Rolls Royce Heritage Centre where it was stored until it arrived at Great British Car Journey.
Jam Roll has found a new home at great British Car Journey where it is now on display alongside more than 130 British-built and manufactured cars which have long since disappeared from the roads, including the Austin Seven, Morris Minor and Ford Escort as well with a number of cars with equally famous owners, including Elton John’s Bentley Continental T.
Richard added: “The fact that ‘Jam Roll’ was made in Derby, only a few miles from Baden Powell’s wife’s home town of Chesterfield and indeed Great British Car Journey, gives this internationally important car a lovely local connection.”
Although now on display at Great British Car Journey, ‘Jam Roll’ will continue to make special appearances at Scout events.
To view Jam Roll and the wider car collection at Great British Car Journey, you can purchase tickets at greatbritishcarjourney.com or simply turn up and pay upon arrival.
If you’re looking for the ultimate trip down memory lane, pick from the 38-strong Drive Dad’s Car fleet and get behind the wheel of your favourite classic car. Visit drivedadscar.com to learn more.