Articles

Alan Fensome - A Life

04/12/07
Alan Fensome
1925-2002

On Tuesday, 26 March Scouting in North London lost a giant. Anyone who met him knew that they had met someone special. Best known most probably for his association with the 15th Finchley Alan will also be well remembered at District, County and indeed at national level.

A Wolf Cub with the 15th he was actively involved from the first moment coming from a Scouting family. A family of builders they built ‘Utopia’ the headquarters of the 15th and indeed Alan was involved in even that activity as tea-boy for the workmen.

His time as a Scout was broken up as it was for so many of his generation by the war during the early part of which he acted as a warden based at Utopia. Together with ‘Charlie’ Roberts he was already running the Troop and indeed taking over, temporarily, other Troops whilst their leaders were involved in their military duties.

Alan himself was in the Royal Navy for three years doing a tour of duty that involved time in Hong Kong where he started up a Scout Troop. Returning to England after national service he was soon back running the Scout Troop of the 15th. With various assistants he ran a Scout Troop of the greatest distinction. It is noteworthy to recall how many of his ex-Scouts went on to run Troops and Groups of their own: a testimony to the excitement for Scouting which he engendered in those young boys.

In 1968 be became GSL of the 15th having turned down a number of requests to take up District appointments. He held that post for 23 distinguished years during which his reputation spread far and wide: he was used as a major part of a promotional film for Scouting made in the mid-80’s. When there was need for a special activity in 1989 at the national launch of the first sponsored badge: the Athletes, involving the Chief Scout and the Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, it was easy for the authorities to turn to the 15th under Alan’s leadership to put on a great show; parts of which featured strongly on national television. Alan was awarded the Silver Wolf in 1990.

When he retired as GSL in 1991 he was not quietened but instead turned his still considerable energies into helping as District Chairman and as the driving force behind the erection of the ‘Lodge’ the quite splendid residential facility at Frith Grange.

Alan was a builder and for many years he worked as a contractor but the excitement of developing young men was so great that at the relatively old age of about 40 he changed career. Despite many privations and hardships he trained and became a qualified secondary school teacher. Not satisfied with just teaching he was soon in the forefront of new ideas of which the greatest achievement was the development of the curriculum centres in Byng Road, Barnet and Graham Park, Hendon. These in their time were models of excellence of how even the most disaffected young people could be taught subjects which gave them a real opportunity in life.

After his retirement he enjoyed in addition to his gardening, which was a lifelong joy, working with the Gainsborough Players in their revues (he had a wonderful singing voice) and more recently: bowls.

The above are the facts but they miss the core of a man whose greatest scouting quality was his heart and his willingness to bring the very best out of boys. It is rare to find a man more willing to give of himself for others.

Alan was not an easy man: great men aren’t, but he will always be remembered as one who brought the best Scouting into North London.

We extend our condolences at this time to Grace, to their children: Laura, Jane, Richard and Clare as well as to their grand-children.

Frank Phillip
GSL 15th Finchley