Collection AR104 - Southern Pathfinders Records

Identity area

Reference code

AR104

Title

Southern Pathfinders Records

Date(s)

  • 1931-1996 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

To be defined

Context area

Name of creator

(1931)

Administrative history

The Southern Pathfinders (often called 'Sopats') were a Croydon-based rambling club, founded in March 1931 by Victor Morecroft of Addiscombe. Early members were recruited through a letter published in the Croydon Advertiser, and at the end of the first year there were 111 members. The club disbanded during World War II, but was revived in 1946. Regular rambles, generally in Surrey, Sussex and Kent, were organised; and there were also night walks, tours lasting several days, and (until 1969) purely social events. The club is still active in 1997.

The Club was affiliated to various national countryside bodies, including the National Council of Ramblers Associations (afterwards the Ramblers Association), and the Youth Hostels Association. It was at a meeting organised by the club in December 1933 that the Croydon YHA, the first independent branch of the national organisation, was initiated.

Victor Morecroft (1899-1984) was the founder and first Hon Secretary of the club. He left in 1934; but returned in 1953 to become Chairman, then Vice-President from 1955, and President from 1977 until his death in 1984. Herbert Gatliff (1897-1977), a high-ranking but eccentric civil servant with numerous country interests, served as the first Chairman, and later as President, until his death in 1977: he devised the club motto, 'We wont go cosy'. Another important figure was Harold Ockenden (1908-1988), who succeeded Morecroft as Secretary in 1934, became Treasurer in 1946, and Vice-President from 1969 until his death in 1988: for most of this period, he also continued to act as Secretary.

Archival history

The main group of records were accumulated by Harold Ockenden (at various times Vice President, Hon Secretary and Treasurer of the Southern Pathfinders).

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Accession Number: A104

Southern Pathfinders Records

Scrapbooks, programmes, and other records of the Southern Pathfinders ramblers association; including correspondence etc acquired by Kenneth Allen in researching and writing The Life and Times of the Southern Pathfinders.

Item date: 1931-1996

Depositor's Name: Allen, Kenneth

Accession date: 23/1/1997

Custodial history: The main group of records were accumulated by Harold Ockenden (at various times Vice President, Hon Secretary and Treasurer of the Southern Pathfinders.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Scrapbooks, programmes, and other records of the Southern Pathfinders ramblers association; including correspondence etc acquired by Kenneth Allen in researching and writing The Life and Times of the Southern Pathfinders.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

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Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Some of the records in our collections contain sensitive and personal data that we have a legal responsibility to control access to. In these circumstances, staff may search the collection on your behalf, having received consent or proof of death of the individual concerned.

Please contact us at archives@croydon.gov.uk for further information regarding the particular collection you wish to access.

You can make a request for information which may be in a closed record under the Freedom of Information Act, 2000 or the Environmental Information Regulations, 2004. For more information about making a request, see the Croydon Council website (www.croydon.gov.uk). Making a request does not guarantee access to the information you ask for, as there may be a valid exemption from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.

Conditions governing reproduction

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Description control area

Description identifier

GB-352-ar104

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Dates of creation revision deletion

24/06/2015

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