The history of Scouting in Dringhouses has been a challenge to discern, owing largely to a lack of records.
The earliest mention of Scouts in Dringhouses dates from 1923. When Mr J Shaw was the Wolf Cub and Scout Master
From 1928 the “Group” system of registration was introduced and on the 21st May 1929 the Group was registered at the Parish Hall, Dringhouses as part of the York & District Association (part of the 9th District of the North Riding of Yorkshire). It was registered as an open group (i.e, not controlled by the church). The Group Scout Master at the time of registration was Mr H Dunnington of Leeman Road. Six Scouts were noted. There is a possibility that the group wore a green and gold necker at this time.
In January 1930 MR AG Ray became Cub Master and Miss D M Lang was the Assistant Cub Mistress and later she became the Cub Mistress. In 1933 the Group was closed. No new registration form is available and it is not clear if the group continued, but in 1942 there was a Scout Troop in existence, they met on a Wednesday with three patrols and Mr Lamb was the Scout Leader. The second world war made finding Scout Leaders difficult. Troop nights were held in the loft of a hut next to the old Vicarage, the church hall was also used for special occasions. At this time the group wore a blue and white necker. Monthly church parades were held and at least two camps were held on in Skelton in Cleveland on the farm of a friend of the vicar. Towards the end of the ware York was visited by Lord Summers, the Chief Scout, he travelled by train and the Cubs as Scouts hid behind the bar walls and “gave him a yell” as he left the station. He travelled by boat to St Mary’s landing for rally, The Scouts and Cubs marched to the rally.
In 1946 it is believed there was a Cub Pack in existence, but in 1948 the group changes its name to 1st Dringhouses (Parish Church), this is recorded on the 18th July 1943, and the group changed status from open to closed with church sponsorship. At some point after this the group closes but is re-opened in 1950. On the 12th July 1950 the Group was re-registered as 1st Dringhouses (Parish Church) as an open but church sponsored group. At this time there were 3 Scouters (Leaders), 6 Boy Scouts and 18 Wolf Cubs. The group closes again in 1952.
The next official record of the group is in 1965 when the group is registered in the York & District (West) on the 9th February, again as an open church sponsored group with two Scouters, 12 Boy Scouts, one Senior Scout and 12 Wolf Cubs, the form having been completed on the 17th December 1964. This is the formation of the group as it is now. From 1971 a Venture Scout unit was added,
Beavers started in 1984
Squirrels started in 2022