Vera Barclay facts for kids

Vera Charlesworth Barclay (1893–1989) was an important English pioneer of Scouting and a talented author. She helped start the Cub Scout program in 1916. Vera was one of the first people to show that women could be great leaders in the Scout movement. She played a big part in bringing the Wolf Cub program for younger boys to both the United Kingdom and France. Barclay wrote many stories for children and helpful books about Scouting. Later in her life, she also wrote about her Christian faith.

Early Life

Vera Barclay was born on November 10, 1893. She was one of eight children. Her father, Reverend Charles W. Barclay, was a Church of England clergyman. Her mother, Florence Louisa Charlesworth, was a very successful writer.

The family lived in a village called Hertford Heath in Hertfordshire, which is north of London. Her father was the local vicar there for many years. The family often visited St. Moritz in the Swiss Alps. Vera loved to toboggan (a type of sledding). She was one of the few women to try the famous Cresta Run, often wearing skirts or riding jodhpurs.

Scouting Adventures

Vera Barclay joined the Scout movement and took charge of the village Boy Scout Troop in 1912. In 1913, the founder of Scouting, Robert Baden-Powell, started a plan for boys who were too young to join the Scouts at age 11. This group was first called "Junior Scouts" but was renamed "Wolf Cubs" by January 1914.

Young boys in her village kept asking Vera if they could join the Scouts. So, she started the 1st Hertford Heath Wolf Cub Pack. She even convinced her younger sister, Angela, to help lead it. Vera realized that many women would want to run Cub Packs. She wrote an article called "How a Lady Can Train the Cubs." It was published in the official Scout magazine, the Headquarters Gazette, in January 1915.

At the 1st World Scout Jamboree in 1920, 500 Wolf Cubs perform a Grand Howl in the arena at Olympia, London, organised by Vera Barclay.

In June 1916, Vera attended a meeting for Wolf Cub leaders in London. Her article had clearly caught Baden-Powell's attention. He asked her to become the Wolf Cub Secretary at the main Scout Headquarters. She accepted his offer. Her previous work with the British Red Cross at a hospital was becoming difficult because of an old knee injury from skiing.

One of her first jobs was to help Baden-Powell edit the first ideas for The Wolf Cub's Handbook. This important book was published in December 1916. Vera helped create many of the tests and badges that appeared in this first edition. In 1920, she organized a special Grand Howl for 500 Cubs at the 1st World Scout Jamboree in Olympia, London. At the end of the ceremony, she received the Silver Wolf. This award is given for "exceptional service" to Scouting.

Vera later became a Roman Catholic. She continued her Scouting work in Edgbaston, Birmingham. She was a key member of the Catholic Scout Guild. This group ran a campsite at Hall Green for Cubs and Scouts from less fortunate backgrounds.

In the early 1920s, Vera often visited France. She helped grow Les Louveteaux, which is the French name for Wolf Cubs, within the Scouts de France. In 1923, 1925, and 1927, she organized the first French Wolf Cub Wood Badge courses with Father Jacques Sevin. These courses took place at the Château de Chamarande. Later, the Scouts de France gave her the Cross of St Louis award. Her direct work with Scouting ended in 1931 when she moved to France and then Switzerland.

Writing Books

Vera Barclay wrote many books. Most of them were for children. She also wrote about Christianity and Scouting. Her "Jane" series of stories for girls are perhaps her most famous works. She used different pen names for some books, like Margaret Beech and Vera Charlesworth. She even wrote one detective story using the name Hugh Chichester.

Vera Barclay held strong beliefs about how the world began. She wrote books sharing her ideas, which were different from the idea of evolution. Some of these books include Darwin Is Not for Children (1950) and Challenge to the Darwinians (1951).

Later Life

Vera Barclay returned to England before World War II began. She lived in Felpham on the south coast from around 1938. In 1939 and 1940, she joined her brother, Reverend Cyril Charles Barclay, and his family in Helmsley, North Yorkshire. There, she started a small nursery school with her friend Ninette Hoffet. She later returned to Felpham.

After living in London and Seaview on the Isle of Wight, where she began to lose her eyesight, she spent her final days in Sheringham, Norfolk. Her niece, Betty, cared for her. Vera Barclay passed away on September 19, 1989, at St Nicholas' Nursing Home in Sheringham. She is buried in Sheringham Cemetery.

Her Works

Here are some of the books Vera Barclay wrote:

See also

In Spanish: Vera Barclay para niños