Figure 1.--T

The correct Band uniform in proscribed by the British scout Association. The BSA states, "Members of a Scout and Guide band must wear the uniform of their parent Association. Members of a Scout and Guide Band may wear the same colour Neckerchiefs, which may be different from the feeder units. Members of Scout and Guide Marching Bands are allowed to wear appropriate activity dress when taking part in some classes of competition, e.g. Showmanship. Correct Scout or Guide Uniform is to be worn to collect any awards at such competitions. Unless authorised by the responsible Commissioners, correct Scout and Guide uniform is to be worn on all other public appearances." [BSA, FS120217] It has been a dispensation for many years, that Scout Bands be allowed to wear additional accoutrements to their standard uniforms. This is covered in Rules of the Association which allows for these additional items: "white gloves, belts and socks; lanyard around the shoulder; protective clothing for drummers; Drum Major's sash and/or cords; Orderly Sergeant's plain sash or white music pouch; beret with arrowhead badge". [BSA Rule 10.17(b)] If you search the web for images of U.K. Scout Bands you may well see different additional items to the above. In strict terms, bands who follow Rule 10.17(b) are wearing uniform which agrees with the Rules of the U.K. Scout Association. As a result white gloves, belts and socks are often added to the regiular Scout uniform to give it a dressy look. Attention to the uniform is an element in the judging at band competitions. The band members often have highly polished shoes. Some bands will even wearsocks over their shoes to make sure the shoes are not scuffed before they preform. The UK Scout Uniform has undergone two major changes, one of them quite recently. The images of Scout Bands uniforms shown here and on severl other pages show some of the older unifoems. We hope that readers will supply some more recent images so that we can supply a more complete archive of UK Scout Band images through the ages.

Scout Association Regulations

The correct Band uniform in proscribed by the British Scout Association. The BSA states, "Members of a Scout and Guide band must wear the uniform of their parent Association. Members of a Scout and Guide Band may wear the same colour Neckerchiefs, which may be different from the feeder units. Members of Scout and Guide Marching Bands are allowed to wear appropriate activity dress when taking part in some classes of competition, e.g. Showmanship. Correct Scout or Guide Uniform is to be worn to collect any awards at such competitions. Unless authorised by the responsible Commissioners, correct Scout and Guide uniform is to be worn on all other public appearances." [BSA, FS120217]

Uniforms in Competitions

Attention to the uniform is an element in the judging at band competitions. The band members often have highly polished shoes. Some bands will even wearsocks over their shoes to make sure the shoes are not scuffed before they preform.

Uniform Alternatives

There is not a dedicated SEPARATE Band uniform for Scout Bands in the UK. Individual Bands choose what uniform they will wear from the existing ones available within Scouting in this country. This leads to many different looks. There are several different possibilities.

Age appropriate uniform

This is when each band member wears the normal uniform for their own particular age group - so you could see Cub uniform, Brownie uniform, Guide uniform, Scout uniform, Ranger uniform, Explorer Scout Uniform, Scout Leader Uniform and Guide Leader uniform all in one band. Each uniform shirt is a different colour. I attended several Scout Band competitions in the 1980s and most of the bands appear to have adopted this alternative. I'm not sure if this still in the case.

Common color shirts

Bands have always been allowed to choose one colour shirt if they so prefer. A Band chooses one sectional uniform to wear across all age groups. This leads to people wearing a uniform outside of their actual age range. Example (i) If the Band chooses the Green Scout Shirt then all Cubs, Scouts and Leaders will wear the Scout shirt when engaged in Band activities (This uniform would otherwise only be worn by people aged 11-14). Example (ii) If the Band chooses the Beige-coloured Explorer Scout Shirt then all Cubs, Scouts and Leaders will wear the Explorer shirt when engaged in Band activities (This uniform would otherwise only be worn by people aged 14-18). Example (iii) If the Band chooses the Stone-coloured Adult Leader Shirt then all Cubs, Scouts and Leaders will wear the Leader shirt when engaged in Band activities (This uniform would otherwise only be worn by Adult Leaders aged 18+).

Pale blue shirt

Another variation is that all ages within the Band wear Sea Scout or Air Scout Uniform, which consists of a pale blue shirt. [Garrod]

Garments

Headgear

In 1976 headgear was abolished and ceased to become a part of official uniform for most Scouts. Prior to that Scouts wore a green beret with a brass Arrowhead badge. From 1976 until 2000/2001 Scout Bands were allowed to continue to wear the green beret, if they so chose to. From 2002 (and the last revision of Rule 10.17(b) the word "green" has disappeared, thus allowing bands to choose the option of a beret of any colour, or no headgear at all. [Garrod] Cubs participating in Scout Bands for the modt ar wore their traditional green peaked caps

Neckerchief

Shirts

The shirt was used by many bands as a destinctive element in the uniform as described above.

Accoutrements

It has been a dispensation for many years, that Scout Bands be allowed to wear additional accoutrements to their standard uniforms. This is covered in Rules of the Association which allows for these additional items: "white gloves, belts and socks; lanyard around the shoulder; protective clothing for drummers; Drum Major's sash and/or cords; Orderly Sergeant's plain sash or white music pouch; beret with arrowhead badge". [BSA Rule 10.17(b)] If you search the web for images of U.K. Scout Bands you may well see different additional items to the above. In strict terms, bands who follow Rule 10.17(b) are wearing uniform which agrees with the Rules of the U.K. Scout Association. As a result white gloves, belts and socks are often added to the regiular Scout uniform to give it a dressy look.

Trousers/Skirts

Shoes

Sources

British Scout Association (BSA). Band Constitution Factsheet- FS120217, revised January 2000).

British Scout Association (BSA). Rules of the Association - Rule 10.17(b).

Garrod, Allister. Bandmaster, Lincoln District Scout Band, E-mail message, December 26, 2003.