Mr Smith signs autographs for the 16th Burnley troop.

The Burnley Express Family Circle Scouting exhibition at Burnley Central Library had a special significance for 68-year-old Mr Bill Jones. For Bill, of Albert Street, Burnley, was one of the original members of the first Burnley Scout troop, run by the YMCA, and among his fellow members was Ald. Joe Herbert. In the early days of St Andrew's Scout troop in 1916 Bill was a solo drummer, and so the photographs of the troop which appeared in the exhibition were of particular interest to him.

In the past five years scouting activities have changed considerably, but the aim of the Scout movement, to produce good and useful citizens, is the same as it was when Scouting began. With those words, the County Scout Commissioner, Mr Alan Smith, opened "Scoutex 71," an exhibition of Scouting in Burnley from the beginning to the present day. The exhibition is sponsored by the Burnley Express Family Circle and is being held at Burnley Library. Mr Smith said that many people not connected with Scouting still see Scouts as small boys with short pants and large hats and staffs, but the movement has changed its activities considerably to up-date itself. Mr Smith said that it was very enterprising of the Burnley district to show the modern aspects of Scouting life. He paid tribute to the arrangement of the various exhibits in the hall, which had been arranged by Burnley Express artist Janice Taylor, with the help of local Scouts and library staff. Mr Smith wished the Burnley Scouting Association every success with the exhibition and congratulated members on their efforts.