To oversee the new Group, David Matthews, an ex-Commissioner of the Scout Association, was appointed Chairman of the new Group. David Bramwell became Group Scout Leader and other volunteers were recruited as Section Leaders.

 

The first decisions were fundamental. It was decided that although the Group would form part of the British Scout Association, using their training scheme and uniforms, the Group would be international and, as such, the Group would meet under the World Scout Flag only. The only criterion for entry would be to insist that all boys spoke enough English to understand the Law and Promise and therefore over the years the Group has had members of many nationalities.

 

Apart from this, the Group is a normal Group within the Scout Association. Telstar belongs to British Scouts in Western Europe (BSWE) which functions like an ordinary British Scout County but is called an Area. BSWE currently comprises 4 Districts which include both civilian Groups and Groups attached to various British Forces installations. Current districts (2009) are Germany, Netherlands, Belux and France. BSWE Area Headquarters is at Rheindahlen-JHQ near Mönchengladbach in Germany. Telstar belongs to the BeLux District.

 

The first problem was quite simple – what should the Group be called? In the UK Groups traditionally have a number, e.g. 7th Hanwell, but Luxembourg Groups have a name. The Group became known as TELSTAR – English Speaking Scouts of Luxembourg, a brilliant choice for a Group wishing to promote international communication. The name received royal approval on 8 November 1976 – as chance would have it, the second anniversary of the Troop’s first meeting – when the Queen, who was on a visit to Luxembourg also visited the Troop. She is said to have remarked “How marvellous. I wish there were more like it”.