A HAMPSHIRE-based theme park has donated £5,000 to support the refurbishment and extension project of a local scouting group.

Stanley’s Own Scout Group in Copythorne is one of the longest established Scout Groups in England and was founded in 1910 by Major Roger Cyril Hans Sloane Stanley, who was a colleague of Baden Powell.

Now Paultons Park has handed over the grant that will help the group improve its base – it was Major Stanley who built the current Scout Hut in 1912.

Paultons Park has a long association with the local Scout group as Major R C H Sloane?Stanley became the owner of the Paultons Estate aged 13, having succeeded his

Father, William Hans Sloane?Stanley, who passed away in November 1888. William Hans

Sloane?Stanley’s ashes are interred at Copythorne.

Richard Mancey, managing director of Paultons Park said: “We are delighted to be able to help the fundraising for the new Scout HQ in Copythorne and like to think that Major Sloane? Stanley would be pleased that the association between the Scouts and Paultons still remains to this day.”

Joy Sellwood, group scout leader added: “The group is thrilled with the generous donation towards their ambitious refurbishment projects at their Headquarters at Copythorne, with the original ‘Scout Hut’ believed to be the oldest such building still in use in the United Kingdom.

“With its twelve active Scout and Guide sections using the Headquarters each week, Paultons Park has yet again demonstrated its long association with the Group, and long may it continue.”