Our “The Way We Were” articles often strike a chord with readers across the world.

An article in the Kent Messenger of May 23 about the centenary celebrations of the Loose Swiss Scouts has reached Down Under.

Chris Hughes, who lives in Wavell Heights in Queensland, Australia, with his wife Liz, wrote to us saying:“The article brought back a lot of memories.”

Mr Hughes, who is now 63, joined the Cubs in Loose in 1955, going on to the Scouts and Seniors until leaving in 1963.

“I remember the WAFYOTY in 1958 - We Are Fifty Years Old This Year - which we celebrated with a camp in the grounds of Linton Place,” he said.

“In my day, there were four troops in the Scouts: the Eagles, Wolves, Stags and Beavers, and each troop had its own decorated room in the original premises in Pickering Street, which were our own private domain to decorate as we wanted.

“I remember that in our room, the Wolves’, we had a dividing wall which split the space in two, and we decided that both rooms were too small (or too big!). So one weekend we attacked the dividing wall with sledgehammers and moved it several feet backwards so that we ended up with a large patrol room and a smaller store room!

“In the photo, I am the third from the left in the front row. I can’t remember when it was taken, but it was obviously at the monthly church parade at Loose Church. I can still name several of the others: second from left in the front is Keith Alderton, second from right is Bob Reiff, third from right is Aidrian Beeching, and fourth is Mick Bridgeman. Second row, second from left is Stan Westover. The tall Scoutmaster at the back right was known as Ossie. He was there right through my time with the Scouts.”

Mr Hughes, a former Maidstone Grammar School pupil, became a chartered engineer specialising in oil and gas pipelines. His work took him from Loose to Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Burma and the Philippines. He emigrated to Australia in 1983.

He said: “It seemed like a good idea at the time – and 25 years on, it still does.”

Do you have any similar memories of the Loose Scouts? Write to the Kent Messenger, 6 & 7 Middle Row, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1TG or messengernews@thekmgroup.co.uk