Denzil John Roberts
18/3/1935 – 12/1/2024
Denzil was born in Krugersdorp on the 18th March 1935, but spent much of his youth in Regent's Park, a suburb in Southern Johannesburg where he attended Regent's Park Primary School. He started his long Scouting career in 1942 when he turned 8 years old and joined the 1st Hill Cub Pack which was in the neighboring suburb of The Hill.
Denzil was a keen Scout and not only enjoyed the camps, hikes and outdoor activities, but advanced with his badge work and earned the highest Scout award when he was presented with the Queen Scout Award in 1953. Later in the year he became a Rover and their Assistant Scoutmaster.
Nineteen Fifty-Five was a busy year for Denzil having joined the 1st Southern Districts Rover Crew and then completed the Scout Wood Badge course. In May he attended the SA Rover Scout Indaba at Lexden in Pietermaritzburg and in August was part of the contingent at attended the 8th World Jamboree at Niagara-On-The-Lake in Canada.
Back in South Africa he attended the 1957 Transvaal Jamboree at Orkney and camped with the troop at Winkelspruit on the Natal South Coast. Putting back his skills and knowledge Denzil then in 1958 became the Assistant Scoutmaster with the 1st Rosettenville Group in a nearby suburb.
In June 1960 Denzil married Margret, who was his Scoutmaster's daughter and soon after that they were transferred to Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha). Here he joined the PE District Rover Crew that were based at the Area campsite Welbedacht which was next to the Airport.
In 1970 Denzil was again transferred by Federated Insurance, this time to Cape Town where until his retirement in 1999, having spent 47 years with the company. They settled in Monte Vista where his son joined the 1st Monte Vista Cub Pack and after informing the Akela that his dad had been a Scoutmaster, it wasn't long before he was involved in Western Cape Scouting. In 1973 Kiwi, Denzil's scout name, took over as Group Scoutmaster and helped to run the Troop until a permanent Scoutmaster took over in 1975. He was part of the team that contributed to the building of their modern and spacious Scout Hall which opened in August 1977. He was their Group Scoutmaster for twelve years until being appointed Assistant District Commissioner for the Tygerberg District.
The Gilcape Campsite in Eerste river was the Area's main campsite from 1952 to 1988 and in the late nineteen seventies and early eighties Denzil was an active member of the committee. In its final years, Denzil who then held the position of Manager, went out to Gilcape every week to pay the staff and attend to various matters needing his attention. The Hawequas Scout Adventure Centre was purchased in 1986 and once again Kiwi was soon on the committee attending the prearranged Saturday meetings providing help, advice and participated in various onsite work parties. In 1989 he was appointed District Commissioner for the Tygerberg District.
Attending his first Senior Scout Adventure in 1976 in the Winterhoek (Porterville), then Witzenberg (Ceres) and all in the Cederberg up to 2016. As a member of staff, he ran the Pioneering Base and in later years the Trading Post at Headquarters. Twenty Adventures in all! Behind the scenes Kiwi quietly helped with quartermaster duties maintaining the equipment readying it for the next adventure.
His contribution over many years to Scouting in the Western Cape included being a judge on competitions like the Rayner Trophy and Gordon Shield, often braving all weathers. Badge courses, both District and Area would find Denzil freely imparting his wealth of knowledge, especially on his favorite, the Pioneer badge course. When the Scout Museum - Cape Town was relocated from the city to Gilwood he was part of the team unpacking and sorting the memorabilia.
Denzil's long Scouting journey was recognized when he received the Long Service Medal in 1972 followed by a Bar every decade to an amazing 60 Year Bar in 2016.
His continued contribution and dedication to the movement over the years was acknowledged when he was awarded the Certificate of Merit in 1978, Medal of Merit in1985, Bar to Medal of Merit in1993, the prestigious Order of the Silver Protea in 2000 and Certificate of Meritorious Conduct 2019.
A Scouting stalwart indeed.
Rest in Peace Denzil – we will miss you dearly.
Ack: Mr. Roberts personal photo logbooks
Scout Heritage 2024