HV Marsh Award
The HV Marsh Award for Scout Journalism is a national award for the best Scout Group magazine, digital newsletter or website.
How to enter
See SSA Recognition & Awards on the national website
The history of the HV Marsh Award
HV Marsh was a well-to-do building merchant in Pietermaritzburg and was a much respected Scouter. He was the first South African to go to Gilwell in London to take a Wood Badge course (at his own expense), and to return to impart his knowledge to Scouters in South Africa. HV Marsh was the owner of Lexden (named after a little village near Colchester, Essex, where he was born) which he later donated to the Scout movement for training purposes.
The award was created by Vic Clapham who was a professional PR man as well as being an Assistant Rover Scout Leader. In the early sixties Vic produced VELD LORE, initiated the Scout Press Club and in order to motivate Editors and to encourage communication, he decided to create a national competition for magazine editors.
Vic had a tremendous-respect for HV Marsh as a communications expert, and, as always, not wanting to push his own name to the fore, decided to name the award "The HV Marsh Award for Scout Journalism".
The trophy is made from a Kudu horn. Read how BP came to own a Kudu horn and how it became part of early Scouting tradition.
HV Marsh Award Winners
The HV Marsh Award was last awarded in 2020.
| Year | Publication | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | The Rondebosch Rumble | 6th Rondebosch |
| 2019 | Smoke Signals | 1st Claremont |
| 2018 | Bergvliet Delta | 2nd Bergvliet |
| 2017 | Pine Branch | 1st Pinelands |
| 2016 | Bergvliet Delta | 2nd Bergvliet |
| 2015 | Bergvliet Delta | 2nd Bergvliet |
| 2014 | Sweet Valley Echo | 1st Bergvliet |
| 2013 | Sweet Valley Echo | 1st Bergvliet |
| 2012 | Bergvliet Delta | 2nd Bergvliet |
| 2011 | Sweet Valley Echo | 1st Bergvliet |
| 2010 | Sweet Valley Echo | 1st Bergvliet |
| 2009 | Sweet Valley Echo | 1st Bergvliet |
| 2008 | Sweet Valley Echo | 1st Bergvliet |
| 2007 | Sweet Valley Echo | 1st Bergvliet |
| 2006 | Sweet Valley Echo | 1st Bergvliet |
| 2005 | Algoa Anchor News | Algoa Sea Scouts |
| 2004 | Algoa Anchor News | Algoa Sea Scouts |
| 2003 | Squadron News | 1st Cowies Hill |
| 2002 | Squadron News | 1st Cowies Hill |
| 2002 | Algoa Anchor News | Algoa Sea Scouts |
| 2001 | Sweet Valley Echo | 1st Bergvliet |
| 2000 | The Stave | 1st Durbanville |
| 1998 | Edenvale Explorer | 1st Edenvale |
| 1997 | Sweet Valley Echo | 1st Bergvliet |
| 1996 | Edenvale Explorer | 1st Edenvale |
| 1995 | Lyttbitt | 23rd Lyttleton |
| 1994 | Lyttbitt | 23rd Lyttleton |
| 1993 | The Stave | 1st Durbanville |
| 1992 | Ahoy | 35th Pretoria Sea Scouts |
| 1991 | Houtscout | 2nd Hout Bay |
| 1987 | The Porthole | 2nd Plumstead |
| 1986 | Second Thoughts | 2nd Somerset West |
| 1985 | Second Thoughts | 2nd Somerset West |
| 1983 | Glen Echo | 1st Camps Bay |
| 1981 | Scoutz-d-lite | 11th Pietermaritzburg |
| 1980 | Glen Echo | 1st Camps Bay |
| 1979 | Glen Echo | 1st Camps Bay |
| 1978 | Helderberg Herald | 1st Somerset West |
| 1977 | Ahoy | 35th Pretoria Sea Scouts |
| 1977 | Tartan Tattler | 6th St Andrews Pretoria |
| 1975 | Pine Branch | 1st Pinelands |
| 1974 | Pine Branch | 1st Pinelands |
| 1973 | Camp Fire Chatter | 3rd Windhoek |
| 1972 | Tartan Tattler | 6th St Andrews Pretoria |
| 1971 | Low Rumble | 29th Durban |
| 1970 | Low Rumble | 29th Durban |
| 1969 | The Lighthouse | Humewood Sea Scouts |
| 1968 | The Lighthouse | Humewood Sea Scouts |
| 1967 | Jet Blast | 11th Durban |
| 1966 | Wynstead Spark | 1st Wynberg & Plumstead |
| 1965 | Jet Blast | 11th Durban |
| 1964 | The Lighthouse | Humewood Sea Scouts |
| 1963 | Jet Blast | 11th Durban |