How it all started... The Red Scarf and Crest of a Wave

Hi gang show peeps!  

Welcome back to the last in our history lessons on gang show! Hopefully it hasn't been too boring. Today we're going to look at two of the key ingredients to a successful gang show. First off, lets look at the iconic Red Scarf.

When Ralph Reader set up the first Gang Show Troop in 1932, they wanted an identifying feature, to show that they were part of something special. It was decided on as a red scarf. The red scarf has become a worldwide symbol of Gang shows, and to distinguish one show from another, an insignia in gold thread  is embroided into the point of the scarf. UK gang show members are only allowed to wear the scarlet scarf if they are nationally recognised as up to the required standard. Every show must be re-assessed every five years.

The red scarf is a special thing. Ralph himself told a story about it's significance:

"In Alexandria I was attached to the Royal Navy when they brought in the Italian Fleet. While I was standing on deck one evening a young sailor walked over to me and handed me his " Gang Show" scarf. "Sign this for me, Ralph; it's my mascot," he said. I signed it. He still has it today when the show is on; but the signature has been washed out by sea-water. He was twice torpedoed. The signature didn't remain, but the colour did. It's nice to know these "symbols" mean so much - perhaps because they stand for so much."

What I find particularly special about the red scarves is when they are no longer bright scarlet anymore. My own necker has dulled down to a light red, and other members of our gang have scarves in a lovely shade of pink. But every year, as we stand on the stage, we wear our scarves with pride, knowing we're taking part in a tradition stretching all the way back to that very first gang show.

The other signature element of gang show is not quite as old, but very nearly. On the Crest of a Wave has become the signature tune for many Scout Gang Shows throughout the world and is usually performed at the end of a performance. Created in 1936 for the first act finale, it wasn't initally a success with most of the cast. Again, in Ralph Reader's own words:

"Towards the end of the rehearsal I got them round the piano and we went over the song again. This time there seemed to be quite a changed atmosphere among the boys. They sang it with all the gusto they were capable of and at the end of the second refrain they actually applauded themselves. Then a voice boomed out from the rear of the Drill Hall.  "Let's have it again, Ralph, and we'll all sing it." A group of young Territorials was standing at the back. They had been listening and watching the rehearsal. So again we let it rip, with the Terriers joining in. They were the first "outsiders" who ever sang "We're Riding Along on the Crest of a Wave."

It's now known by many as the 'theme tune' to the Gang Show Movement. It was released as a record, and appeared in the motion picture 'The Gang Show'. This clip is taken from the film and shows Ralph himself performing it!


It has been sung in every country of the world where Scouting exists and was the theme song in one of the prisoner-of-war camps during the 1939 war.  

"It was sung at the beginning and end of every R.A.F. Gang Show on every battle front through the war days. It was used as the finale of one of the major episodes of the Aldershot Tattoo, and played by the massed bands of the Brigade of Guards. I was present at one of these performances with four of my young Scouts, and when the strains of it came over the night air one of my boys turned to me and said, 'Lumme, Skip, they got a nerve pinching our song."

While I've never seen the same hand actions used at any two different gang shows, and each show also seems to sing it with different arrangements or adjustments to lyrics, the enthusiasm and gusto of the song remains the same. 

I can't wait to watch Crest of a Wave performed in the 80th Anniversary Gang Show, on 10th June at the Birmingham Hippodrome! Tickets are still available, although selling fast. It looks to be an excellent show and two of our very own cast members are in it. It will be very interesting watching how gang show members from across the country all perform that song together. I wonder which actions will be used!








Join us again next week to find out the hidden world of SE Berks gang show. That's right! We're going backstage to look scenery and props!


And remember...

Whatcha Gotta Do

Smile!