The vision that led to a global movement.

LORD Robert Baden-Powell of Gilwell (1857-1941) was a decorated soldier, talented artist, actor and free-thinker.

Best known during his military career for his spirited defence of the small South African township of Mafeking during the Boer War at the turn of the 20th Century, he was propelled to extraordinary fame as the founder of Scouting.

He had been impressed during the siege at how boys had used their initiative under pressure to make themselves useful and capitalise on limited resources.

Already thinking of developing a training programme for young people Britain, he was urged by friends to re-write his handbook for soldiers (Aids to Scouting) for this younger audience.

In 1907 he held an experimental camp on Brownsea Island, Poole, Dorset, to try out his ideas.

He brought together 20 boys, some from public schools and some from working class homes, and put them into camp under his leadership.

The whole world now knows the results of that camp.

Scouting for Boys was published in 1908 in six fortnightly parts at 4d a copy.

Sales of the book were enormous and boys soon formed themselves into Scout Patrols.

What had been intended as a training aid for existing organisations became the handbook of a new and, ultimately, worldwide movement. Baden-Powell's great understanding of young people obviously touched a fundamental chord both in this country and others.

Scouting for Boys has since been translated into many different languages.

Some 28 million young people worldwide now take part in the adventure of Scouting and the movement celebrated its centenary in 2007..