Betty Clay

Betty St Clair Clay (née Baden-Powell; 16 April 1917 – 24 April 2004) was the younger daughter of Olave Baden-Powell, the first Chief Guide, and Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting.

Career Clay enrolled in the Brownies as soon as she was old enough. She was educated at Westonbirt School, Gloucestershire and St James' School in Malvern, Worcestershire. While boarding at St James' School, she joined the school's Girl Guide company.

Clay accompanied her parents on many official tours including some overseas, the first of which was the maiden cruise of the round the Mediterranean and down the West Coast of Africa from 26 January to 8 March 1929; she was 11. Other tours were to Switzerland in 1931, and again in 1932 for the opening of "Our Chalet"; to South Africa, and also the first two "Peace Cruises" - on the in 1933 and on the in 1934 - as well as a round-the-world tour which included the first Australian Pan Pacific Scout Jamboree held in Frankston, Australia from 27 December 1934 to 13 January 1935. They also did a tour of Africa in 1935–36, where she met her husband-to-be on the homeward voyage from Cape Town to England. a District Commissioner in Her Majesty's Colonial Service in Northern Rhodesia They lived in Northern Rhodesia until they retired to Somerset in 1964.

Death She died, aged 87, on 24 April 2004, in Elliscombe House Nursing Home, where she was recovering following a fall at home. She was cremated in Yeovil Crematorium, and on Wednesday, 5 May 2004, her ashes (and five years later those of her husband Gervas) were buried in the Churchyard of the Parish Church of St John the Baptist, North Cheriton. A memorial service was held at Wells Cathedral, Somerset, on Monday, 12 July 2004 and was well-attended.

Legacy The Scout Association's Betty Clay Library is located in Gilwell Park.