Friends of the Fourth
NEWSLETTERS can be accessed using the links below. Please e-mail with contributions or news.
2007: FOTF News 20 FOTF News 19 2006: FOTF News 18 FOTF News 17 2005: FOTF News 16 FOTF News 15
2004: FOTF News 14 FOTF News 13
2003: FOTF News 12 FOTF News 11 2002: FOTF News 10 FOTF News 09
Christmas 2004 No. 14
Editorial
We have good news to report. Headquarters has varied the rules concerning age limits of leaders. You may remember that The Advance Party Report of 1966 introduced an upper age limit for leaders. This restriction has now been removed and as a result, the District has approved the nomination of Fred Fletcher to be the new Group Scout Leader to follow Keith Daly. Fred has been involved in the Group for many years, coming to the Fourth from Fulham. He has been involved with Charterhouse Cub Pack for all that time and we wish him well in his new role.
Fred will succeed Keith at the Christmas Scouts' Own at the HQ at 6.00pm on Sunday 19th December. A cordial invitation is extended to Friends of the Fourth to be present.
We wish you and your families a very Happy Christmas and health and prosperity in the New Year.
New Chief Scout
Readers will recall that in November last year we had a memorable visit from George Purdy, the then Chief Scout, for our 70th Anniversary celebrations. We knew than that he would soon be relinquishing the post, and at the Gilwell Reunion in September he handed over to Peter Duncan - a name familiar to some of you as the adventurous presenter of Blue Peter. Peter Kinton was present at the ceremony and was duly impressed. Peter Duncan will have an important role in the European Jamboree being held next year at Hylands Park near Chelmsford in Essex and later at the 2007 Centenary World Jamboree being held at the same site.
JJB Apeldoorn
In September, our linked Scout Group - the JJB Group in Apeldoorn, Holland - held an opening ceremony for their new headquarters. You may recall that we reported that their original headquarters was the subject of an arson attach three years ago and was burnt to the ground. Peter Kinton, Les Prescott, Alan Avery and Patrick Jacobs represented the Group at the ceremony and presented a framed print of Nonsuch Palace. This picture is appropriate as the Dutch equivalent - the Palace of William of Orange - "Het Loo" - is located in Apeldoorn.
Remembrance Sunday
A large party of Group members attended the Remembrance Day service at Christ Church with St Philip and for the two minutes' silence at the war memorial. The service was led by both the Vicar, Rev. Charlotte Elvey, and the Methodist Minister, Rev Barrie Tabraham, and the scouts looked really smart alongside other uniformed organisations and the Royal British Legion.
Although there is a plaque recording the names of those from Worcester Park killed in the 1939-45 war, these are not replicated alongside those killed in the 1914-18 war on the war memorial. With the British Legion, we have been trying to rectify this as Worcester Park scouts killed in the war are included on the plaque, but so far without success.
New Scout District
The Scout Districts of Sutton & Cheam and Wallington & Carshalton will combine from May 2005. The current District Commissioner for Sutton & Cheam, John Perkins, will be the DC for the new District. We reported previously about all the Districts in our Scout County of Greater London South-West joining together to create new larger Districts which align with the London Boroughs. Former 4WP Rover Scouts Chris Willis and Michael Wellman have been involved in the Kingston and Malden District as District Chairman and District Commissioner respectively. Chris writes:
"Two 'Old Boys' (not Old Codgers!) recently retired from positions in Scouting. Michael Wellman, who had been DC of Kingston and Malden District for some years, stepped down on 14 October upon the amalgamation of the District with that of Surbiton to form 'Royal Kingston' District. Michael will remain on the staff of the new District under DC Bob Bushell with responsibilities for fixed assets and buildings. Christopher Willis, who had been Michael's District Chairman, also retired from office on the same occasion and continues his recent retirement from business in the West Country. However, he will maintain his association with Worcester Park through 'The Friends of Nonsuch', the charity of which he is a Trustee and Hon. Treasurer. The Fourth has close connections with the Friends of Nonsuch and, no doubt, Chris will be seen in the area from time to time.
Graham Willis recently had a replacement of half a knee. Unfortunately, the site turned septic which involved him in a further period in hospital whilst it was brought under control. He is now home and undergoing continuing treatment with antibiotics."
News from Members
We've had several letters from Members so we've included some edited highlights from all of them. Former Rover Scout Leader John Humberstone recently lost his wife Sheila after 55 years' marriage. John writes:
"Sheila's third stroke in five years was massive causing her to slip into a deep coma from which she never survived. I miss her terribly and feel I can never fill the huge void she has left, but life goes on and I take each day as it comes - some good, some not so good. However, we had many years together and must be thankful and grateful for such a long-lasting marriage. I shall stay here for the time being. We are only two miles from the sea in an area of great natural beauty - it is in fact a conservation area and restrictions on development are strictly enforced. I am lucky in having lovely caring neighbours and a very active and successful local Church. I belong to a local Camera Club and have delved into digital photography which severely tries my fast fading brain power - but I get by!
I wish the Fourth well and look forward to your newsletters - my best regards to the few remaining die-hards from my era. I have many happy memories of Rovering - alas no more!"
We've heard again from Maurice and Rita Wilkins. You'll recall from previous letters from them that their health was causing concern. They write:
"It's nice to keep in touch as several of the old names still keep cropping up. As you might expect we are still active, mainly cycling and are knocking off a goodly few miles each week around the Kentish countryside. February saw us involved in a two week off-road tour in Spain across the mountains north of Alicante with a small group of like-minded adventurers. We have just spent a couple of weeks in North Wales and the Peak District attending a couple of cycling Rallies and putting in quite a few hilly miles! One of our rides went through Cromford and it brought back happy memories of a long weekend spent there holed up in the Station Hostel with the Group. [The Group Fellowship spent a weekend in the Cromford Scout Centre - Cromford Railway Station - in the late 'eighties - Ed]. June and July saw us travel down to our little hacienda in Spain during which we spent a few days cycling and walking in the Pyrenees. It was fabulous! We have now, however, sold the property although we have to go out there in September to finalise the sale, so we will no longer be tied to the one location.
My health seems to be well under control now and so far there is no sign of the cancer returning. It's now 4˝years since the original operation to remove the tumour, so I feel pretty good about that. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same about our son's wife. Nicky and Chris decided to get married last December when they knew she had cancer, but it had been kept under control and it was hoped her treatment had worked a miracle. For several months things had improved, but sad to say it has come back with a vengeance. It is a very rare form and the doctors are almost struggling in ignorance, but it seems they are losing the battle. She is now very ill and her life expectancy is not very good.
On a slightly happier note, our new grand daughter is making great strides and is now 7 months old. She is becoming very responsive and aware and, of course, is an absolute beauty. Well, wouldn't any granddad say the same? Our thespian activities continue apace and we are now thick in the middle of rehearsals for Gilbert and Sullivan's Trial by Jury and HMS Pinafore to be performed in October. In February we will be involved with Jesus Christ Superstar and in April with Pygmalion. Remember us to all who can remember us."
We've heard from Peter and Shirley Cornish, currently also members of the Group fellowship, about their globe-trotting and meeting up with former members of the Fourth:
"We recently visited New Zealand and spent some time with George Foreman. George and his brothers Frank and Jack Foreman were Cubs and Scouts in the Fourth in the 1970's. George now leads a thriving Cub Pack in Wanaka, South Island, and has found another ex-pat, a Welshman named Huw, to start a Scout Troop. Their headquarters is right on the edge of the lake so kayaking and forest camping are high on their activities. We took out with us, as a gift to the Pack from George's parents, the canopy part of a parachute (ideal for Beaver and Cub games). George was up half the night before, reading the instructions so that on Cub night, which we attended, he would know plenty of games. The Cubs certainly enjoyed it. Wanaka is beautiful and George has found "a corner of heaven". He said he never imagined he would end up running a Cub Pack but he loves it and plans to keep involved indefinitely."
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Walter
"Bill" Rush 1909 - 2004 Bill - a Vice-President of the Group - died
recently at the age of 95. Fourteen members of the Group
joined Jenny, Alan and Geoff at his funeral at Leatherhead. Bill was
a great supporter of the Group starting in the war years when he managed
the allotments on the Scout Grounds. For all the years from then
until health prevented it, he was Ground Warden and attended all the
fetes, jumble sales, bazaars and countless other functions where he could
be found beavering away helping in the background As Stage Manager
for many Gang Shows, he managed to conjure up all sorts of gadgets, stage
props and scenery from nothing but cardboard, string and sellotape.
He will be remembered for his great support for his wife Gladys who
suffered from Parkinson's Disease for many years before her death.
In recent years, Bill was a member of the volunteer restoration team at
the Nonsuch Mansion. Peter
Kinton |
Elsie Willis 1906 - 2004 Many Friends will wish to know that Elsie Willis, long-time supporter, died in Truro on 30 September 2004 at 98 years of age. Together with her late husband Geoff, she was an active worker for the Group for over twenty years from the 'fifties through to the 'seventies. Her skills as a seamstress made her indispensable for many Gang Shows: on one occasion, she almost single-handedly re-made scores of costumes that had been destroyed in a fire at the Headquarters just a few days before curtain-up. She worked in many different areas of the P&F's activities and was recognised by the award to her of the coveted 'Thanks Badge', which she treasured for the remainder of her life. Two of her three sons, Christopher and Graham, were active in the Group from 1951 through the next two decades. Her funeral was held in Truro where the Group was represented by Les Prescott.
Chris
Willis |
Contributions from Members
Just when we were concerned at the lack of contributions, we had a splendid item from John Pryke who discloses how he became known as "Brooza". John has written at length, so we have decided to serialise his "epistle". We would, of course, be delighted if other readers could send us similar contributions. John writes:
"I noted in Issue 13 of the Newsletter mention of a lack of correspondence from Members and I recalled, with a pang of guilt, that I had started a letter some two years ago which was prompted by seeing Andrew Craton's letter in Issue No. 9. It was never finished, so now if you think some Members might be interested in some more memories of 55 years ago, read on!
I joined the Senior Scouts just before Christmas 1949 with no previous Scouting experience. An early target was to get my First Class badge as a pre-requisite for attending a summer camp at Loch Ness in August 1950. (An even earlier target, which was quite unintentional I am sure, was Andrew Craton himself! During a game of that barbaric activity we used to call British Bulldogs, I allegedly tackled him too enthusiastically. In any event he objected quite noisily and called me a bit of a bruiser. This led to the nickname "Brooza" which I then had to suffer for the next few years and which led in turn to a few misunderstandings when I was being introduced to others!)
I have no idea whether it was commonplace for new recruits to be force fed through the many stages leading to the award of the First Class badge. However, my life for the next few months was dominated by the reading up, practising, and taking of the various tests and I seem to remember Peter Kinton hovering like an enthusiastic Svengali over my progress!
Culmination of the process was the First Class hike, which I undertook with Raymond Roberts over a weekend in the early summer. I can hardly remember most of the weekend after 55 years, but one thing sticks in my memory. It arose as Ray and I compared notes during the following week, when we disagreed bitterly over the sketch map of our campsite. Imagine, after all our careful note taking not having checked the details before we left the site? Bloody-mindedness took over and neither would give in to the other so we confessed our differences and waited for Assistant District Commissioner Shoesmith's judgement. Thankfully our worst fears were not realised and he accepted the error as a potential learning experience. We had imagined having to do the hike all over again!
Of greater importance to our trip to Scotland was getting kitted out. Bob-a-Job week that year lasted quite a bit longer than a week as we built up funds to buy hike tents and other lightweight equipment. I still have a photo of Alan Barnard balanced precariously on a fence cutting a large branch off a tree. I also remember my contribution included the refurbishment of a ladies "sit-up-and-beg" bike. I still wince at the thought of the quality of the paint job; the lady in question must have been very understanding!
During that year I became thoroughly immersed in the Fourth's Senior Scout Troop with a camp at Hatchford Park with Don Golledge, Andrew Craton, 'Jake' Killick and Alan Barnard. We also undertook a 3-day hike, which took in Squerry Court, Westerham, when a group of inquisitive cows tried to eat my socks and our campfire was circled with cowpats in the morning! Like us, the cows seemed to like looking dreamily into the dying embers of a fire, but of course we never used the area as a toilet. My photo album even quotes one event as a 'Bizzibods Camp'! I wonder what that entailed?"
To be continued...
Coming Events
The Group has a full programme of events as usual, and you are cordially invited to attend all of them. See the Calendar page for more details.