Friends of the Fourth

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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 2005 No. 16

Editorial

Much is happening in Scouting generally in the UK. Next year, 2006, will be the 90th anniversary of the introduction of the Wolf Cubs, now Cub Scouts, while you'll know that 2007 marks the centenary of Scouting. In addition to all this, all Scout Groups in the UK will be open to girls from 1 January 2007 (and in the Fourth from 1 January 2006). Scout Headquarters at Gilwell are busy with the preparations for the Centenary Jamboree in Essex and it promises to be the greatest international Scouting Jamboree in history. There will be 40,000 scouts from all over the world taking part. We would be delighted to hear from any Friends who attended any of the previous World Jamborees, and in particular, any who attended the Jubilee Jamboree in 1957 at Sutton Coldfield.

Eurojam

As a precursor to the Centenary Jamboree, a European Jamboree "Eurojam" was held on the same site where the 2007 World Jamboree will be held - Hylands Park, Chelmsford, Essex. Scouts from our Group attended and we quote from Daniel Stevenson's report in the Group Newsletter: "I had the opportunity to meet 10,000 different people from 50 countries - unfortunately 12 days was not long enough to do so". Sam Oxley wrote: "The atmosphere was utterly stunning" and Tom Newman: "It was one of the greatest times I have ever had in my life and I enjoyed every minute of it".

JJB Visit

Our Dutch Scout friends from Jagermeester Johan Bentinck (JJB) Group 8, Apeldoorn, camped in our HQ for their summer camp. They set up an excellent camp and it all looked very colourful with the Dutch flags flying around the field. The day they were due to visit London was the day the bombs went off. Our Group Scout Leader, Fred Fletcher, rushed to Worcester Park station to stop them, but fortunately, they had already heard the news and were making their way back to our HQ.

Twin Town Conference

Apeldoorn is no longer one of the European towns formally linked to the London Borough of Sutton, nevertheless friendships made throughout the Borough from the original link continue. In Scouting links have flourished not only with Apeldoorn, but also with two of the Borough's other linked towns of Gladsaxe (Copenhagen), and Gagny (Paris). Gladsaxe is also independently linked to Paisley, Scotland and is included in a Scouting link known as PAGGS (an acronym of the towns participating). PAGGS holds occasional camps and expeditions for scouts from the towns and also conferences for leaders. A recent PAGGS conference was held in Sutton and the participants visited "SouWest", the Greater London South West County Gang Show held at the Secombe Theatre in Sutton. Backstage at the Gang Show was Paul Green, Scout Leader of Silver Troop, in charge of electrics.

Remembrance Day

We were pleased that, once again this year, we had a contingent of Cubs, Scouts and Leaders from the Group attending the Remembrance Day Service at Christ Church with St Philip. This was followed by the two minutes' silence at the War memorial and then refreshments at the Royal British Legion headquarters in Central Road.

Big Band Concert

For the first time, the Group held a Big Band Concert in the grounds of the headquarters in September. We were entertained by the Dave Marrion Big Band, and among the musicians was Sheila Tracey of BBC Radio 2 fame. The performance was excellent and the evening well attended. However, after a clear bright dry day, the rain started on cue with the beginning of the concert, easing for the interval and then started again for the second half, easing again at the end. The rain came down in torrents! It mattered not, as nearly all the spectators had come prepared and sat it out under umbrellas, tents, gazebos and raincoats... We're sure the event will be repeated.

Guy Fawkes

This annual event went very well in fine weather. It was most enjoyable, and, like the Big Band Concert, produced a handsome profit for Group funds.

Personalities

We are pleased to report that in Cedar Beaver Colony, Valerie Street is now established as Leader in succession to Valerie Clarkson. In Anglia Cub Pack, Akela Brenda Hunt relinquished her role along with Assistant Doreen Edwards. They have given very many years of outstanding service to the Pack. The new Akela is Samantha O'Reilly who will be assisted by Steve Roberts, Ashley Terry and young leader Tom Newman. Derek Scrine will remain Pack Treasurer.

News from Members

We've heard from several folk since the last newsletter, including from Alan Worrall, who wrote to congratulate one of your editors, Les Prescott, on his retirement reported in the last issue. As these things go, we go can report that Les is back at work for two days a week. We believe the word "indispensable" may have been used.

We've received a very interesting letter from Tony Burrage in Australia from which we quote highlights. Tony was the Patrol Leader of the patrol representing the Group and District in the County Camping Competition in 1952.

Now some might say that I'm a bit of a self confessed petrol head. At least, those that have known me over the years might be forgiven for thinking so. From the time that we came to Australia in 1974, my wife Lyn, and I have been spectators at many historic motor racing events, and I used to think..."one day".

Well, on retirement about eight years ago I decided to do it, and bought a Rennmax 23B. This 1965 sports racer was made by a Sydney race car manufacturer and is a reproduction of a Lotus 23B, many of which still race at British historic race meetings. It is a mid-engined car with a 1600cc Lotus twin cam motor running on aviation fuel and is located about 12 inches behind my helmet. I bought the car from another old boy in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales and having given it a practice try out at a local Melbourne track, entered my first race meeting at the Phillip Island circuit, just south of Melbourne, in February 1999. This track is considered to be The Goodwood of the Southern Hemisphere.

Naturally, in my first race, sitting on the starting grid with 25 other experienced drivers, I was petrified, but finished the race, not even last I seem to remember. Since then I've driven at circuits in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide and am slowly improving. After every race meeting there is always something to do even if it's only a spit and polish and changing the gear ratios to suit the next circuit. Last year I gave the car a complete overhaul down to the chassis, replacing several worn parts and giving it a fresh coat of paint (British Racing Green of course). Not sure that it goes any better, but it makes me feel good!!

Our son, Adam, acts as invaluable pit crew in exchange for an occasional drive on a practice day. Lyn is not quite so enthusiastic about it all as I am, but is press-ganged on some occasions and does a sterling job pouring the coffee. We are now nearing the end of the 2005 season with a hill climb coming up and a race meeting at the end of November. The year's activities will culminate with our annual club dinner and trophy presentation by our club sponsor Sir Jack Brabham. Who knows I may even get to shake his hand!

In this issue, we will conclude the item from John Pryke. You'll recall that John described how he became known as "Brooza", his efforts to gain the First Class Badge and the Senior Scout expedition at Loch Ness. John continues:

Two events stand out in my memory:

The midnight Wide Game - this took place on the mountainside at Invermoriston in the pitch dark. I have never really understood the game, and I have never ever been involved in one that was concluded successfully. So it was to be in Scotland. We stumbled through dew-laden heather; dropped into a three feet deep ditch and up to our ankles in the stream at the bottom; very nearly jumped about three feet down the mountainside on to what we saw as a large boulder, which was actually the top of a small tree. Thankfully discretion saved us from a painful experience.

The two-day hike - we made camp on a wild and very windy open space just below the highest point of the mini mountain we were on and beside a small burn, or stream. Many large stones were used to hold the tent pegs in the ground and our dinner was eventually cooked and eaten. During the resulting washing up routine there was a sudden blast of icy wind and our carefully nurtured fire completely disappeared and every plate, cup and pot and pan went racing up the hill! Sleep came very hard that night as we wondered if our little tents would still be there in the morning.

That morning, we washed in water from the burn, ate breakfast and drank our mugs of tea, struck camp and walked on up the hill alongside the little burn that had provided us with our water. Quarter of a mile upstream we found it... the carcass of a sheep, partially damming up the flow of water. The only consolation we could wring from the experience was that we had been dissuaded from drinking "fresh water" by its colour, which had been turned brown by the peat!

Well, that concludes John's article and we thank him very much for writing. Please do be encouraged by John's example and let us know of your memories of your time in the Fourth - we'd be delighted to hear from you. Please write to either of us, or e-mail on fotf(at)4wp.org.uk

We also heard again from Maurice and Rita Wilkins and the following are highlights from their letter:

I don't play table tennis any more, but yes, we are still cycling. Last March we again did an off-road tour in the mountains north of Alicante in Spain, but this time the weather was anything but favourable and we ran into unheard of conditions. One day we actually walked 10 km through 18 inches of snow! Roads were blocked and chaos reigned, but we got through on our bikes. In November we will be leaving the bikes behind for a month's driving and camping on a self-drive safari through Namibia.

It is now well over five years since my cancer was diagnosed and having completed the treatment and regular check ups since, I feel very lucky now to be pronounced clear. Not so lucky was our son Nicholas's wife. You may remember that after discovering her cancer, they got married in December 2003, and she seemed to be making good progress for several months. Then around September last year she took a turn for the worse and steadily went down hill and died just a few days before their first anniversary.

Our daughter, Lesley, seems to be very happy in her domesticity and our granddaughter, now 18 months old, is making wonderful progress developing so fast. And of course, she is the best looking granddaughter in the world!

Last year we sold our little Spanish hacienda and bought a camper van. So we can now tour around and camp in a bit more convenience and almost luxury. It also paid for our recent, slightly more exotic holidays. South Africa, Zambia and Namibia were wonderful, Antarctica was absolutely fabulous and our return to Namibia will be just as great.

Please remember us to all those we knew back in Worcester Park and in the Fourth and our open invitation remains if anybody happens to be down in this area.

We've heard from Dorothy Salter, previously Akela of Anglia Pack and she writes: "I so look forward to the news of the 4th having had a great interest over 54 years. I've had wonderful times with so many lads and made great friends".

Queen's Scout

Steve and Christine Wicks, the parents of Leigh Wicks, who recently gained his Queen's Scout Badge, have written about their experience at Gilwell at the presentation ceremony:

On Saturday 22nd October we set off early to Gilwell Park with Leigh who was to receive his Queen's Scout award from the Chief Scout, Peter Duncan. This was the first time in recent years that the presentations were to be made at Gilwell. The presentations started promptly at 11am with a fanfare from the band for the arrival of the Queen's Scouts.
Peter Duncan had a refreshingly relaxed but professional approach to the ceremony. Each recipient was interviewed by him, TV style, delving into what had been their most interesting activity on their way to gaining their award, what they enjoyed, how they felt about Scouting, would they become a leader, what qualities they thought we necessary for Scouting in the 21st century etc. etc. A very different Chief Scout to previous ones and lacking in some basic scout knowledge - "What's backwoods cooking" he had to ask - but so very enthusiastic about everything he heard the award holders had done and encouraging them to go further in Scouting.
We met him afterwards for a less formal photo and asked if he would send a good luck message to the cast of the "Souwest" Gang Show which he willingly did, writing "Sorry I won't be there - have a great show - Peter Duncan, Chief Scout and Thespian" on a poster.
Another Scouter, there with his daughter to receive her award, recognised Leigh's scarf as 4th Worcester Park and remarked that he'd been in the Red Six of "B" Pack back in 1959-61 - he couldn't remember any names but we passed on the website address for his future interest. Tony Kilburn is now Deputy District Commissioner for Swindon North District in Wiltshire - it's a small world isn't it!
Afterwards we toured the site and saw many changes from the previous occasion we had been there some 30 years earlier and Leigh was interested in the newly completed "Challenge Valley" assault course which had been erected in time for EuroJam.

Interesting comment about Tony Kilburn. Can anyone remember him? We'd be pleased to hear.