Friends of the Fourth
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Christmas Edition 2007 No. 20
Editorial
The Friends of the Fourth has now been going for ten years, so this could be regarded as our tenth anniversary edition. 2007 has been a year of anniversaries, and in particular of the Movement's centenary. In this edition, you'll find further reminiscences of the Jubilee Jamboree of 50 years ago, and of the Group's involvement in the Centenary Jamboree held in Hylands Park, Essex. There's also news of further centenary events held since the summer edition. Next year, our Group will be celebrating its 75th anniversary, so we look forward to further celebrations as the year progresses.
Again, we would encourage you to drop us a line, phone us, or e-mail with news or recounting stories from your time in the Fourth. Details of how to contact us are at the end of the newsletter, and also please continue to encourage former members of the group with whom you are still in touch to join the Friends - the £2 a year subscription is their only commitment.
We wish you and your families a very Happy Christmas and health and prosperity in the New Year.
News from the Group
Group Scout Leader
Our GSL, Fred Fletcher will be stepping down as GSL at the Christmas Scouts' Own. Fred has steered the Group along following Keith Daly's move to Rustington, and we thank him for all he has done over his time in office. Paul Green, currently Leader of Silver Scout Troop, will be taking over as GSL, and Paul Stansbridge will follow as Leader of Silver Troop.
Brownsea Cub Pack Pack Leader
Les Prescott has swapped warrants with Ben Alembick, so Ben now is now Akela and Les has taken back his former Assistant Cub Scout Leader role.
Brian Yearley
After many years in all sections of the Group and ultimately Group Quartermaster and Vice President, Brian Yearley and Sheila have moved to the West Country to be nearer their son and daughter. A farewell dinner was held at Zander's restaurant, North Cheam, which the Fellowship organised for presentations and in appreciation of their support.
Vice Presidents
At the very successful Group Fun Day (see Centenary Events below), David Sweetland and our joint editor Les Prescott were appointed Vice Presidents of the Group in recognition of their long and valuable service.
Group Events
The Group has been busy this year with Centenary events, but this has not stopped all the usual fundraising activities from continuing. The Summer Fair went ahead and was as successful as ever, along with the Jumble Sales, Auction and Fireworks Night, all producing reasonable returns to fill the Group coffers. As we write, the Christmas Bazaar and the annual Senior Residents' Party are being organised.
Jubilee World Jamboree 1957 at Sutton Coldfield
Reports from the 1957 newsletter from Brian Yearley, Paul Dovey and Barrie Spelling are reproduced below:
Jubilee Jamboree Report from Senior Scout Paul Dovey
I thought the Jamboree was like a terrific holiday camp because there were TV Marquees every few hundred yards, a theatre and an open air cinema which had the largest screen in the UK. It seemed to me as if a new town with Police Force, Fire Brigade and taxi service had sprung up and was composed of all the nations of the world. No sooner had we settled in, done all our swapping (which included my receiving an axe from a Yankee Scouter, and an exchange by a young lady of a tartan skirt for one of the Yank's bright red jackets) then we were packing to come home. The little storm we had did not dampen our morale even though three boys spent one night on a hard wooden table and many more took the opportunity to swap badges into the early hours of the morning. I was very pleased I went and I would like to take this opportunity of thanking the Group for their generous grant towards my expenses.
Jubilee Jamboree Report from Scout Barrie Spelling
The thing that struck me most was the tremendous spirit which was finely illustrated at the closing ceremony at which everybody joined in singing the Jamboree Song. Another noticeable aspect was the different ideas of tents, gadgets, camp lay-out, gates, etc., that the various contingents had. These are only a few things that I noticed at the Jamboree, but as I have been told to keep this report brief I cannot write any more on this subject. I was fortunate enough to be a member of the UK HQ staff and therefore met and conversed with many famous personalities. Indeed one day I shook hands with Lord Rowallan himself. I cannot help but mention the fact that, although the work was hard, the boys whom I worked alongside were such splendid Scouts that one couldn't help but enjoy working. I will always be proud to know that I was one of those privileged to attend the Jubilee Jamboree and am therefore very grateful to the Group for allowing me to go and I thank them for the grant towards my expenses.
Impressions of the Jubilee Jamboree by Rover Brian Yearley
We met many of the local people of Sutton Coldfield who visited the Rover Moot at the "Chinese Charlie's Café" (which was open to all) and they spoke of the Jamboree as a good thing and were honoured to have "their park" chosen to host it. Also, in our coffee bar, which did not open until 11.30pm when everybody was coming back from the Camp Centre and various camp fires, we had many foreign Scouts visit us. We spent many pleasant evenings talking to them and getting them to sing us songs from their various countries. The time for us Rovers went very quickly. The Camp Centre was over a mile from the Rover Moot, so we had to complete all camp chores half an hour earlier than usual in order to get to the show on time! We all enjoyed ourselves and spirits were high until the rain came, but that only just dampened them. It subsequently rained just a little, so the weather was not nearly as bad as it was made out to be. Come Wednesday morning, all the Rovers were packing kit for the three-day hike. Looking around them, the great organisation of the Scouters-in-Charge could really be felt - getting about 4,000 Rovers away on special trains to Wales and Derbyshire to spend three wonderful days. Although some got wet on the mountains in Wales they came back happy and talking of a really good time. In no time at all the closing ceremony was upon us and the marvellous closing speech of Lady B-P gave us all something to think about. We left the Jamboree with the local people waving goodbye to many tired but very happy Scouts returning from a wonderful Jamboree.
Centenary World Jamboree 2007 at Hylands Park
One of the Fourth's Explorer Scouts, Tom Newman, attended the Jamboree and has been busy reporting his experiences to various Sections within the Group, as well as to the Group Fellowship and at District events. Silver Troop Scout Leader, Paul Green, was on the Jamboree International Service Team, and here is his report of the time he spent there:
We arrived to a sea of people, a total of 40,000 including 8,000 adults working together to form the International Service Team or "IST" so that 32,000 young people could have a good time and learn what Scouting can offer. We celebrated 100 years of Scouting and met thousands of new people and friends. The site was huge and took about an hour to walk from one corner to the other. It was made up of sub-camps and activity areas and centred on Hylands House and "The Plaza".
Our job specifically was to provide safety boat cover for "SPLASH", the water activities. Sounds relatively easy but we were helping to put between 3,000 and 4,000 people on the water each day in a safe and fun environment. We were up at about 6.00am each day to get breakfast and then catch our coach. We didn't return each day until about 6.00pm and then to bed at about 11.00pm. A busy few weeks.
We also helped with the arrivals and departures of the contingents and taking them to their different sites, interacting with many different nationalities and age ranges. The highlights of the Jamboree were the opening ceremony and the sunrise ceremony. All 40,000 participants and those at Brownsea Island were linked by video link and we all did our promise together led by the Chief Scout.
When we did have some time off we were able to enjoy the programme for leaders and to see some of the on-site activities for the young people. The Black Magic tent was a restaurant set up by the German Scouts and it was huge, with a restaurant and relaxing area inside. Sainsbury's were on-site to make sure we got our daily dose of chocolate and sweets and if the site got too much and we needed to escape, the nearby village was a 30 minute walk away. I would recommend a Jamboree to anyone, either as a participant or as part of the IST.
Centenary Events
To mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of Scouting on Brownsea Island by Baden Powell, the Group together with 2nd Cuddington and 1st Old Malden held a celebration on 1st August at 8.00am on Malden Green, with a service presented by the Scouts, renewal of the Promise and a release of balloons. At the same moment, Brownsea Cub Pack, at camp near Oxted, joined with the 1st Lingfield & Dormansland Scout Group for a similar ceremony at Lingfield. Charterhouse Cub Pack likewise celebrated the event at Youlbury Scout Camp, Oxford.
Having endured the rain during the District Centennial Camp at Walton Firs in May, we were fortunate in having fine weather for the Group's Centennial Fun Day at Headquarters in September. Teams of Beavers, Cubs and Scouts had ten challenges to complete during the afternoon including having a go on our aerial runway, blindfold trails, parachute games, the bouncy castle and all sorts of competitions. This was interspersed with a refreshment break followed by a traditional campfire. The evening ended with a magnificent fireworks display.
Muster of King's and Queen's Scouts
In this centennial year of Scouting, our Scout County, Greater London South-West, organised a "muster" of all King's and Queen's Scouts at King's College School, Wimbledon on 30th September. The afternoon started with an introduction by the County Commissioner, Roger Hurrion, and welcome to the Mayors of three of the five London Boroughs covering the County. Sutton was represented by the Deputy Mayor.
There was an Act of Re-dedication - a short service and renewal of the Promise. Then a former King's Scout - John Beresford (who gained the badge in the 'Forties) gave an account of what it was to be a King's Scout and what he achieved during those dark years of rationing, persuading folk to give up their clothing coupons so he could get a uniform, for example. More importantly, he explained the requirements of the badge and how he achieved it. Then a current Queen's Scout from Wimbledon gave an account of his achievements including an expedition to Nepal to help build a community centre.
The Mayor of Merton then gave a speech in which he praised the movement for all it has done and is doing. The National Anthem was sung followed by refreshments and a chance to meet friends old and new. Eight Queen's Scouts (Michael Wellman, David Prescott, Les Prescott, Patrick Jacobs, Steve Western, Andy Root, Andy Poynter and Carl Presswood) from the 4th Worcester Park were present, along with Mike O'Donnell - a member of our Parents' & Friends Committee who gained his Queen's Scout Badge in Wallington. The Deputy Mayor made a point of speaking to us as she apparently used to live in Worcester Park. Kingston & Malden Scout Band played for us to end the afternoon. We're not sure of the numbers attending, but the hall at King's College was full, and it was surprising to see the significant number attending who were King's Scouts, in other words, gained the award before 1952, over 55 years ago!
News from Members
We've heard from many of you since the summer edition, particularly those with reminiscences from 50 years ago. Former Akela of Anglia Pack (or "A" Pack as it was then), Dorothy Salter has written:
Thank you so much for the newsletter. I find it very interesting and it brings back happy memories. I was pleased to read of the Jubilee Jamboree in 1957 - I recall that our District were hosts to Canadian Scouts and I was privileged to provide an escort for them with others from the Fourth for a day's visit to Hampton Court. We met Lady Baden-Powell in her Grace and Favour apartment and then had lunch by the Thames at Windsor. We then visited Eton College. We had a wonderful time and I cannot believe that it was 50 years ago.
When I read the newsletter I am reminded of so many boys who came though the Pack. We had some great times, hard work, plenty of laughs and rewards for seeing what we put back in Scouting. I'd love to hear from some of my former Cubs.
Paul Dovey has written from Hampshire to record his memories from the 1957 Jamboree-Indaba-Moot (J.I.M.). This is 50 years after his first contribution about the Jubilee Jamboree to the Group Newsletter in 1957 and which we've reproduced above. Apologies to Paul for having to shorten his letter through space considerations:
It was a great honour to be picked to go to the World Jamboree as a representative of the Fourth. I had been to a couple of training camps at Polyapes Campsite with other lads from Sutton & Cheam which in those days was in the county of Surrey. Then Skipper "Hutch" and "Chief" Fenner called to see my Mum. Skip explained that there were a number of boys around the County who were unable to go to J.I.M. because their District allocation had been filled so would I mind going into another Troop of boys to make up a mixed Troop of boys from around the County. Our Scoutmaster was the SM from the 1st Sutton who I knew and he knew me so that helped when we all met up at the 1st Sutton HQ.
We met at Paddington Station. I had never seen so many Scouts in one place, not only the boys from Surrey but from other counties and other countries as well, nor had I seen so much camping gear. Brian Yearley would have given his right arm to get his hands on it all. Only joking Brian. We all helped to load the train which was being pulled by a lovely steam engine and finally arrived in Birmingham. We got our personal kit and our camping equipment on to lorries that took us to our site.
I was in Moisson sub camp. This was named after the Jamboree held in France in 1947. We set up camp then hit our first obstacle. The ground was very flinty and digging pits was a job and half, but GPO (General Post Office) Telephone Engineers were still putting up telephone poles and cables and one of our lads went over to the men and asked if they would bore a hole for us just inside our site, which they did. The meeting of other Scouts from all over the world was a real eye opener, and when H.M. the Queen came I pushed myself to the front to see her for the first time in my life. The activities that were laid on were fantastic, and trying "foreign" foods was mind blowing. The Scout Troop came to visit on the first Saturday and it was a glorious day but slowly big heavy black clouds were circling the camp. Then after they left and returned to their camp in Litchfield, which they only just made, the heavens opened with a terrific thunderstorm. We had all been out most of the night and dug trenches around our tent which then ran towards the big deep wet pit that the GPO had drilled for us. Suddenly we were the best patrol in the troop. Gradually the site became very muddy and we were forever washing our feet and legs.
I met up with Dave Sweetland and was having a chat when I said I needed to use the "lats" as we called them in those days. He showed me where to go and to my surprise the Chief Scout Lord Rowallan was in there. I was in muddy plimsolls and he was wearing brown Brogues he said to me "It's rather muddy but are you enjoying yourself?" I could hardly reply no! Actually, I really enjoyed myself despite the mud. It was something that I will never forget. The closing ceremony was out of this world when we all mixed with Scouts of every class and creed, linking arms and singing songs and listening to the official Jamboree Song being sung in many tongues. I am sure that the experience was one of the reasons that I am still a member of the movement.
Ron Kinton ("Grey Owl") commented to us on the Troop Camp to which Paul refers:
Regarding the Jubilee Jamboree at Sutton Coldfield, you may recall that the Troop visited the event. We camped at Litchfield and went for a day to visit the site. On our return to Litchfield, we experienced the very bad thunderstorm and the following morning many locals came to see if we were O.K.
Following Dorothy Salter's letter, we received a letter from John and Jacquie Terry, also ex- "A" Pack. They write:
We were reading the Summer edition of the Friends newsletter and were aware of names from the past. Trevor Holden was one of our Cubs. He was a lovely guy, always reliable and ready for a spot of fun and mischief. It was a very untimely death. John Humberstone's escapades were a delight to read and, of course, we still have his photos of our wedding! Steve Western was also an "A" Pack Cub - no fancy names in those days, just "A" and "B" Packs. Steve's dad (Eddie Western) helped with the Pack too. Steve was a sixer and stood at the end of the hall, can't remember which six. We see that Mike Wellman has moved to East Grinstead. He called to see us when we were first at South Benfleet.
Jacquie finally gave up Guiding in 2001 as Divisional Commissioner! With her new found time she had lots of plans, so no time for continuing in Guiding. In retrospect, the plans may have been a bit ambitious - but she is two-thirds through an Open University degree in Geology - when her brain shuts down she does gardening or goes for a walk or cycle ride. It's wonderful to have the time.
John is well and has been retired for some years now. He is finally finding time to garden as well, and also undertakes projects such as dismantling and rebuilding a huge, but leaning garden shed - only the trees were holding it up!
Good luck to the Fourth - our training ground and a wonderful life that followed, and thank you to everyone.
We've heard again from Maurice and Rita Wilkins who wrote to us back in June:
Rita is actually going through a bit of a rough spell at the moment. As a throw back from when she broke her leg four years ago she recently had keyhole surgery to clear out the knee joint. The actual operation has gone fine, but there has been a complication, but hopefully it will soon get back to normal. Meanwhile it's a bit of a nuisance. Otherwise though, all is well.
This area of Kent is getting pretty wound up now for the Tour de France and the route almost passes our front door on its way from London to Canterbury. We shall be going up to London to watch the prologue, then see it come through here the following day and a few days later we will be driving across France to catch up with it again in the Pyrenees. In total we shall have a month in France cycling around and visiting friends before returning home mid-August. Hopefully Rita's leg will be sufficiently recovered by then not to interfere with these plans too much.
Once back home it's thick into rehearsals again for our autumn production of "Anything Goes". Yes, our thespian careers continue apace and in the recent Kent Drama Festival I was nominated as a best actor (I actually came 2nd!) and Rita won the costumes award for the 3rd year running. Very ego boosting!
In November we are off again on a month's cycle tour to Vietnam and Laos. We are really looking forward to this one, for although it is being led by somebody else, it is very similar to the one I had planned out in 2000 which had to be cancelled when my cancer was diagnosed. Hopefully that is all behind me, I've now been clear for seven years, although they still have me in for an annual check.
It is good to see that the Fourth is still going strong. Although inevitably a lot of the names are unknown to us, many of the friends we made during our years in Worcester Park keep cropping up and it is good to keep in touch. We wish you all the very best of luck and, as ever, if you're down this way the teapot is always ready.
It was good to hear from John "Jake" Killick in Australia. Jake recalls his first class hike and writes:
Good to hear of Andrew Craton. I wonder if he recalls my visit to his house to fix up the details of his first class hike, and to meet his dog, who was coming too. For some reason it was necessary to put Andrew in his place, so there we were wrestling on the ground, with a puzzled dog looking on. He looked so funny, unsure what was happening so Andrew broke out laughing, whereupon the dog joined in and I couldn't hold Andrew down because his dog kept lifting my hand off his wrist, always without biting.
On the hike we met a Missionary just back from the West Coast of Africa. We were hot, walking with our shirts flapping in the breeze; he was wearing two thick cloaks and two thick cassocks and was out for a brisk walk in the hope of getting warm somehow. It was Whitsun and we were baked.
We accepted his invitation to stay at their Priory, and, rather to their consternation at our independence, refused beds and camped out under a chestnut tree. My first night out without a tent! It was a bit chilly, but then we had only one dog and I think, in retrospect, it was a two-dog night! ('scuse the Australianese.)
I was very flattered to think Andrew had adopted my jungle name. How's the Dance of Kaa going these days? I never got beyond the first four verses of the "Law of the Jungle".
Out here in Australia there is very little emphasis on the Mowgli stories. My younger son, Francis, lives South of Nowra, inland from Jervis Bay, at Falls Creek (not on your map). I went to the investiture of his children, Marni and Joshi, as Cub Scouts in a mixed Pack, 1st Illawarra. It was on a hike up Nowra Creek, starting in the dusk. I was very impressed by the strict buddy system, which seemed to be reinforced with genuine friendship and caring for each other. After dark we stopped for the Investiture, but with no Grand Howl, only a Woof of Welcome, after they had made their promise. We went on in the dark and crossed a creek (which you'd call a stream) by a rockfall, where I disgraced myself by falling over. Francis looks like getting incorporated into the 1st Illawarra Pack too, a notoriously gung-ho Group on the South Coast near Nowra, on the River Shoalhaven. A State Guide Chief (my sister-in law's sister in law) commented that "They breed 'em tough down there."
My elder son, Alistair, is Bagheera in a Pack at Bendigo in Victoria, which his younger son, Matthew, joined a year or two ago. I haven't managed to get to any Pack meetings as it's a ten-hour road trip, and involves going through Melbourne. They never seem to stop for breath down South of the Border what with teaching IT, Cub Scouting, family camping, music (classical, choirs and strings), shows (musicals) schools (elementary and High), not to mention orienteering, keeping chooks (= hens) so the poor old grandparents aren't always up to date.
I found my old Woodlarks experience useful at Aranounbai School for handicapped kids; especially understanding their speech, as well as accepting the kids as they are. [Woodlarks is the campsite for children and adults with disabilities at Farnham which opened in 1930 and is still going strong. Former GSM Harvey Miles was a great supporter. Ed.] I've rather dropped out of Surf Lifesaving after a decade or two, but am finishing a season as registrar of a still water swimming club where I won a couple of championships as a "Supervet" (over 65) and a 1500m medallion (44 min. to beat next year).
Regards and best wishes to you and Andrew Craton, Richard Duck, Mousey, Jack Marshall, Haggis and Funny and all.
We mentioned Andrew Poynter in the article above regarding the muster of Queen's Scouts. Andrew was indeed a Queen's Scout in the former Venture Scout Unit and his parents are still active members of the Fellowship. We are pleased to report that Andrew has just graduated at the University of Brighton, although he'd probably be regarded as a "mature" student.
It's a Small World
In last year's Christmas Edition (No. 18), we mentioned that two "Friends" had made contact with each other in a remarkable coincidence - Tony Burrage in Melbourne and Chris Townsin in Jersey, C.I. - generations apart and continents apart! In this issue we report a further remarkable coincidence. Can you imagine sitting in a foreign airport and overhearing somebody you did not recognise talking about you? This is what happened to Ron Kinton, who writes:
Last year I went on an organised tour to Krakow and Prague, and on the journey home, the group I was with was delayed at Prague Airport. While waiting, two of the group sitting opposite me were chatting. I heard one talking to the other about the pubs, schools and churches in the North Cheam area. Then one said he was in the 4th Worcester Park Scouts and remembered Skipper Hutchinson, Chief Fenner, Peter and Ron Kinton and mentioned several boys. Then he said "I enjoyed being in the Scouts". Thereupon I said "Do you know who I am? - I am the Ron Kinton you just mentioned!" In due course I sent him a Friends of the Fourth application form and I am very glad to say that he has joined. His name - Andrew Savage.