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
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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
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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.
E-Mail Addresses
All e-mail correspondence for Friends of the Fourth should be addressed to:
fotf at 4wp.org.uk
This page was last updated on 28 November 2004 | 