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The monthly newsletter of the 4th Worcester Park Scout Group November 2002Sections
Keith DalyGROUP SCOUT LEADERParents & Friends Fun Raising CommitteeThe Parents & Friends Fund Raising Committee is responsible for raising about half of all the money received by the Group in a year. The members are a dedicated, and in many cases, long serving, group of supporters whose efforts have been vital to the success of the Group. For the past five years Terry Garlick who has worked tirelessly and provided great leadership has chaired the Committee. He has maintained many of the traditional events yet has encouraged new ventures, many of which have been very successful. During this time he has not always enjoyed the best of health yet has not allowed this to dampen his enthusiasm and dedication. Terry has now decided the time is right for him to step down and let someone else take up the reins. I am delighted that Richard Marston has agreed to take over as chairman for a trial period from this October onwards. I cannot thank Terry enough for all he has done for the Group and I am delighted that he intends to stay with the committee. We wish Richard all the best in the job he has taken on and we hope he will enjoy it and decide to make the appointment more permanent. One way of assuring this is achieved is for all parents to support the events organised by the committee and for some of you, particularly the younger parents, to agree to join the committee. Please contact Richard or any of the leaders if you feel you would like to help. Explorer ScoutsExplorer Scouts are a new section for young people from 14 to 18 years old. They are being organised on a District basis but it seems almost certain that a unit of Explorer Scouts will be based at our HQ. Alan Avery has agreed to lead this unit and boys over 14 have already started to transfer from the troops into the embryonic new section. The Group needs to agree a formal partnership agreement with the District and this process has already started. It is likely to take some time particularly to settle the financial arrangements but I hope all the formalities can be completed by the end of the year. In the meantime we wish the Unit well and hope all concerned continue to enjoy their Scouting and build a strong and successful unit. Senior Residents PartyThere is still time to give details of any person who you would like to receive an invite to this event. Please give the details to any leader. ASPEN COLONYAnne Mays (MAYO) Carol Salter (HOLLY)Another busy month - we can't believe how fast time has flown by. Holly has been in Canada for a couple of weeks and Keith kindly stepped in for a week and we had our most successful game of rounders yet. It's so hard to get it together guiding the fielders and the batters. We have spent most of this month in the field, as the weather has been so good. It just seemed a shame to be indoors so our inside programme has been delayed - never mind - as long as the boys enjoy their time that's all that matters. We have played some good relays races, Frisbee games and ball games, tug of war and skipping. Philip Thorne, who has answered our advert for a 'Top Scout', has joined us. I hope he will continue to come down and enjoy his time with us. It makes what we do at the 4th Worcester Park so worthwhile when boys return to help the younger ones, especially when they came from our own section. Well done, Philip! Mayo was also away for a week in Canada - well, Canada is the home of the beaver! Fred kindly came along to help and we collected conkers - all the boys went home with a bagful. We have been joined by Jake Dukes and at the October Scouts' Own said goodbye to Scott Adams, Stuart Bradshaw, Harry Jeffries and Harry Sneath, who have all gone up to Anglia. The Christmas Bazaar will be on Saturday, 30th November so please start saving all your unwanted gifts and toys, etc and help us to raise as much money as possible - thank you. BIRCH COLONYAnne Richardson (MAPLE)No news item this month. CEDAR COLONYValerie Clarkson (CHIPMUNK)We've been back a month and are now in full swing. We warmly welcome Harry, Ben, Lewis, Ben, Jamie, Cameron and Adam to Cedar colony and we hope they enjoy their time here with us. So far we have had four very different meetings. We have had a camp fire and cooked bread balls and made toast, which all the boys did extremely well and ate the fruits of their labours with jam and honey - a very good evening. The next week we spent time working on our new Beaver log books and we've filled in quite a few pages together so far. The following week we took all the boys out in the two mini vans to do the fitness trail in Morden Park. All the boys had an excellent evening with lots of conkers and fun, many thanks to Mr Williams - Elliot's dad - for coming with us (a very fit dad) and again special thanks to Graham Dyke and Steven Cullen for driving the mini vans and also taking a group of boys each around the trail. On the last week in September, we did leaf rubbings which we then made into pencil/pen holders - as you can see four very varied meetings, as well as the main activity each week, we always play different games and have other fill ins. Sadly at Scouts' Own, we will say goodbye to Matthew Browne, Joshua Bungay and Sam Fowler who have passed up to Charterhouse cubs. We wish them well. ANGLIA PACKBrenda Hunt (AKELA)No news item this month. BROWNSEA PACKLes Prescott (KERICK) ACSLCub meetings restarted in September with a visit from Green Watch of Sutton Fire Station. They instructed the Cubs on safety in the home, including the importance of smoke alarms and how and when to call the emergency services. The next week we put our 5 senses to the test with activities that tested our taste, smell, hearing, touch and sight. Lastly an evening of games and test work after delivering notices about the jumble sales. Well done to those boys who have remembered to get their camp photos developed, they are excellent and we will put them on display at our Camp Evening in November. We look forward to seeing the rest soon. As part of the Pack's 50th birthday celebrations, a lunch for past and current leaders and helpers was held at the HQ. Thank you to 'The Akelas' - Sheila and Hazel for organising this for us. Our pack website has now been updated and includes the camp report and photos. Come and visit us at: www24.brinkster.com/brownseapack Congratulations to the following boys on gaining badges: Cub Scout Challenge; Robert Young, Adam Keehn Adventure Crest; Daryl Reino Adventure Award; Robert White, Chris Cuthbert, Kyle Merson, Asher Curran, Jamie Wickens, Adam Meaney, Grant Hamilton, Sean Ryan, Ryan Moore Cub Scout Award; Michael Cornish, Joel Bastable, Nathan Dunne Photographer Badge; Robert Young, Chris Cuthbert, Asher Curran, Grant Hamilton, Kyle Merson All parents should have received a letter giving this terms important dates, please let us know if yours did not arrive! CHARTERHOUSE PACKMargaret Pennington (AKELA)No news item this month. PURPLE TROOPAlan Avery (SCOUT LEADER)We have been limited this month due to severe lack of Leaders - any volunteers? We have however had a wide game at Esher Sandbowl - thanks to Richard Marston for sparing the time to drive the other minibus. We cooked twists over open fires on the field - or was one a bonfire! It's called pyro-something or the other! I am delighted to report that Daniel Stephenson, Matthew Grover, Nick Attwell and Chris Mullings have all achieved their Chief Scouts Award, Leadership Award and Patrol activity awards. In going through their awards with them I was thinking what maybe one and maybe another with extra effort would achieve, but on going through everything twice they have all fair and square more than gained their awards just by partaking in the programme - well done! Please note everyone that the Explorer Unit is starting and lads in the Troop will now go up at between 14-14 ½. SILVER TROOPPaul Green (Scout Leader)After a six-week break, the boys returned to Scouts full of energy and life, so we spent the first evening back playing games trying to wear them out. I'm not too sure who was more exhausted at the end of the evening - the boys or the Leaders! We have also spent an evening tidying up the campfire circle and we started building some new benches for the area, so that hopefully it will be a pleasant area for all to sit in on bonfire night. Also this term, we have been out jumble collecting and have had a quiz evening which tested the boys' knowledge of scouting. Needless to say, it showed a few areas that could do with some improvement. Finally, we would like to say goodbye to John Williams and Daniel Heron who have moved up to Explorers. We have enjoyed having them in Silver Troop and wish them every success in the future. VENTURE SCOUT UNITAlan Avery (VENTURE SCOUT LEADER)During the month we have been for a walk along the Thames at Windsor, cooked pizzas on open fires at the HQ - delicious - did a London tour and visited the Sutton Division Rangers for a ladies' evening. This month the Venture Unit is ceasing to exist and Explorers begin - the revised age being 14-18 years old. Scouts should come up between 14-141/2 and can stay in the Explorer Unit until 181/2 when they may become Leaders or join the County based Network for 18 - 25 year olds. Speak with me if you wish to know more! PARENTS & FRIENDSTerry GarlickIMPORTANT NOTICEWe have a new P&F Chairman Richard Marston Tel: 8337 2641 and his Vice Chairman Graham Hutton Tel: 8337 0993 They are waiting for your offers of help and encouragement Recent Group FUN NIGHTThis was an extremely good night's entertainment but it's a pity that so many of you missed it - but there is always next year!!! We also made a slight profit on the night from the raffle with many thanks to the father who donated the prizes. GRAND AUCTIONSaturday 9th November Auction Starts (Under the Hammer) at 2.30pm Bring Your Lots on the day between 10am - 12 noon Viewing of Lots is between 1.45pm - 2.15pm This is always a super fun event enjoyed by everyone (especially the Helpers) - you are recommended not to miss it. So sort out your old valuables, household good, garden tools, toys, unwanted presents, old antiques!, items of interest, etc, etc……. and bring them down to HQ in Balmoral Road, on the day, between 10am and 12 noon and we will try and sell it for you for the best possible price. We retain one third of the sale price (limit £10 maximum per item - £1 minimum per item). We regret that we are unable to handle clothing (at this event) or gas appliances. Admission (children free)/catalogue 50p. Refreshments will be available. So, with Dave 'The One and Only' Auctioneer you really cannot afford to miss this event for just the pure entertainment fun factor alone. CHRISTMAS BAZAARSaturday 30th November Starting at 12 Noon Come along and join us for lunch where you can then start buying your Christmas presents early and the young ones can visit Father Christmas in his grotto. Our Chief organiser Jenny Overy's orders are clear - we need your help and plenty of it! So its time for you to sort out any unwanted gifts ~ toiletries ~ jams ~ pickles ~ costume jewellery ~ bottles (full ones only please) ~ bric-a-brac for White Elephant ~ Tombola items ~ and don't forget (nearer the day) cakes (lots and lots of them) ~ etc ~ etc~ and of course last but not least we do need helpers on the day. Please call Jenny on 8330 4508 or Richard on 8337 2641 HelpersAs recently highlighted at an Executive Meeting we are in desperate need of 1 or 2 parents from each Section on the P&F Committee for the current situation is not healthy for us to continue to exist. We do need and must have your help if we are to stay a healthy P&F Committee. To join or just to confirm that you will help then please call Richard on 8337 2641 or just come along to one of our monthly meetings to see what we do. Our informal meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 8pm with tea and biscuits provided. We would love to see you there. Next P&F meetings are planned for: 14th November at 8pm 18th December at 8pm - proposed FELLOWSHIPGraham SmithWe welcomed a new member at our meeting on the 26th September - Jenie Poynter. During the business part of the evening, we discussed the forthcoming Jumble Sales taking place on the 5th and 12th October and the help that the Fellowship could give. We also spoke about the Christmas Bazaar on 30th November and it was agreed that the Fellowship would provide cakes for, and man, the cake stall as we had done last year. This was approved by Dave Sweetland. Terry Garlick informed us that he was retiring as P&F Committee Chairman and that his successor was to be Richard Marston. The second part of the evening was devoted to talks given by Ron Kinton and Ray Woolford. Ron gave a most interesting talk based on a walk in the Cheam Area and the history relating thereto, whilst Ray gave a fascinating insight into her wartime experiences as an ATS girl attached to the Royal Corps of Signals where she, amongst a great many others, was engaged in intercepting enemy coded signals. Several members attended the Fun Evening arranged by the P&F on Saturday 28th September. It proved to be a very enjoyable and lighthearted evening. Fellowship was well represented at the Jumble Sales and we look forward to hearing in due course how successful they will have been.
Information for December 2002 Newsletter to be with Keith Daly by Monday 4th November
This page was last updated on 20 November 2002 |