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The monthly newsletter of the 4th Worcester Park Scout Group October 2003Sections
PLEASE NOTE For technical reasons some of the photo's for this report are yet to be added - watch this space! Keith DalyGROUP SCOUT LEADER70th Anniversary DinnerJust over 100 people attended the 70th Anniversary Dinner on 19th July 2003 at the Restaurant in the Park, Morden. A sudden downpour met some of the guests arriving but once inside out of the rain a very good evening was enjoyed by all present. The meal cooked by the staff and served by the students was most enjoyable. After the meal there was an opportunity for the more active to dance to an excellent disco and for the less active to chat to new and old friends. The mix of current Group supporters and old friends of the Group was ideal for the occasion. My only criticism of the evening was that it passed all too quickly. My thanks to Graham Smith, Chairman of the Group Fellowship, for his help in organising the event. Summer CampsDuring the Summer Holidays Anglia Pack, Brownsea Pack and Purple Troop held their summer camps and from all the reports back it would appear that they were all very successful. I attended Anglia Pack camp and my wife and I visited Brownsea Pack camp where we were made most welcome. I am impressed at how much the leaders manage to squash into a week away. On behalf of the boys and their parents my thanks go to all the leaders and other helpers who give their time so generously to run and help at the camps; particularly those who have to give up part of their holiday entitlement from work. Cedar ColonyI am sorry to report that Valerie Clarkson, leader of Cedar Colony, has decided to resign at the end of this year. She has decided to accept an offer to become leader of the Ranger Guide Unit in Cheam Village. Valerie has been leader of the Colony for some eleven years and her contribution to the Group has been considerable. Many officers and supporters of the Group can testify to her powers of persuasion when it comes to finding someone to do a job. There is currently no other warranted leader with the Colony and replacing Valerie will not be easy. However I hope that we will be able to find someone as the future of the Colony depends on us being successful. Senior Residents Christmas PartyWe have some vacancies on the list of invitees for the Senior Residents Christmas Party. If any one knows of any senior resident who might welcome an invite please complete the return slip contained in this newsletter and return it to me. We would particularly welcome knowing of anybody who lives on his or her own. ASPEN COLONYAnne Mays (MAYO), Carol Salter (HOLLY)July was busy for us; we tried to finish events that we had started to enable the boys to complete their tasks. Some of them went up to cubs in the July Scouts' Own but stayed with us until the end of term as the Cub Packs were arranging their camps for the summer. Although Jason Keehn went to camp with Brownsea Pack we hope he enjoyed himself. As we mentioned in last month's Newsletter, Mr Lewis and Mr Dukes very kindly made swords and shields for the boys and what a wonderful TWO EVENING meeting we had painting and decorating them. They were so successful that we have taken photos of them holding the swords and shields and they can be seen on Aspen notice board in the main hall. We have said a sad farewell to Jack Lockyer, Matthew Ryan and Jason Keehn. We shall miss them greatly, but of course we wish them a great time in cubs. James Skingley and Harry Hoyle seem to have settled in nicely and they will be invested in September. James Skingley is the nephew of Ben Skingley who came into Aspen Colony when he was six years old and Ben had a sister called Laura and it is her son who has just started with us. How scary is that when you see the grandmother bringing down her grandson instead of her son! We had a brilliant Scouts' Own run by Cedar Colony and the theme was the Jungle Book story; all the boys did really well. This was followed by a wonderful Fun Day for all the boys in the Group and we would like to thank our Group Scout Leader, Keith Daly, for organising the day for us. Even though all the sections organised their own activities, Keith was the man with the whistle getting the boys to change events every 20 minutes and checking that the lunches were on time as we couldn't all have a lunch at the same time; Parents and Friends and the Fellowship would never have coped. We all had a wonderful day and we in Aspen Colony would like to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who helped in whatever was to make it run smoothly, therefore enabling everyone to enjoy the day, including the Leaders. On our last meeting before the summer holidays, we had a party evening with drinks, cakes and biscuits. Philip kindly supplied us with party music and flashing lights and Tom was on the microphone. It was a great success and we would like to thank both of these Scouts for their continued hard work and enthusiasm. By the time you read this Newsletter, you will have had your summer break and September and the new school year will have arrived. Holly and I both hope you enjoyed your holidays if you went away. We are looking for some fresh ideas for the coming year, so if anyone has any please share them with us and we will take pleasure in implementing them. Our next task is the Christmas Bazaar - we really do need some help with this and each section will be looking for parents to help in some small way because if the Group is to continue, as we know it, it can only do so with more help. We also have two jumble sales coming up. I know it is not the greatest of events, but Holly and I both try to help with just two a year, not for the whole time, just some of it, so if we can do it surely some of the parents can as well - even if you help with the teas it will be much appreciated. You can bring the children so they can help and they usually enjoy it. Finally, we would like to say thank you to the parents on our parent rota - without your help we could not run the section, so please keep up the good work and if anyone knows of any boys who would like to come along and join in, please let either Holly or myself know - we would love to have them. BIRCH COLONYAnne Richardson (MAPLE), Sheila Kinton (BAGHEERA)We decided to make the most of what we hoped would be fine weather in July by planning outdoor activities for our meetings. We did a Local Knowledge walk around Worcester Park, and a visit to Horton Park Children's Farm. This visit was highly successful, the staff made us very welcome and the boys had a great time. Thanks to Colin Barnard for driving us again. We had water games for our last evening and very wet it was too, but not unwelcome as it was one of those very hot and sultry days that we have quite a lot of this summer. Many thanks to Sheila, Douglas, Sarah and the other parents who helped out at the Summer Fair and the Group Fun Day, both of which by all accounts were well attended and great fun. CEDAR COLONYValerie Clarkson (CHIPMUNK)Well done to the entire Colony for the Scouts' Own we produced in July. It was extremely hard work and not to mention tedious for the boys to prepare, but on the day they all did brilliantly. After Scouts' Own, we joined in with the rest of the Group for the Fun Day - which as far as I am aware everyone enjoyed - very hard work for all the Leaders, but we all felt the boys got a lot from the day and had had the chance to try many new things.
I take my hat off to everyone who went on the zip wire. I watched tiny boys climbing up the ladder into the clouds! I got half way up and took fright.
We at Cedar Colony thank all the adults concerned but especially Valerie Street and Sam's dad, who as well as Jo and myself ran a base for the entire day; with great style I may add. On that day we sadly said goodbye to Joshua, Jack, Elliott and Sam who all moved up to Brownsea Cub Pack and indeed went to summer camp with them, though not before coming to the Cedar sleepover held at Downe campsite, Biggin Hill. We took 15 boys off in the two minibuses. It was Cedar's fourth sleepover, but the first one away from HQ. We could not have had a better time, after lunch we had an hours session of go-karting, grass sledging, the assault course and the tuck shop. We also went on an exploratory walk around the site. Then giant Jenga and a barbeque before Trivial Pursuits and to bed in bunk beds. Up for breakfast and another Otter (Jo) hike around the site, more giant Jenga and home. Jamie Smart - I liked everything. The beds were comfy. I liked the assault course. Jack Thomas - I liked grass sledging. We went very fast. Ben Purahou - We did go carting. I came first. William Eyre - We did an assault course. I liked the food. Alex O'Sullivan - I liked buying the sweets. I liked sleeping together. I liked playing giant Jenga. George Thomas - I liked go-carting and grass sledging. I liked the sweets. The biggest thank you ever to Jack Francis, Joshua Peel and Alex O'Sullivan who all talked their mothers into coming, who all worked extremely hard, but I think safe to say all had a great time. Such energy and enthusiasm would be hard to find anywhere. Again special thanks to the entire Hutton family - Jo, as ever, was just amazing - the boys, Henry and Nicholas, were bright, cheerful, ever helpful and have never ever, I'm sure, been to the toilet block so very many times - they were the 'loo run attendants'. Graham, along with John Green, drove us there and collected us afterwards, so they too were invaluable. The traffic coming home was awful, as you know because we were so late home. Thank you to Fred for coming with us and being Fred. I'm sure the boys all had a great time and came home very tired, so we had the best ever ending to a term. My Summer Holidays Ross Ward - I went to the swimming pool. I went to Posnan; I stayed with my cousins. I went to the park. I played football. I cycled my bike. Lakshman Sivakumaran - In Sri Lanka I went to the beach. I stayed with my cousins. I went shopping some days. It was very hot in Sri Lanka. I also went swimming in a swimming pool. I had some lunch in a KFC; I also went to a park. I got some new shoes. When I got back to England I played with my cousins and got a new computer game. Matthew Coate - I went camping with my three cousins called Scott, Sophie and James and my sister Katy and daddy. I cooked and ate marshmallows and I cooked meatballs. It was always sunny except the last day. Some of you will have heard via the grapevine that this is my last term here at Cedar Colony. I have been running these Beaver for 11 years. I came along from the Guide movement when my son was on the waiting list and was told that unless the 4th could open another Colony, he would not have a place. We opened another Colony and now my son is nearly 18 years of age. I have been asked to take over the Leadership of the Cheam Village Rangers as the present Leader is now 65 and must hand in her warrant. I have always kept involved with the Guides and indeed go to summer camp with them each year. Next year my son is due to go to University so I shall have more freedom to run an older section - something I have always wanted to do, so as the end of this term I shall say goodbye. Whilst Jo is more than willing to carry on in the capacity that she is, she does not want to take over the Leadership of the Colony, so we need a leader. ANGLIA PACKBrenda Hunt (AKELA)Shocking SundayFourteen boys set off in the mini bus for Fernycrofts Scout Camp Site in the New Forest and arrived early afternoon. The theme this year was the Jungle Book and the cubs were allocated to three sixes - Bears, Elephants and Tigers. Then the boys had a tour round the site to show them all the important places they need to know (i.e. the showers and toilet block, tuck shop, etc). Then there was time to visit the local Leisure Centre for a swim before Bingo in the evening. Steve, with help from Clare, had compiled a fun work book for all the boys so they could write up each day in the diary section, the highlights of what they had done and an activity section in the back with games, pictures to colour, etc. Monkey MondayWe had booked the climbing tower in the morning for a two-hour session and everybody had a go. Those waiting their turn played a wide game searching for coloured ribbons. In the afternoon we visited the Owl and Otter Sanctuary where, thanks to glass partitions, you can see the otters swimming underwater. Tuesday TrailsWe visited Longdown Farm and had an excellent guide in Lisa. The boys were able to feed goats - bottles of milk for the babies and cereals for the older ones. The also got a chance to hold baby chicks and bunnies and stroke piglets. Then in the afternoon, we found a spot off the beaten tracks where each Six was able to make their own bivouac from branches and ferns. Wild WednesdayWednesday was the day we travelled to Poole to visit Splashdown - a water park with varying degrees of water slides and tunnels from the relatively mild to the Black Hole. Having just driven out of the car park, a traffic accident happened right in front of one of our mini buses, which was stationary, waiting to turn right, but fortunately - although the cars involved were quite crunched - nobody was hurt. In the afternoon, as if we hadn't had enough excitement, we had booked a session on the site assault course. Tracking ThursdayThis was a whole day out to Poulters Park, which has lots of rides suitable for children as well as animals to see and a dinosaur walk with life size replicas. Everybody, including the Leaders, had a go on the log ride and got very wet, but as it was a lovely sunny day we all dried off quickly. In the evening it was time for the now traditional 'Court' where Judge Day presides over various misdemeanours. Louis was accused of managing to have a shower without getting wet, Ryan was seen to return to the surface of the swimming pool after a dive, feet first, a seemingly impossible task and Cameron appeared to have tried to steal the rope on the assault course and then hid in the mud. Ferocious FridayAnother lovely sunny day, just right for our trip to the beach at Highcliffe. First we had our Sports Day on the green - this included welly and Frisbee throwing, a sack race and a tug of war and was won by the Tigers - Jonathan Caulder, Ryan Edgcock, Mitchel Kayne and Keaneau Whelan. Snake Biting SaturdayBefore final flag break the winning six was announced - this was the Elephants and comprised; Peter Caulder, James Close, Max Gawler, Connor Judson and Dennis Smith. Cub of the Camp was Connor Judson but Cameron, Keaneau and Louis also got a special mention. Finally, special thanks to our cooks; Keith and Mick, who supplied great grub throughout the week, to Steve and Alex for organising the boys, to Carol for overseeing pocket money and medicines and to Doreen and Brenda for organising and overseeing everything so well. BROWNSEA PACKLes Prescott (KERICK)Our summer camp this year was held again at Plum Park, near Oxted. We had a very successful time with 14 boys camping from the Sunday through to Friday evening. We had three sixes named Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche and their daily points totals were shown on a racing track made up by Harry Dunne. The boys' first job on arrival was to pitch their tents, the leaders having pitched the rest of the camp on Saturday. In the afternoon the Cubs made signs for their six tents and they then made some woggles, under guidance from Alan Avery and Eric Wilkinson, from nylon cord. Cubs Michael Cornish and Joel Bastable then ran a short Scouts' Own service for us. Surrey Wildlife Trust manages the site and on the Sunday evening their Countryside Ranger, Dave, guided the boys and leaders through the adjoining Staffhurst Wood in the dark and we were able to use night vision binoculars to see wild foxes. On Monday, we visited Beaver World at Tatsfield, and although the beavers were asleep during our visit and we didn't see them, we did see lots of reptiles including a crocodile and some iguanas. We had our annual visit to Tor Hatch at Shere on Tuesday and used the huge swimming pool in the back garden together with the trampoline and on Wednesday we visited the Tandridge Leisure Pool at Oxted. Our planned visit to see the hounds of the Old Surrey and West Kent Hunt sadly had to be cancelled as the hounds had all gone down with kennel cough. Instead, the Master of the Hounds came to visit us and explained all about keeping the hounds and what they do. He showed us the hunting horn which some of the cubs found hard to blow! We had an unexpected visit from the organiser of the local driving club - driving of horse and carriage, that is. He brought his favourite horse and buggy and took each six in turn for a ride in the woods. We visited a neighbouring farm where we saw two donkeys, quail and chickens, learnt about herbs and then had a demonstration of spinning. During the week the Cubs worked for their Navigator, Naturalist and Adventure badges and also for their Outdoor Challenge. This involved many facets of Cub Scouting including lighting fires and cooking tea, building bivouacs in the woods, pitching and striking tents, mapping and compass work and learning about wildlife. Also during the week we welcomed our Group Scout Leader, Keith on a visit with Val, and they spent some time with us. We also had practice campfires to get ready for our final evening and our young helpers - Chris, Ben and Harry - organised many wide games in the woods, which the Cubs thoroughly enjoyed. On Friday morning we went to Oxted to spend remaining pocket money returning to the campsite to take down the sleeping tents. Friday evening came all too soon, and we welcomed the parents to our campfire where we presented the winning six, Lamborghini, with their prizes. Cub of the Camp was Ryan Moore, while the Best Sixer was Kyle Merson. All 14 Cubs passed all the four badges. My grateful thanks to all who helped in any way, in particular the leaders at camp: Bagheera (Sheila Kinton), Sally, Eric and Margaret, Alan and Hazel. We had excellent help from our young leaders: Ben Alembick, Chris Washington and Harry Dunne. Back in July, our programme was based outside and we played rounders in Cuddington Rec. while the field was being prepared for the fete. We ran the blindfold trail at the 70th Anniversary Fun Day which everyone enjoyed. At the Scouts' Own we welcomed Elliott Williams, Jack Francis, Joshua Peel and Sam Mullins from the Beavers. CHARTERHOUSE PACKMargaret Pennington (AKELA)Hollywood Night - Film PremiereAs part of the Cubs Global Challenge Badge, we had to arrange and take part in a Hollywood premiere. The Cubs made posters for this event and they were displayed around the hall, they also made tickets for their family and friends. The 'big night' arrived and lots of people turned up dressed to the 'nines' in dinner jackets and bow ties, smart suits and the ladies look beautiful in glamorous dresses. The 'Press' took photographs of the guests as they arrived. The film being shown was Camping Capers; this was a skillfully edited film of our summer camps of 2002 and 2003 by John Green. During the interval, our lady usherettes served ice cream and cold drinks. At the conclusion of the film, Her Royal Highness Princess Akela presented awards to the stars of this brilliant film. Many thanks to the Cubs, parents and friends joining in with this fun evening. It really worked well - thank you all. Baloo PURPLE TROOPAlan Avery (Scout Leader)For our Summer Camp the Troop went to Torquay on a campsite overlooking the sea. The weather was good enough for several good swims in the sea - just three minutes from the site. We saw a spectacular display of the Red Arrows over Torquay; visited the excellent model village, which included a Scout campsite; went down the caves nearby; visited an adventure farm and went on an overnight hike on Dartmoor. A few people got rather wet on Dartmoor due to inadequate rainwear and some of the rainwear would have been inadequate even at camp. I am pleased to say we had quite a happy bunch of lads and everyone got on very well. I will let everyone know shortly when next year's camp is. SILVER TROOPPaul Green (Scout Leader)No news item this month. EXPLORER UNITAlan Avery (Explorer Scout Leader)The highlight of the year was naturally our trip to Austria and Italy. We actually went to and through seven different countries. We stayed outside Salzburg at an international campsite by a lake. We did canoeing, swimming, a three day expedition, went down a salt mine, went up a cable lift and shot back down the mountain on monorail buggies and visited Salzburg Castle. We then went on to the northern part of Lago di Garda enjoying very hot weather on the shores and visiting Venice - I have never seen so many tourists there. Thanks go to Ben and Chris - I am not sure whether they are overgrown Explorers or helpers!!! The next year's dates will be sorted out as soon as possible so watch this space. PARENTS & FRIENDSRichard Marston (Chairman)How are we doing?With the excellent profit of £4043.82 from the Summer Fete we enter the last third of the year with £6,900 of our budgeted income raised and £1,600 left to find. A reasonable income from the remaining planned events should see us achieve the £8,500 promised by the parents and friends of the Group. The next question is - can we make £10,000? With a little extra help at the remaining events and a slight increase in those attending it is definitely achievable. So, please keep an eye out for requests for help and do your best to attend at least one event before the end of the year. Progress will be reported in future editions of this newsletter and 'as it happens' on the Group website. We can make it with YOUR help! The FutureThere has been an improvement in the amount of help received from parents at recent events, for which I would like to say thank you on behalf of the P&F Committee and, more importantly, your children. Without this help events would not have run so successfully and vital income would not be available to keep the 4th running and enable the Group to improve the facilities available to your boys. On the down side it occurred to me that it would be more accurate to name this Committee 'Friends and Parents' as the majority of those attending meetings do not have boys in the Group. In fact, as I write this I can only come up with four parents who attend P&F meetings. This is obviously a problem in the short term as a lot of the work falls to a gradually reducing number of Friends, but in the long term could be a disaster as there will be no one to provide continuity and run the committee in the future. My current position as P&F Chairman is an example of this occurring. A year ago I came from outside the P&F to 'temporarily' take over the role of P&F Chairman. I was approached due to the lack of parents within the committee able to take over from the existing Chairman, who himself had served for many years. My three months has now extended to a year and no 'permanent' Chairman (Chairperson?) has been identified from the hundreds of parents with children in the Group. Today's lifestyle has severely reduced everyone's free time but involvement is not particularly onerous and does have its enjoyable and fulfilling side. The Committee meets once a month for around two hours and the Chairman additionally attends the Group Executive once a month and Scouts' Own every two months. If you are able to give up the small amount of time required for either role please contact me as shown below. Please give serious consideration to joining the committee; we look forward to welcoming you. Coming SoonJumble Sales, 4th and 11th October - As always, plenty of bargains. Please have a clearout and bring your jumble down to HQ, space limits mean larger items may have to wait until nearer the day. As ever, helpers are always required to increase the amount of jumble sold and money raised. Firework Display, Saturday 1st November - Last year's was the best to date, can the famous 4th Firework Display improve on last year? Grand Auction, Saturday 8th November - An interesting and fun event with the opportunity to find some real bargains. Hundreds of lots will be available to buy and refreshments are on hand to keep you going. Internet www.4wp.org.uk.Income from Amazon continues to arrive but the other shopping links have seen little use so we have not managed to reach the threshold for payment of commission already earned. This is a potentially lucrative source of free, low effort income for the Group so please let us know why you aren't using the links, as this will help us provide what you do want. ContactIf you have any comments or suggestions relating to the P&F or you are able to help at an event or on the Committee, please contact me by e-mail to p-and-f (at) 4wp.org.uk or by telephone on 020 8337 2641. FELLOWSHIPGraham SmithWith the Group's 70th Anniversary celebrations taking place during July, the month proved to be a very busy one for members of the Fellowship. Firstly, though it was gratifying to eventually learn of the excellent financial result of the summer fete in which so many members had participated. Sunday the 13th was the occasion of the Group's Fun Day (preceded by Scouts' Own) where the Fellowship had the responsibility for the catering arrangements. From all accounts the event itself proved to have been a great success whilst the valiant three - Colin, Alan and Ian - ably coped with the BBQing of the endless supply of burgers and sausages whilst our ladies provided a never ending (or so it seemed) supply of chips on what was a very hot day! The monkey bridge again proved to be a very popular item (run by Geoff), as did the aerial runway where Brian was assisting. The 70th Anniversary Dinner on the 19th was a very enjoyable event and allowed many past members of the Group who attended the event to meet up with old friends. Our July meeting on the 31st took the form of a boules evening organised by Colin and Pam Barnard. Colin prepared three pitches on the field and, suitable attired explained the rules to us. Needless to say, those members who are bowls players had the advantage! 28th August, the day that at last the rain came - and the evening of our BBQ to be hosted by John and Bridget Green in their garden. To carry on as planned appeared to be a non-starter so the decision was taken, in the late afternoon, to change the venue to HQ. Thirty Fellowship members arrived for the event and a most enjoyable social evening was had. With Brian Yearley's assistance, John Green had brought down to HQ his BBQ equipment, and cooked the steaks and sausages, and Bridget and several ladies had supplied salads, etc. Our thanks were expressed to both John and Bridget and to all those who had contributed to the evening. After the meal we finalised arrangements for the visit to the Hindu Temple at Neasden on Sunday, 21st September and also the visit to Wetlands at Barnes on the following Thursday, 25th; this latter event being the Fellowship's September meeting. Our October meeting is on the 20th with a musical quiz following the business of the evening.
Information for November 2003 Newsletter to be with Keith Daly by Monday 6th October
This page was last updated on 26 December 2003 |
