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The monthly newsletter of the 4th Worcester Park Scout Group November 2003Sections
Keith DalyGROUP SCOUT LEADERChief ScoutI am delighted to announce that the Chief Scout, George Purdy, has accepted an invitation to visit the Group and will be paying us a visit on the evening of 12th November 2003. As I write I do not know details of time etc. but by the time you read the newsletter this information should be available. The Chief Scout is of course extremely busy and lives in Northern Ireland so we are very honoured that he has found time to visit us. All members of the Group, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorer Scouts, Fellowship, Leaders, Helpers, Officers and P & F members are asked to do their best to attend. Unfortunately there will not be room for parents on this occasion. Roy ParryI am very sad to announce the death of Roy Parry a vice President of the Group who for many years was an excellent Group Secretary and together with his wife Mary an excellent supporter of all Group Events. He was also well known for playing Father Christmas at the Christmas Bazaar and used to advertise the Bazaar by riding up and down Central Road in a chair tied to the roof of the minibus in his costume. Our sympathies go to Roy's family. ASPEN COLONYAnne Mays (MAYO), Carol Salter (HOLLY)After a very busy summer holiday, which most of the boys seem to have enjoyed, we started back to Beavers on Monday 8th September and it seems like the whole six weeks disappeared in moments. All the boys were very informative of all the activities they had taken part in during the summer, including some very wonderful holidays. We sat and had a chat about what we had done including the Leaders and their lives seem to be more exciting than ours. We had a re-cap about Beavers in their natural environment and about the Beaver promise. We played a memory game and not surprisingly the younger ones remembered some of the thinks better than the older ones did. I think it has to do with the fact that by the time they reach seven years of age, they think they know it all but then up pops the devil and they get it wrong because they don't watch and the little ones pay attention and win the day. We would like to welcome Max Burton, Elliot Trigg and Thomas Lake into Aspen Colony and we hope they enjoy their time with us. Callum, Edward and William have now started linking with the Cub Packs they hope to be joining. We have been to Cuddington Rec with the boys; we took some drink, a football and a Frisbee. The weather was really warm and it seemed a shame to spend the evening indoors so we changed the programme and went out instead. James Skingley and Harry Hoyle have now both received their scarves and we hope they enjoy their adventure with the 4th Worcester Park. We have made a moonscape collage; the boys cut out and painted aliens, rockets and space ships and stuck them on to a sky background. It hangs proudly on our notice board. I now have the pictures of the boys with their swords and shields and I will put them on the board shortly. If anyone would like a copy, please let me know and I will order another set. We have had a fire evacuation drill just to keep us on our guard. It is very important that the boys know what to do in an emergency. Finally this month, we have been collecting conkers. We went out armed with our carrier bags, a very positive attitude and came back with enough conkers for everyone. On our return to the HQ we promptly had a conker competition. Our Scouts helped to make holes in the conkers and put the string through and everyone had a turn in trying to hit the other conkers. As usual, a big THANK YOU to Fred for standing in for me while I was in Canada watching the whales and seals. BIRCH COLONYAnne Richardson (MAPLE), Sheila Kinton (BAGHEERA)During our first meeting back, we made paper sunflowers and played games. The next week we visited Cheam Village and had a guided tour of the belfry of St Dunstans Church, thanks to Peter Humphries, the steeple keeper. We made kitten cakes and also planted up some spring bulbs in pots, which we hope the boys will care for over the winter. This last activity will complete the Outdoor Challenge badge for most of the older boys and they'll be receiving their badges in the next few weeks. William Singer and Joshua James have received their Friendship and first year Joining In badges. Two new boys, Joseph Spelman and Srivats Laksham have joined us and I hope they'll both be invested soon. Last Sunday we spent a lovely afternoon out at the Malden and District Society of Model Engineers at Thames Ditton. The weather was perfect, dry and sunny, although a bit chilly and I think everyone enjoyed riding on the miniature trains. Many thanks to Keith for coming to help us and driving the minibus. CEDAR COLONYValerie Clarkson (CHIPMUNK)Well, we've been back one month and it's as if we have never been away. A warm welcome to David Noseworthy, Daniel Roberts, Jack Rosenthal and Joseph Find who have joined us here at Cedar Colony. Grateful thanks to William Eyres' mother and Mathew Coates' mother, who have both returned to help. We could not do without them, but we still desperately need a new Leader for the Colony, as I shall be leaving at the end of December, as you all know. Since our return, we have made erupting volcanoes, for which each boy present gained his Experiment badge. We made a collage of our trip to Downe campsite, which is on our notice board. On another evening we made and decorated biscuits, which I'm sure all went down really well. On another evening we very messily made bird feeders, which hopefully attracted some birds to eat in the garden. PLEASE, PLEASE put lots of thought into a new Leader. ANGLIA PACKBrenda Hunt (AKELA)After a great summer it was good to get back to Cubs. Our first meeting we went to the park. We planned our own desert island - thinking of ways to survive and be comfortable. We then came up with our own dream island with every luxury we wanted. We delivered Jumble notices. We went around in bases practicing our first aid. We did slings, recovery position and minor ailments. A sad farewell to Nathan Bishop, Conor Judson, Max Gawler and Peter Caulder, who will be moving on to the Troop. I'm sure they will make great Scouts. BROWNSEA PACKLes Prescott (KERICK)We started our autumn term with an evening of games, and the following week we went swimming at the Rainbow Centre at Epsom. We delivered jumble sale notices as usual, and Sally organised some memory games, such as Kim's Game, to get our grey matter flowing! Our thanks to Alan Avery with his Scout leader hat on, together with three Patrol Leaders from Purple Troop, for running a pizza evening for us. The Cubs all made and cooked their own pizzas, and ate them! At the October Scouts' Own We said goodbye to sixer Jack Stevenson who went up to Purple Troop - we hope you enjoy your Scouting, Jack. Some dates for your diaries:
CHARTERHOUSE PACKMargaret Pennington (AKELA)No news item this month. PURPLE TROOPAlan Avery (Scout Leader)Well done Rick Reino on gaining his Outdoor Plus Challenge - the last step to his Chief Scout's Award. Summer camp is going to be 29th May to 5th June - so no last minute revelations about not knowing about it. During the month we made twists (by popular demand), did a wide game, made woggles and collected trinkets for the Jumble Sale. Thanks to William, George and James Reino for assisting me in running Mamma Mia's home made pizzas with Brownsea Pack. SILVER TROOPPaul Green (Scout Leader)No news item this month. EXPLORER UNITAlan Avery (Explorer Scout Leader)Thanks to Gary for being Chairman for the last year and the outgoing committee. Gary and Andrew Marston have gone off to University and we wish them well. Leigh Wicks is the new Chairman; Daniel Heron - Secretary; Matthew Grover - Treasurer; Richard Pennington and Richard Skinner will do Den Warden and QM. Well-done Nick Attwell on gaining his Chief Scout's Award - Platinum level. We had a general maintenance evening sorting out equipment; clearing foliage behind the den; cleaning and sweeping the garage and giving the van a good old going over. We also went golfing and had a chill out evening when the Leaders weren't around PARENTS & FRIENDSRichard Marston (Chairman)How are we doing?The first of the October jumble sales had an unusually low attendance but produced an income of £368. The second jumble usually brings in a smaller profit so we are unlikely to make the budgeted £650 for this pair of events. This gives us a total profit of £7,200 for 2003 and leaves us with a further £1,300 needed to reach our budget for the year of £8,500. However… those of you who have been paying attention will remember I suggested we could get into five figures and make a record £10,000 this year! The poor turnout for the jumble hasn't helped but we can still reach £10,000 with YOUR help. PLEASE help at, or bring the family to, one of the remaining events in 2003, or do some shopping at www.4wp.org.uk and earn some commission for the Group. Recent EventsAs mentioned above, at the time of writing we have just had the first of our two Autumn Jumble Sales. Unfortunately the local Boys Brigade chose to have their Jumble Sale on the same day, at the same time, so attendance was lower than usual. Even so, there was still a constant flow of buyers for our very large stock of jumble and some excellent bargains were to be found. Thanks to all who donated their unwanted items, and those parents who came down to assist our regular band of helpers under the management of the Group chairman, Ray Hammett. (Did anyone notice that while Ray was running the Jumble Sale he also managed to renew the roofing felt on the gas cupboard by the front door? It puts us mere 'lads' - and lasses - to shame!) Coming SoonFirework 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 - The ever-popular Grand Auction is here again. It is always 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. Parent helpers needed, contact details below. Christmas Bazaar, Saturday 6th December - Your chance to get into the festive spirit and pick up some presents without breaking the bank. For the younger ones it's a chance to visit Santa. This is always a popular, colourful and busy event and raises a large proportion of our annual income. It will be our last fundraising event of the year so please come along to help or spend (or both!) to ensure we break the magic £10,000 target for the year. Parent helpers needed, contact details below. Internet www.4wp.org.ukWith the Christmas shopping period ahead our website provides an excellent starting point for picking up gift ideas at low prices. With links to twelve trusted suppliers you should be able to find most of the things on your list, plus some more you hadn't even considered. Just click through from the links on our Shopping page to ensure the Group gets a percentage of everything you spend - at no cost to you. 2004 Over the next couple of months members of the Group Executive will meet to fix the Group's budget for 2004. Each year some difficult decisions have to be made to ensure the Group remains financially viable. If the Group is to provide the excellent facilities the boys have come to expect the Parents and Friends must commit to raising at least £8,500. Don't forget we are still looking for a permanent Chairman for the P&F, and some parents to join the committee so that we can ensure the required amount is raised. ContactIf you have any comments and 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 SmithTwenty-four members of the Fellowship spent a most interesting, and educational, afternoon visiting the Swaminarayan Hindu Temple in Neasden on Sunday 21st September. We travelled in the two minibuses and as we were somewhat ahead of time, we stopped off at an Indian cash and carry in Greenford. This proved to be quite an eye opener and a fascinating insight into the Indian culinary world. On then to the Temple. As we approached the Temple I think that those of us who had never seen it before were awestruck by its outward magnificence. On going inside, the interior surpassed even the exterior grandeur, with the walls and ceilings of the Cultural Complex covered by wood panels all carved in the most intricate of detail. We then went into the prayer hall, the construction of which proved intriguing because in such a massive area there were no central supporting pillars whatsoever. Next, the exhibition that told the history of the Hindu religion since its birth over 8500 years ago in a most concise but comprehensive manner. Finally, we passed into the Temple (or Mandir) itself. Again, magnificence almost beyond belief! As our guide explained to us earlier that all the timber used in the building had come from Burma, shipped to India where the intricate carving was done and then transported to the site at Neasden, so likewise had the 2,828 tonnes of Bulgarian limestone and 2,000 tonnes of Italian marble. When all this duly arrived at Neasden it was all put together like a giant jigsaw puzzle over a period of less than three years - and all done by one thousand volunteers. The outing had been arranged by John and Bridget Green and their friend, Jai, and our thanks were expressed to them for a most fascinating afternoon. The following Thursday, the 25th was the date of the Fellowship's September meeting and took the form of a visit to the Wetlands Centre at Barnes. By good fortune we had chosen a perfect day weather wise and this naturally added to the enjoyment of the day. We had arranged for a guide to take us around and he pointed out to us the numerous breeds of wildfowl who inhabit the Centre and also told us about the migratory birds who pass through Wetlands on their journeys either north or south. I believe that everyone enjoyed our day out. It might prove to be a suitable venue for Cub outings at some time in the future. Our thanks were expressed to Colin and Pam Barnard (in absentia) who had suggested the visit in the first place.
Information for December 2003 Newsletter to be with Keith Daly by Monday 3rd November
This page was last updated on 28 December 2004 |