News 2005-02
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This page provides access to current and past copies of the the monthly newsletter of the 4th Worcester Park Scout Group plus other reports relating to life at the 4th. The Friends of the Fourth page has copies of their own section's newsletter.

4th News, February 2005

Sections

 

GROUP SCOUT LEADER

Fred Fletcher

The Senior Residents Christmas Party was a great success; many thanks to the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts for putting on some excellent entertainment for our guests.
I would like to thank everyone in our Group who may have helped in making such a happy day for our Senior Guests. A longer report of this event can be found in the Fellowship notes in this newsletter.

Congratulations to Christine and Steve Wicks together with (Granddad) Peter Gower, on being presented with the Thanks Badge for all their hard work in producing the monthly newsletter. May I also congratulate Brian Yearly on being made Vice President of our Group.

It was a great pleasure for me to present to Marc Wicks the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award: well done to Marc.
Let's get Scouting!

Brian Yearley - Group Quartermaster

At the Christmas Scouts' Own we were pleased to appoint Brian a Vice-President of the Group.
Brian started with the Group as a Scout and as a member of the Senior Scout Troop became a Queen's Scout. After a period as Rover Scout he became Assistant and later Senior Scout Leader before his appointment as Group Quartermaster. In that capacity he has given decades of service to all sections of the Group. It is a task out of the limelight but essential to the well being of the Group. This appointment reflects the Group's appreciation of Brian's work.

 

ASPEN COLONY

Anne Mays (MAYO), Carol Salter (HOLLY)

Firstly let us start by wishing everyone a very Happy New Year and a big Thank-you to Keith Daly our Group Scout Leader for his past ten years of service to the Group and congratulations to Fred Fletcher for being selected as our new Group Scout Leader and we wish him every success.
Aspen Colony have enjoyed a really busy and fun packed December. On 6th December we had our Christingle service in St Andrew's Church in Northey Avenue in Cheam. The boys decorated their oranges with sweets ribbons and a candle it was lovely to see them all light up.
We had the Senior Residents party in the dark as there was a power cut and the boys were on the stage by candlelight so they could be seen. I have to say they were very well behaved and I think everyone rather enjoyed the afternoon although it was very hectic.
We then had our Christmas Scouts Own all they boys dressed in Christmas clothes and they really looked splendid they all took part and behaved well. I believe there were some photos taken so if we could have some it would be very much appreciated. On 20th December we went to the pantomime to see Dick Whittington and it was really good and every bit what a pantomime should be with Boo's and Hiss's and plenty of laughter. We travelled to and from the pantomime by bus and as you can imagine the bus drivers were dumbstruck with so many small children that they let them all travel free so we struck up the same deal on the way home on the double-decker bus telling him of the Christmas spirit of his previous colleague so we travelled home free as well.
Now all we have to get through is the District pantomime on 15th January and it all starts over again. We are well on our way to receiving another badge just a little more work to be done.
If you would like to help in the Group in any way at all please let us know, we understand that some parents can't make regular meetings but would be able to help at some of the events as a one off - if this is the case please don't remain in hiding we need all the help we can get so be positive and help the Group to continue in its present form offering activities and friendship to so many young boys.
Finally we would like to say a big thank-you to Philip Thorne and Tom Newman for their continued help and support to Aspen Colony.

BIRCH COLONY

Sheila Kinton (BAGHEERA)

We would like to thank Anne Richardson (Maple) for having led our Colony for over three years and are sorry that she has had to leave because of work and family commitments. We are very pleased that Marion Philips has agreed to return to help us - an extra pair of very experienced hands - welcome back, Marion
This month we are also pleased two new boys, Theo Cordery and Max Fitzgerald have joined us and hope they will enjoy being members of 4 W.P. for many years to come.
We had a busy December preparing our entertainment for the Senior Residents Party, making a super collage for the board, going to a pantomime and finishing with a party.

CEDAR COLONY

Valerie Street (BADGER)

We rehearsed for the Senior Residents party and thought we had prepared for everything and then the lights went out! My thanks and admiration goes to Sally (Squirrel) for coping backstage in the dark and although I could not see the Beavers myself, our new Group Scout Leader was very impressed; so well done to the boys.

We finished the year with a party and games and started 2005 learning about communications. We played with secret codes and learnt to follow instructions whilst wearing a blindfold.

ANGLIA PACK

Brenda Hunt (AKELA)

We had a great evening creating crafts for Christmas. We made cards - pressies for Mum, Christmas decorations and a fridge magnet - most festive they were too!
We practised our Christmas song for the old folk, what an experience that was but it turned out right in the end. Thank you boys who turned up on the day.
We finished the month by looking at the local lights (Lower Morden Lane actually) much better than Oxford Street, and we were treated to a McDonald's. Happy New Year to you all.

Dates for your diary
Camp this year will be from Sunday August 8th - Saturday August 14th
St George's Day (Promise Renewal) Sunday April 24th

BROWNSEA PACK

Les Prescott (KERICK)


Before Christmas, Sally organised a meeting where we made the "stained glass" windows to decorate the Headquarters. The Cubs had great fun in cutting up coloured paper and gluing these to the black templates to fit into the windows - they all looked good and were very effective.
We then practiced for our item for the Senior Residents' Party. Using an old wind-up gramophone, we mimed to the old 78rpm record "This Old House" having made up a suitably old looking house from broom handles and old cloth. This all collapsed on cue at the appropriate moment. It was fortuitous that we had planned to use old gramophone technology as there was a power cut and ours was therefore the only musical item! However, it all went ahead very well under gas and candlelight.
At our last meeting before Christmas we had our Christmas games evening - thanks to Harry and Daniel for organising a super evening for us.

 

Sunday 6th February, 11.00am - Scouts' Own
Sunday 20th March, 11.00am - Scouts' Own
Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th May - Weekend training camp
Sunday 24th July to Friday 29th July - Summer Camp

CHARTERHOUSE PACK

Margaret Pennington (AKELA)

During December all the boys carried on with making decorations which earned the artist badge. They also practiced long and hard for their "turn" for the Senior Residents Party. Very proud of them we all were and the guests did enjoy their contribution.

On our last meeting we had our own Christmas party: all had lots of fun.

Saturday 18th saw us all looking smart and cheerful at Asda in Sutton where along with the Sutton Lions we spent the day packing bags for shoppers, many of them did give us money (some people preferred to pack their own bags and paid us to keep away - I cannot understand why)! We had lots of compliments on the boy's attitude and behaviour, and raised £470 -this was split between the Sutton Lions and our funds towards our Disney Trip.

Scouts' Own which was lovely, saw a good turn out of boys. This meant the ceremony of going up which is always special for the boys was extra memorable for David and Roy as it was also the time when Keith handed over the reins of the Group to Fred.

We all at Charterhouse wish Keith well in the future and are sure that Fred will carry the flag to lead us in even more fun.

PURPLE TROOP

Alan Avery (Scout Leader)

 

I was unfortunately unable to be present for a couple of weeks and Geoff Morris kindly stood in for me doing general test work and games. We did a Worcester Park Chip Survey and with all teams the Ocean Fish Bar came out best.

We are now back to business as usual and the next two dates will be the usual sleepover on the Tuesday night of February half term and the usual Mountain Camp which will hopefully be the Tuesday - Sunday immediately after Easter - in North Wales.

SILVER TROOP

Paul Green (Scout Leader)

No news this month.

EXPLORER UNIT

Alan Avery (Explorer Scout Leader)

With having two weeks off for Christmas there is not a lot to report.
We hosted a Christmas meal with the Rangers - the quality of our cooking was unsurpassed! We had an evening discussing programme by means of brainstorming and also what we can do expedition-wise and four members will be going on Eurojam.
We are looking at maybe going to the Lake District or Scotland for a week so that it is affordable for everyone to go.

Future dates are a sleepover on the Tuesday night of the February half term and Mountain Camp on the Tuesday to Sunday immediately after Easter.

PARENTS & FRIENDS

As there is currently no chairman there is no report for this section.


Forthcoming events are:

Sat 5th Jumble Sale 14.30
Sun 6th Scouts' Own (Cedar) 11.00
Weds 9th P & F Committee 20.00
Sat 12th Jumble Sale 14.30
Sun 13th Work Morning 10.00

Please support ALL of these events for the benefit of the boys; your sons.

Any offers of help or other enquiries please contact
Richard Marston (8337 2641)

FELLOWSHIP

Graham Smith

There was excellent Fellowship support at the Senior Residents' Party on the afternoon of Sunday 12th December - our cars had been used to ferry some of the guests from their homes to Headquarters (which had been suitably decorated for the festive season) and all had been seated by about 2.40pm. The Mayor and Mayoress were due to arrive at 2.50 but, just before they did so, all the lights went out and power failed - a total power failure had blacked out the whole area. The Mayor and Mayoress were conducted to their table in the rapidly approaching gloom whilst the Scouters hastily sought out candles and gaz lamps and, with these strategically placed; the Hall looked even more festive than anyone could probably have ever remembered.
It really was a transformation.

With all power having been lost there were of course, no lights on the stage or power for the microphones. Consequently the boys of every section had to perform the entertainment using only vocal power and aided only by lighted candles and gaz lamps along the edge of the stage. But it all worked so well and made the occasion that much more memorable. By the time the party ended and the old folk had been escorted to their homes, power had been restored. All seem to have enjoyed their afternoon out.

The Scouts' Own on Sunday 19th was very well attended (as is usual for this pre-Christmas occasion) and it was special because it was the handover by GSL Keith to the incoming GSL Fred. The Group's President Peter Kinton, spoke of the 10 years service Keith had given as GSL and expressed thanks on behalf of all in the Group, past and present, for the dedication he had shown during his tenure. The District Commissioner then presented Fred with his GSL's Warrant. Thus a new era in the 4th's history begins and we wish him well with his new responsibilities.

The evening of the 24th saw the traditional Christmas Eve Service being held in the Den. This year the service of readings and carols was led by Ron Kinton who was thanked for having arranged it. The service was followed by our partaking of mulled wine and mince pies before we all departed to our homes and the final preparations for Christmas Day itself.

Our January meeting takes the form of our annual dinner at the Kingswood Arms on Thursday 27th whilst on the 24th February, after completion of the business part of the evening; John Green will be talking to us about cruising. The 31st March is the date of the Fellowship's AGM.

 

 

Information for March 2005 Newsletter to be with Fred Fletcher by Monday 7th February

 

 

This page was last updated on 11 July 2005