Ferny Crofts Activity Centre, Hampshire, 15th March 2015.
This one day course aims to give leaders knowledge in many aspects of bushcraft. It includes shelter building, fire lighting, backwoods cooking, wood whittling and knife, axe and saw work. The cost of the course is £90 including food on the Saturday evening and camping.
Please see www.scouts.org.uk/sac for more information, or contact Ferny Crofts on 023 8084 5092 or at fernycrofts.sac@scouts.org.uk to book.
What a start, with the entrance to the car park blocked off and then when the temporary entrance was found due to building work many parking spaces were missing and most of the others were in use.
Despite this we saw the biggest involvement in the gala since the District was formed with 29 Beavers, 7 Cub packs and 8 Scout Troops. It meant that we had to run heats for all the races and with me increasing the number of events for Cubs, bringing them to the same level as the Scouts, we ran out of time to carry out a presentation. I was under strict rules from the pool booking officer that we had to be clear the pool by 9.30. I am in the process of visiting Packs and Troops to hand out the medals, certificates and Trophies.
May I thank all the officials, helpers and the adult support team for all the assistance on the night.
“Summit” has become a bit of a hidden asset. Perhaps most of the District does not know that City District has a very strong team of experienced and qualified mountain leaders who take Explorers and older Scouts to the rugged Mountains of Snowdonia every autumn. It is a tradition that has continued since 1970 and one that we should be very proud of. The usual venue is Hafod a Welsh Scout Council Hostel in the Ogwen Valley. Last year through a booking problem we had to go to a hostel near Cadair Idris but this October we were back in our old haunt.
Ogwen Valley and the Glyders from Pen Yr Olwen
Numbers were down a bit, still enough for three good teams on the hill. We met at the 22nd HQ for the hardest part of the weekend – the 250 mile minibus trip, soon after the end of school, with arrival close to midnight. On arrival one thing became apparent; the Wind. This was nothing to do with excess of burgers at the Service Station. They, after a hot drink slipped off to their bunks. The leaders adapted their routes to suit the warnings of high wind. Morning broke, breakfast and the hustle to get ready for the day. Flasks had been put out the night before and had been filled according to their wishes. The troops were checked to see they had the right kit and necessary adjustments made.
The view down onto Llyn Ogwen
I must mention team Rutherford – apart from organising the whole thing and making sure everyone had got away safely, our leader and his wife Kirsty took their two young children onto Pen Yr Ole Wen the high mountain opposite the hostel. It was a very windy day radio reports said that the wind speed on the tops was 60mph.
In Safe Hands
Leaders left their route cards for Harold and me–we were two of the original Summiteers and stayed down to act as Basemen. Some went directly from the Hostel but at least one group were transported to a start point several miles away. For all Parties it was an act of commitment to hard mountains and high wind.
One Party had started from the North. It was a great route but unfortunately the route southwards was directly into the wind along a rising ridge line two big mountains lay ahead and the party were beginning to tire. Sensibly their leaders decide to come off early into the town of Bethesda. They phoned ahead to ask for collection. Harold and I haven’t got insurance for the minibus and he was thinking of making two journeys in his car. Just then the first party arrived back tired but happy. Their leader Paul immediately volunteered. We showed him the pick-up point on the map and off he went. The Rutherford Family walked in, fresh and happy and the children got back to their drawing books. Then the final Party arrived having walked in from the hill. Hot drinks were consumed and everyone got busy: wet stuff in the Drying Room; boots in the Boot Rack; and rucksacks unpacked. They all enjoyed the rest and the warmth of Hafod while dinner was cooking. A hearty meal and we broke into two groups: the Leaders relaxing and talking together and the Scouts talking about the day and playing cards. (Well, there was another group, Harold and me talking quietly together about Summits past and how pleased we were to see it all happening still.)
What 60mph Wind?
The next day offered the chance to do real rock climbing and the group drove off to Capel Curig with the intention of trying the Pinnacles. Unfortunately the heavy rain didn’t stop and climbing on wet rock is almost as bad as sitting waiting to climb in the wet. Walking isn’t too bad and the party had a low level walk back to Hafod. Meanwhile the non- climbers went up to Y Garn and the Glyders at the back of the Hostel. All arrived back early and after another good meal everyone tucked into packing and putting the Hostel to rights. By three o’clock we were ready for the off and the long drive home with a group of young people who had: got over their fears; tested themselves in a harsh environment; and had memories that will last a lifetime.
The Personel:
Scouts and Explorers: Sam, James, Owen, Zak, Olivia, Nick, Greg, Dan, Matt, Patrick, Chris, Kyle.
Leaders: Ian R, Ian B, Paul R, Rob, Dave Mac: Sam T2, Kahryn.
Ex Officio’s, Kirsty: Fran: Rory: Geoff, Harold and Glyn the Sheep Dog.
Geoff Johnson
Active Support
On Friday the 31st of October, the 29th Immaculata Scouts enjoyed an evening of Halloween fun from making Human Mummys to Apple Bobbing. During this evening they also had a go at Pumpkin Carving, using 6 Pumpkins that Sainsbury’s in Portswood had kindly donated to us free of charge.
These turned out with all different kinds of design in which some are shown below.
We were also kindly donated a rather large pumpkin as well, in which took three leaders to pick up! It was grown in an allotment and its weight was a good 15 stone (210Lb)! After taking out the middle with a spade and brickie’s trowel, we were ready for carving.
Many thanks to Margaret and Peter for kindly donating us this large pumpkin and below is how it turned out.
Of course it would not be right if we did not light up the pumpkin to see how well it worked!
By Candle Light
Many thanks to Karen in Sainsbury’s at Portswood and Margaret and Peter for their kind donations.
Good fun was had by all and we’re looking forward to doing some think similar next year.
Yours in Scouting,
Russ Andrews,
29th Immaculata Scout Leader
Our District has been invited by The Mayor of Southampton to attend the Remembrance Day Service, at The Cenotaph, on Sunday 9th.November 2014.
It is hoped that we can make up a contingent comprising, a Beaver, a Cub and a Scout and Explorer and a Scouter from every group in the district. Also all Active
Support and Network members are invited.
Our aim is to have a good smart contingent for the remembrance parade at the Cenotaph in West Park Southampton for this years Remembrance Service. Last year was a lovely event and it gave our young people a chance to show their respect and remembrance and it was particularly mentioned by those attending, including the Mayor, that it was lovely to see our youngsters taking part.
Of course if your group has already arranged to go to your local church that is fine I am just pleased that they are doing that. But for those groups that do not go to a local church we would like you to join us at the main Southampton Cenotaph.
If we have the groups bring one beaver one cub and one scout and a number of Leaders, Explorers Network Members and Active Support we believe we will have at least 50 people attending. Even though i have said only one please do bring more if you wish to.
We will meet at 9.45am at Guildhall Square i will be there earlier, so please look out for me. You can park for free up to 12 noon on a Sunday at the West Park Car park.
Please do make sure you are all in smart uniform please, polished shoes etc. I will have poppies to give you if you have not already purchased some.
The parade will be marching from Guildhall Square to the cenotaph and back to Guildhall square after the service so Parents please come and see the parade and pick up your children from guildhall square just before 12 noon.
If you could all please send me an email to say if you are coming or not I would be grateful.
Colin Floyd
District Commissioner
07770364711 or colin.floyd@ntlworld.com
Well our scouting is very much full steam ahead. I am delighted to welcome Sarah Granger and Rob Wayman to the district team. They have both been appointed as District Cub Scout Leaders and will work along side Pat to provide encouragement and support to the cub section. I am sure everyone will be delighted for them and offer their support.
We are now producing every month a role of honour celebrating our leader’s service and other young person’s awards. If you have any children who gain the Bronze Silver and Gold awards please tell me so we can add them to the roll of honour that we will be producing every month.
The district web site is presently under a thorough review and I hope the new improved site will be up and running for you all very soon. Please remember that the web site is our main vehicle for communication between us all and it acts as the face of our scouting in the community. If you have any group events or those that are held by the district please shout load about them and send some pictures and words to the media team. They look forward to receiving your good news.
The Compass data membership system is now live and we have a lot to do to get our data as it should be. We are doing a clean up operation of our adult data and once that is completed we will be looking to get our young person data recorded on compass. That will be a task that will need to be done by groups and I will be talking to Group Scout Leaders on the time frame for that work and the support and training we will offer them.
Wilverley has a new cooker in the cottage kitchen so you will find that better when you next go there. We are looking over the next few months to make other improvements to the cottage kitchen and we are looking at providing a range of cooking utensils to save you having to take them yourselves.
Our next District sports event is the swimming gala on Saturday 15th November the details are on the website and we really hope that EVERY group will be participating this year. Get your team entered with Graham and please would you tell him who will be acting as marshals on your groups behalf on the evening.
We will be updating our district directory very soon so if you have any changes in your personal details have you moved home changed your email address or telephone number? Please make sure Graham is aware of those so that your information is up to date.
If anyone wishes to talk to me and clarify anything, I am always pleased for you to contact me by email or by phone or in person just ask away.
Yours in Scouting,
Colin Floyd
District Commissioner
07770364711 or colin.floyd@ntlworld.com
Wood Badge
Awarded to Members on completion of their leadership training
Congratulations to Rob Wayman on receiving his wood badge.
Chief Scout’s 20 Years Service Award
Congratulations to Darren Russell
Chief Scout’s 10 Years Service Award
Congratulations to Iain Redmill
Explorer Belt
Well done to Heather Porter, Josh Smith and Alex Manning on completing their Explorer Belt.
Please come and join us and celebrate! All parents, friends and families are invited to attend.
Founders Day this year will be held at the Oasis Community Hub Green Lane, Millbrook SO16 9RG
We will be meeting at 6:15pm – please make sure that you are very smart and in full uniform.
In September Alex Manning, Heather Porter and Josh Smith, members of Southampton City Network, spent 11 days in France and Belgium completing the Explorer Belt. The trip involved cycling 440 km, complete with fully laden panniers, along the World War 1 Western Front and aimed to investigate the effect of WW1 on the people and landscapes 100 years on.
Our trip started in Nieuwpoort, Belgium, which was the coastal end of the front. Nieuwpoort and the surrounding canals were flooded during the war to prevent German flanking so we took a look at where this started. After a night spent in a somewhat dubious, closed campsite near Diksmuide we headed to Ieper (Ypres) to visit the city and attend the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate.
Our third day continued in Ieper at the ‘In Flanders Fields’ museum before heading off to Hill 62 which is home to the Sanctuary Wood Cemetery, a museum with preserved British front line trenches, and the Hill 62 Canadian memorial. We also visited Hill 60 where lots of mining and explosives were used. On day four, fuelled by vast amounts of Haribo, we made our way to Le Touret memorial where we were able to find one of Josh’s relatives amongst the 13,400 British soldiers who are remembered there.
The fifth day of the trip started with a puncture. After sorting that out we headed to Notre Dame de Lorette which is the largest French military cemetery in the World and houses over 40,000 French soldiers. The crosses in the cemetery stretched as far as the eye could see and was truly sobering. We then cycled up the second hill of the day to get to the Vimy Ridge where a memorial to Canadian soldiers sits proud at the top to remember their tunnelling attack on the German front line.
After the long day before we had a more relaxed day and headed to Arras to explore some tunnels which were used by miners from New Zealand. For day seven we headed to Albert via the Newfoundland Memorial park which was a piece of land which had been left after the war and kept as a park to memorialise soldiers from Newfoundland. We moved further into the Somme region as we reached Albert and there was a noticeable increase in the number of cemeteries we saw.
Day eight was spent exploring Albert and the surrounding area. This included a trip to the Thiepval Memorial where we found one of Alex’s relatives, and a visit to a German cemetery. Back in Albert we visited a museum which was in a tunnel under the town and used during both wars as an air raid shelter. On day nine we cycled to Amiens which was the last stop on our trip. The rest of day 9 and 10 were spent exploring Amiens including visits to a library (complete with a very lovely and interesting librarian), the cathedral, Museum de Picardy, and a general wander around the city. The next day we returned back to Southampton feeling tired but successful.
