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Focus on GLSW

Scouting in Greater London South West December 2001

Editor's note

Just a quick note to thank everyone who commented on my first Focus. Please remember that this is YOUR newsletter, and comments are always welcome as we strive to make it informative and useful, and hopefully interesting too, so do keep them coming. Happy Christmas everyone!

A message from the County Commissioner

Firstly, from Lin, Andrew, Chris and myself, we would like to wish everybody involved in scouting in GLSW an enjoyable and peaceful Christmas, with a good rest!

This last year, it seems has been moving at rather a hectic pace scouting wise, but also very interesting. We have had the launch of the new uniform, which has gone down rather well and the unveiling of PRI in stages. The county expedition to the Seychelles was successful with the contingent returning having made many friends, and bringing back gifts to County, which were presented to me at a recent County meeting by Steve Clark on behalf of the Seychelles Scouts. The plaques and watercolour will in due course be on permanent display at Bow Lane, so when you are visiting the county base do have a look.

Bow Lane is also coming along extremely well thanks to the work done by the Tuesday working party and the contractors. The new toilet block is nearly finished and this is the last of major improvements to be made.

We have also been successful in appointing a county development officer, which Tony Edwards, will be writing about else where in this issue.

In the new year there will also be much to look forward to and to keep us busy. There will be the Queen's Jubilee and Jamboree activities to enter into plus the final stages of PRI.

For all those involved with Scouting , once the regional launches have been completed, County will be making a series of its own launches across GLSW to inform you of the changes. H.Q. will also be making available free transitional material (distributed through County) to help the new programmes be phased in. This will be a mammoth task in itself as the resources being made available are considerable and there will be something for everyone at every level of membership. It is therefore very important that census returns are accurate as this will be how the resources will be distributed and we don't want anyone missing out, particularly our young membership.

In preparation for Explorer Scouts District Commissioners are drawing up plans for approval by County, to see where such units will effectively exist and have the right support and leadership. District Explorer Scout Commissioners (DESC) are also being sought, to be put forward to the County appointments committee.

County is also looking to appoint an ACC Explorer Scouts, County Scout Network Commissioner and Scout Network Administrator. If the appointments interest you then please contact me for a chat and a job description. Previous experience at commissioner level is not necessary- just the enthusiasm and ability to do the job.

Best wishes, Roger Hurrion, CC

Chairman's Notes

Yes, as I predicted in the October issue of Focus, the County's first paid full time Development Officer Jo Launchbury started work on Monday 3rd December. The contract is for three years but it is hoped to renew the contract subject to funding. Please read Jo's personal profile below. I'm sure you would join me in extending her a warm welcome to our Groups, District and the County. After Jo has completed her induction and initial training work will commence on those projects you have submitted to date. Have you made your bid for Jo's time, if not get it in quickly. A copy of the bid form is available from your District Commissioner.

The communication sub-committee of the County Executive have updated our web site and in so doing has enabled me and others to read Focus direct. Thanks to Chris Feltham and his team for the excellent progress.

The new year is going to be exciting with the launch of RPI but before that enjoy your Christmas break and a sincere thank you for you personal contribution to Scouting during the past year.

Tony Edwards

p.s. Please don't forget to submit your application for the part time CDO's Project Manager position to me by 31st December 2001 Details in the Focus October issue.

Jo Launchbury, Development Officer

[Photograph of Jo Launchbury]

My Scouting background is one familiar to many. My Dad was a DSL and SL at our local Air Scout group in Streatham. My Mum was, and indeed still is, GSL at another local group. My first adult involvement in the movement was in my 'teens' as an associate member of the Fellowship, press-ganged into service when they needed musicians for the District (Gang) Show! When Mum's group lost their Akela a few years ago, I made the 'mistake' of offering to run the pack for a few weeks until they found a new Leader. Needless to say I am still there, still Akela, and still loving every minute of it. The 2nd Streatham Hill Scout Group is based at the top of Brixton Hill, (Lambeth District, GLS). Inner-city Scouting has its own problems and we have to face many of them on a weekly basis at the group. Not least of which, we've learned to run our camps, outings and weekly programme on shoestring budgets -- it forces us to be creative with our programming and it makes for very challenging Scouting. I'm also a DCSL in Lambeth, and have been CCSL for the last year, although I'm now stepping back from my GLS county role to allow more time for my commitment to GLSW.

My day job for the last 6 years has been in a large secondary school in Tooting, working for their in-house 'Print & Design Centre', using many of the skills I gained in my previous job, working for 11 years in publishing. In my new role as Development Officer I hope to bring together my administrative skills, knowledge of the education sector and my Scouting background, to be able to provide GLSW with a successful development programme. I am passionate about Scouting; we have so much to offer: new sections, new uniform, a new programme and a special Jubilee celebration year in 2002. It's a very exciting time to be involved with the movement and I look forward to working with everybody in GLSW.

CycloCross 2001

[Photograph showing the start of the under 14 race]

There were entries from 17 Troops, 30 Under 12s, 22 Under 14s, 15 Under 16s and 3 Leader/Ventures, and the winners were as follows:-

Under 12 Individual: Marcus W of 25th Purley
Under 12 Team: 25th Purley with 24 points
Under 14 Individual: Lee H 1st Hook
Under 14 Team: 23rd Purley with 16 points
Under 16 Individual: Nathan J 2nd Whitton
Under 16 Team: 2nd Whitton with 8 points
Leaders/Ventures race: Andy C of 7th Morden

New district scoops County Scout Swimming Gala in 2001

8 Districts took part in the annual event held at Trinity School in Croydon. The main results were:-

1st	Richmond Upon Thames	89 points
2nd	Purley & District	83 points
3rd	Wandle	71 points

Well done to all the districts that took part, and huge thanks to everyone who helped make the event such a success.

Andy Harris County Scout Leader

Kingston & Malden Air Rifle Club.

There will be an 8 week course in Air Rifle shooting starting on Mondays January 21st / Tuesdays 22nd (Parallel courses). The course follows the NSRA's Youth Proficiency Scheme and entrants are supplied with a course booklet and a chance to gain a really nice badge, according to the standard reached. We can follow this up with a course for the Scout Master-at-Arms Badge. Contact Jean Jenkins.

National Scout Air Rifle Championships

This was the 25th anniversary of the event, begun in 1977 by the then Warden of Walton Firs, Bill Cook. The Chief Scout, George Purdy toured the site, on a very rainy morning and saw all the activities, including field target, pistol and rifle shooting, plus the Jamboree on the Internet and the Jamboree on the Air.

He visited as many Groups as possible, speaking and joking with many Scouts, Leaders and organisers. He then presented the Trophies and medals to the winners of the various events. Because of the rain some 400 Scouts and Leaders had to cram into the site's Training Hut for the presentations. Of the Groups from GLSW, 7th Malden came away with Bronze medals for the Group Team Pistol class, their team consisting of Karl Bromley, Robert Seagar, Graeme Baker and Alex Cannon. Graeme Baker won the Gold medal in the Junior individual class - not bad since he is still a 'linking' Cub Scout and only been shooting since May! Roy Bromley won a Bronze for the Senior 'Knock out' competition. 5th. Morden's Jeremy Chong - Leung won Silver in the Junior Field Target - another youngster who has only been shooting since May. All have learnt their shooting at the Kingston & Malden Scout Air Rifle Club. And 1st Old Malden won the 5 - side Football! Next year's event will be over the weekend of October 18th. / 20th.

Scoutshoot 2002 for Scouts, Guides and Leaders will be on 15th September at Bisley, run by Surrey Venture Scout Rifle Club. Contact Nigel Randall.

SOUWEST 2001

Every night of every year somewhere in the world a Gang Show is playing So it was that between Tuesday 23rd and Saturday 27th October at the Secombe Theatre, Sutton the GLSW Gang Show Gang stepped out on the boards to perform Souwest 2001.

This year's show was being devised and written by the Producers, Anthony Morris, David Gilbert, and their assistants Andrew Hayward, Wendy Helps, Tim Kerridge, Pat Smith and Andrew Johnston before Souwest 2000 had even been performed.

Auditions are held in the early part of the year following applications from Brownies and Cubs to Adult Leaders over 100 members of both movements show us what they can do. (Past members of the Gang also have to audition each year). The auditions over, the Gang chosen and then one Sunday in the middle of June the young and not so young gathered, old friendships renewed and new ones made and rehearsals begin.

Rehearsals take place every Sunday from June until October. To the uninitiated they may appear to be total chaos but by the time of the show all is in place. Technical and Dress rehearsals take place at the theatre, the stage crew, lighting and sound people are all over the place and the producers are trying to run a rehearsal.

Tuesday night, final instructions from the producer and its Curtain Up, two and a half hours later and the curtain comes down and the Gang go home safe in the knowledge that they have given of their best. Six shows later and it's all over for another year.

Our Producer Anthony Morris has been responsible for all the shows since 1990 and he had decided that the time had come to hand over especially as he now lived in Oxford so this was his last show. He will be greatly missed. The Gang presented him with a television and between the two Saturday performances held a This is Your Life type show where the Red Book contained many photographs and posters of past shows and also a framed poster with signatures and messages of all the present and some of the past members of the Gang. Anthony was also appointed President of South West London Gang.

Thank you Anthony for everything that you have done over the years.

I would also like to thank everybody involved with the show, all the stage crew, the dressing room supervisors, make up team, costume ladies, musical director, lighting and sound engineers, programme sellers, management committee. Without them the show would not be as successful as it is.

Souwest 2002 will take place in October (22nd to 26th) with a new producer. Andrew Hayward has been appointed by the County Commissioner to carry the show forward and we wish him every success.

The Gang look forward to seeing you there.

Terry Mitchell Chairman Gang Show Management Committee

In Brief

Bob Bushell has put together a list of Adventurous Activity dates for 2002. Sadly it is too long to reproduce here, but your GSL has a copy. Lots of exciting opportunities here, including hillwalking, camping etc (Ron Wellbrook), Rock Climbing (Phil Handley), Paragliding, Air Experience Flying and Gliding (Cliff Beck), Caving (Cliff Abbott), and Air Rifle Shooting (Jean Jenkins)

And finally...

Angela Sailing has moved. Best wishes Angela from everyone at GLSW in your new home!

Focus on GLSW

Items for the February issue should be submitted by 31st December to the editor: Phil Davies.