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Focus on GLSW
Scouting in Greater London South West February 2005
County Commissioner’s Message
A belated Happy New Year to everyone. I hope that 2005 has begun with bright prospects and plenty of enthusiasm for you. Looking forward Scouting faces another interesting year with plenty to keep us and our young members occupied.
2005 is the year of EuroJam (are you wearing your badge yet?) and there will be quite a number attending from the County in a variety of roles. We have over 25 leaders, Network members and Explorer Scouts who will be providing the back up services at the camp as members of the IST. If you attend or not there will be plenty of associated activities for us to be involved in. It is of course the forerunner for the World Jamboree in 2007, now just two years away!
By then we hope to see our UK movement really back on its feet with continued increased membership. Gilwell has asked us to turn our attention even more to adult recruitment and retaining those adults. Logically if we have the adults, then we can provide for those youngsters who want Scouting but cannot receive it.
At the County AGM last year part of the time was devoted to talking about our County Buddy Badge. It was open not just to young members but adults too! I set down a bit of a challenge, in hoping to see more leaders wearing the badge at the 2005 AGM. To further that idea and improve our adult recruitment for any role in Scouting why not try this little challenge.
It’s now February and if we take out August as the holiday month, that gives us 10 months of 2005. If every Scout Group tried to recruit 5 new adults to Scouting, it could have a significant impact on our younger membership. That is gaining an adult in some role to the benefit of Scouting and your Group once in every two months. “FIVE FOR 05”. Give it a go!
Go wild in Whitton!
GLSW Development project Update
On Saturday 15th January the GLSW Development Project held it’s first taster session for young Muslims to come and see what Scouting is all about. Aimed specifically at Cub age youngsters with a programme of popular games and activities including Balloon Bangle Bungle and Jump the Rope plus tent pitching and making hot air balloons, the two hour session swiftly passed for young people and adults alike!
With the support of Richmond District, we plan to open a new Cub Pack in Whitton which will recruit predominately from the local Muslim community. Two adults have already offered to run a new Pack and two others have volunteered to be helpers. Over the coming months we will be working with these volunteers and the District to get this new pack up and running. My thanks to Zubair, Omar and Omar for all their help and support on the 15th, and further thanks to Robin, Gerry and Sonia who made it possible for us to ‘Go wild in Whitton!’
The Development Project is also working with adults in Croydon District where plans are well under way to open another Muslim Scout Group. Once again adults have come forward to take the warranted roles and there has already been considerable interest and support expressed by other adults willing to be helpers and Executive members. The intention in Croydon is to open a Muslim Cub Pack and Scout Troop sometime in April, and a Beaver Colony once the Pack and Troop are established.
With only three or four other Muslim Groups in the whole country and none in GLSW at present, the prospects for opening two in the coming year is very exciting and a real challenge for the Development Project.
Module 25
As you know Headquarters required this module to be completed by all those holding a GSL or Commissioners warrant by the end of last year. The County training team has arranged two further dates for this module on the 6th February and 13th March 2005.
Both these courses will be held at Bow Lane Scout Centre from 10.00am to 4.30pm. So if you were unable to attend before Christmas here’re two more opportunities.
As before, the cost will be £10.00. If you are unable to come to either of these dates, please contact me so another learning method can be used.
County Scout Night Exercise
(Saturday 12th March to Sunday 13th March 2005)
Has your troop entered a team into this event? Teams to comprise of 4—6 Scouts of ANY age. Limited spaces, so apply early to avoid disappointment!
For further information contact Andy Harris
The County Cub Swimming Gala took place on Saturday 20th November 2004 at Trinity School. Due to the merger of Districts we only had a possible six teams entering so for this year the ADC’s decided that every District could enter two teams.
On the night we only had five teams taking part and all events were run as finals. We ran a couple of other events for those who had brought reserves along on the night so that every child had a swim. For the first time we also had a “fetch and retrieve race” and this seemed to be very popular.
In first place were the team from Royal Kingston (pictured left) with Wallington and Carshalton a close second. Well done to all who took part.
For next year we will be having a rethink on how to run the Gala. Thank you to Trevor Thairs for coordinating and running this County Event.
At the start of 2004 the ADCs and their representatives at the County Meeting decided that an event was needed for the Beaver Section and what better way to start than with a Beaver Leader Skills Day.
On November 28th Bow Lane was set up with lots of different bases covering all aspects of the programme zones for Beaver Scouts. There were so many ideas at this event and things to make and do that all who attended could potentially have programmes planned for the next two to three years.
The vast wealth of experience on the day really showed and I would like to thank the participants and those running the bases for all their help and enthusiasm.
Pat Askey, who was running a base on the day, kindly ran a short training session at the end of the day for those running bases to explain the new training programme for Leaders, which was very well received.
We ended the day with a special thank you tea for the ADC’s Beavers and their District Teams.
My personal thanks go to all those who attended and helped with the day. We now look forward to planning future County Events for the Beaver Section.
GANG SHOW SOUWEST 2005
Secombe Theatre, Sutton, Tuesday 25th October Saturday 29th October 2005
Auditions: are being held on Sundays 20th and 27th February & 17th March 2005. All auditions will be held at Christ Church with St Phillip’s Church Hall, Ruskin Drive, Worcester Park, Surrey.
You only have to attend one audition date. Auditions are open to members of the Scout & Guide Associations.
You must be nine years old or over by 1st October 2005.
You should be enthusiastic, able to sing, move in time to music, act a little, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY .......HAVE FUN!!
For more information contact your Leader, visit the web site at www.glswscouts.org.uk/gangshow or email gangshow@glswscouts.org.uk
International Information
It is less than 2 years until we begin to celebrate Scouting’s centenary in 2007. Although 2007 may seem a long way off, now is the time to think how we are going to celebrate 100 years of Scouting.
Nationally the programme of events has already started and more will come on line between now and the end of 2007.
The main event in 2007 is undoubtedly the hosting of the 21st World Jamboree and during 2005 more details will be available and the County will be issuing its invitation to Leaders and young people to form a contingent to go to this memorable event. In the past we have sent one contingent to the jamboree, however during 2005 we will be asked to bid for the number of contingents we wish to send, and we are prepared if the need is there to consider sending more than one contingent. Young people have to be between the ages of 14 and 18 on the starting day of the jamboree. If you are 18+ and wish to be part of this event then you could apply to be part of the Contingent Support Team or the Service Team. More details when they are available.
The hosting of the Jamboree is not, however the only way in which we can celebrate 100 years of Scouting. Listed below are the nationally promoted Events and Activities from which you can see there is a large amount going on.
| 2004-05 | EuroJam Live (EuroJam for everyone) | |
| 2005-08 | Brownsea Island camping packages | |
| 2005 | August | Brownsea Reloaded Camps |
| EuroJam (European Scout Jamboree) | ||
| HoHo | ||
| 2006 | 1st August | Peace Light Relay—UK Tour departs Brownsea Island |
| 2007 | January | Centenary Party—Join in Centenary programme commences |
| Winter Camps—Scouts | ||
| March | Network Gathering—Scout Network | |
| April | St George’s Day | |
| Royal Albert Hall Concert | ||
| May | Centenary Camps | |
| June | Beaver and Cub Scout Fun Days | |
| July | Gilwell 24—Explorer Scouts | |
| Party in the Park (Pop Concert) | ||
| August | Brownsea Island Special Camps and Replica Camp | |
| Scouting’s Sunrise (Worldwide, UK and BI) | ||
| 21st World Jamboree | ||
| 1957 JimJam Reunion | ||
| HoHo | ||
| September | Proms in the Park | |
| October | Centenary JOTA & JOTI | |
| December | Join in Centenary programme ends | |
| 2008 | January | Multi Faith Celebration |
In addition to the nationally organised events there will be events arranged locally. This could be anything that you feel is appropriate in your sections, groups or districts. Some ideas are Centenary Camps in May, Scouting Sunrise (Greater London is hoping to organise an event in Trafalgar Square), helping others by raising money for Operation One World, a reunion of past members...
The list is endless but these events need to be well organised and now is the time to start.
More details on the national events are available on the 2007 web site and the County is in the process of putting together its own web page on the County site so that you can find out more about the national & local events.
Go Global
Go Global is the National Programme Initiative for 2005. It is a web site based resource available via ScoutBaseUK and will provide many programme ideas for all sections. It also re-launches the International Friendship Award which you may like to attempt in your Groups.
Going abroad this year?
Then now is the time to get your copy of the Visits Abroad pack which includes all you need to know about going abroad as well as the International PC form. Since the introduction of the Nights Away Permit, those going abroad will be expected to hold a permit for the type of trip they are going on I.e. if camping on a green field site you must hold a permit for this in the UK.
For those of you who are responsible for signing International PC forms, (DCs, DESC) please ensure that all the necessary paperwork is obtained and sent with the form.
County Dinner and Dance
This year’s County Dinner will be followed by ‘music to dance the night away’. It will be held on Saturday 9 April at the Hotel Antoinette, Kingston upon Thames. The Dinner Dance, which is open to all members of the County, costs £25 per person. If you wish to book a table of eight, it will cost £188 (which works out to £23.50 each). There will be a three course set menu (with a vegetarian option). A raffle in aid of the Diamond Riding School will be held and the donation of prizes would be much appreciated. If you would like to attend, please let the County Secretary know by sending her the names and a cheque (payable to GLSW) for the appropriate amount to Angela Sailing by 27th March 2005.
Wallington Make It Three In A Row
For the third year running, the 1st Wallington Scout Band participated in the London New Years Day Parade as part of the London Borough of Sutton’s entry. The weather was very kind and more than 480,000 people packed the centre of London to watch the Parade. The event helped to give London a lift and raise ‘substantial’ funds for the Tsunami relief effort. The total amount of money raised by the Sutton contingent was £1,555, of which £700 has been donated to the Indian Ocean Disaster Appeal, and £855 towards the Mayor’s chosen charity to provide facilities for young people in the borough.
Bronze Fingered?
Cian of the 5th Morden Beaver Scout Colony recently gained his Chief Scouts Bronze Award. His personal challenge was to grow some plants. He far exceeded this by preparing the plot in the garden, choosing the seeds, planting, watering and caring for the plants as they grew. All this was recorded in photograph form with comments under each photo, and put in a scrap book. He truly earned this award and we wonder, is he going to be another Alan Titchmarsh?
Special Needs
It was with sincere regret that the Special Needs Workshop ‘MODULE 50--- What’s that’ schedule for November had to be cancelled due to lack of participants. The London Region Special Needs Panel are willing to run the Workshop in an individual County if there is sufficient interest. Just Ask!
The Cinema Exhibitor’s Association Card
The Cinema Exhibitor’s Association Card is a national initiative being launched through 500 cinemas in the U.K. This card entitles the holder to one free ticket for a person accompanying them to the cinema.
People can apply for the card if they meet one or more of the following criteria:
- They are in receipt of disability living allowance
- They are a registered blind person
- They are a holder of a disabled person’s rail card
The card is valid for three years from the date of issue. A processing fee of £5 is chargeable per card; this is to be sent along with the completed application. Application forms are available from all participating cinemas. A listing of participating cinemas and further information can be found at www.ceacard.co.uk.
An awareness campaign is underway for cinema staff along with customer flyers promoting this scheme. Please make as many people aware of the card, through as many channels as possible, so that as many as possible may benefit from the scheme.
I was pleased to attend a number of social events during the ‘Festive Season’ starting with the Scout Network Christmas Dinner and ‘sleepover’ at Park Farm, Banstead, on 11 December. There was a surprise visit from Santa, and some suitably embarrassed Network Scouts. On 20 December twelve members from the Sutton Local SNet met for a meal at the Harvester ‘restaurant’ in Sutton Common Road, and it was good to see some new faces. On 23 December members of the Belarus Specialist SNet held a ‘Murder Mystery’ Dinner at Bears Wood, and this proved most enjoyable. Also, before Christmas, we launched the new International Expedition Scout Network, and this meets again on January 29 at Bow Lane to consider, among other things, the destination for the Explorer Belt expedition in 2006. All are welcome to attend, at 1pm sharp please.
Very early in 2005 it was back to business with a planning meeting for those participating in the Queen’s Scout and Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award hikes at Easter. We have two groups going to the Yorkshire Dales for a week commencing 28 March. An expedition training course has been arranged over the last weekend in January, and further navigation practice will take place on Ashdown Forest on 6 February. We shall shortly be posting information about the expedition week in the Lake District at the end of August check www.glswscouts.org.uk/network for details.
This year’s Winter Meet was held at Dewerstone Cottage, Devon from 79 January, and was supported by members from Croydon, Kingston, Richmond and Sutton. Arriving at midnight on the Friday we were soon asleep so as to be fresh for a full day’s walk on Dartmoor the next day. We set off from Ditsworthy Warren at about 9.30 am and completed a 10 mile circuit, the second half of which was off path and involved an ‘interesting’ river crossing. The morning was bright, but after lunch there was increasing cloud and we experienced sleet and hail. We returned to base in darkness, and having cleaned up, enjoyed a delicious meal prepared by Sarah Hounson and Hillary Sutton. Sunday morning was spent splitting logs and cutting firewood for the warden, clearing up, and then after lunch, making the 5 hour journey back to GLSW.
Looking ahead, we have at least one team in this year’s Southern 50 Challenge Hike, also ‘Operation Red Flare’, the night incident hike organised by Croydon District for Explorers, Scout Network, and Ranger Guides. Ed Wilson, the ‘University Members Coordinator’, has arranged a Mountaineering activity in North Wales from 36 March, and as usual we shall be resident at Yr Hen Neuadd. The County Scout Network Conference is on Saturday 9 April, and all members will be notified of the venue in due course. The Mystery Investiture takes place over the weekend of 78 May at a surprise venue, and later that month, on Sunday 22 May, we hold the first Network Rugby Sevens at Staines RFC. I will be pleased to hear from any enthusiastic rugby players aged 1825 who would like to be part of the GLSW sevens squad.
Andrew Florence has been working hard on completing the 2005 Scout Network Census return, and we shall be reporting on the outcome at the Conference. Finally, congratulations to Stuart Richardson, County Scout Network Leader, and Sarah Hounson, District Explorer Scout Administrator in Richmond, who have announced their engagement. At the very least it should facilitate communications between the two sections!
I am sure we will all welcome Stephen Clark, Deputy County Commissioner, as the person responsible for Scout Fellowship in the County. Let’s hope that every one of the County’s Fellowships will create an opportunity to meet him soon. Certainly there is one Scout Fellowship AGM due in a few weeks to which he will be invited.
Scout Fellowship need a voice at County level to both plead its case and offer its services. Everywhere in Scouting, leaders are crying out for adult support. What better support can there be than Scout Fellowship members; members of the Scout Association who, have made the Scout Promise and signed up to ‘Active Support’.
Many current members are retired leaders with a wealth of knowledge and appropriate skills. All members can be CRB cleared so ‘safe’ with young people. These must be the people that Scouting needs.
Out there, hiding deep in the woods, are lots of exScouts, and exLeaders. We need a concerted effort to winkle them out and harvest their expertise. Stephen must realise that there is a lot to do. The County’s existing Scout Fellowships will need to come together to help him.
PHILIP CONWAY MENHENNETT I.S.O.
It was with great sadness that we heard of the death of Phil Menhennett on December 28th 2004 just a few days before his 85th Birthday. He had suffered a stroke earlier in the month and died peacefully in his sleep.
A County Vice President and former County Commissioner, Phil had been part of the Scouting scene in Greater London for over 50 years. He was a Devon man despite his Cornish surname and grew up in Plymouth where he was enrolled as a Cub in the 5th Plymouth Scout Group. As a Patrol Leader he attended a Jamboree in Cornwall where he had the privilege of meeting Lord BadenPowell.
In 1954 he took his eldest son to join 1st Hook Wolf Cubs. With his Scouting credentials one can only imagine the delight with which the GSM, greeted his tentative offer of help! Kings Scouts with that much experience were in short supply and in no time at all he accepted the Scoutmaster’s warrant. When Skipper retired some ten years later Phil was his natural successor as GSL.
During this time Phil also held various supporting roles in the District and County and following his retirement as GSL in 1974 went on to be District Commissioner, Borough Commissioner and then County Commissioner. Like all uniformed members he had to relinquish his warrant at the age of 65 but accepted appointments as Life President of 1st Hook as well as President of both Surbiton and Kingston & Malden Districts. He and Audrey enjoyed themselves travelling around the County attending functions at all the different Districts and were made welcome wherever they went.
Phil received recognition for his work in the Civil Service by the award of the Imperial Service Order. The Scout Movement awarded him the Silver Wolf in recognition of service of the most exceptional nature.
A measure of the affection in which he was held and the mark he made on people’s lives was demonstrated by the turnout at his funeral on January 17th. The Church was filled to overflowing and the uniformed Guard of Honour stretched from the Church Door to the Lychgate.
There will be a Memorial Service at St. Paul’s Church, Hook Road, Chessington on Sunday March 20th 2005 at 3pm followed by a reception at 1st Hook Headquarters. The family has requested that donations in memory of Phil should be made to the 1st Hook Scout Group which, in his words, “has given Audrey and I so much pleasure over the years”. The donations should be sent to Bob Bushell.
Awards
| Queen’s Scout Award | |
|---|---|
| Mark Wilding | Croydon Scout Network |
| Chief Scout’s Gold Award | |
| Dax Wood | 3rd Carshalton |
| Ben Sowden | 3rd Carshalton |
Good Service Awards
| Medal of Merit | |
|---|---|
| Ron Crabb | Wimbledon and Wandle |
| Alison Eggitt | Royal Kingston |
| Julie Feltham | Royal Kingston |
| Sheila Feltham | Royal Kingston |
| John Goddard | Richmond upon Thames |
| David Messenbird | Royal Kingston |
| Jacqueline Paddon | Royal Kingston |
| Ian Phillimore | Royal Kingston |
| Chief Scout’s Commendation | |
| Thomas Adam | Royal Kingston |
| Wendy Clements | Royal Kingston |
| Katherine Gooud | Royal Kingston |
| Karen Loizon | Royal Kingston |
| Lesley Morris | Royal Kingston |
Focus on GLSW
Items for the April issue should be submitted by 13 March 2005 to the editor: focus@glswscouts.org.uk
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