Focus on GLSW

Scouting in Greater London South West June 2005

Scouts Target Wolverhampton for Glory

In April, a team of six was selected to represent GLSW in the Inter County Competition, held at the NSRA Shooting Centre in Aldersley, Wolverhampton. This competition is for both air pistol and air rifle, the shooting distance being ten metres. The event lasts all day, with rifle being shot in the morning and pistol in the afternoon. Unfortunately, two of the best shooters in the County were unable to attend on the day (because of a late change in date), but it meant a great opportunity for a couple of very young shooters to experience a top shooting competition. Four of the team were under twelve at the time! Despite this, the team came third in the competition and won bronze medals! Hampshire won with 1842 from a possible 2000, Cheshire were five points away in second place with 1837 and GLSW scored 1641.

Many Groups in the County offer air rifle shooting to their youngsters and have been active in a number of Scout competitions and events throughout the year, notably the National Championships, held at Bisley in October and reported on in the December Focus. Many adults have been trained this year for the N.S.R.A.’s Tutor Diploma, which qualifies them to supervise Scouts – as in P.O.R. Courses run by Jean Jenkins and Peter Dobson.

Our team comprised Mike Bamsey and Christopher Kendall of 2nd Malden, Jeremy Chong and Marc Lam of 5th Morden, Peter Hall of 3rd Hampton Hill and Alex Lonsdale of 3rd Teddington (his sister Sarah travelled as reserve). Jeremy Chong was invited to join the National Scout Squad as a result of his performance. This is open to older Scouts and includes coaching and .22 shooting at Bisley and various locations nationwide. He joins Andrew Dobson of 5th Morden, who was selected in October after the National Scout Championships. For a bit of fun a Bell Target sideshow was run. Chris Kendal and Marion Lonsdale were in the final shoot-off for the Junior and Senior prizes respectively, but were just beaten. Robin Corti (ACC Activities) met the team and presented them with commemorative medals.

Forthcoming Events:

• Hampshire Scouts Rifle Club Field Target Shoot on Sunday 3 July 2005. £7 with free bacon butty. Archery, snooker and fun shoots as well. Information from Dave Evans 84 Longmoor Road, Liphook, Hampshire, GU30 7NZ wendydavee@supanet.com.
• Surrey County Scout Rifle Club Scoutshoot ‘05 on Sunday 11 September 2005. High power rifle, CO2 pistol, gallery rifle and archery. For Scouts of 14+ & adults. Details at www.dohoo.clara.net/svsrc.
• National Scout Air Rifle Championships On weekend 14-16 October 2005 at Bisley. Details at www.dohoo.clara.net/nsarc2k5.

Jean Jenkins County Air Rifle Shooting Adviser

Adult Training

Dates	Course	Location
12th June 2005	Modules 5–11 & 14	Bow Lane Scout Centre Morden
17th/18th/19th June 2005	Module 16 Nights Away	Bears Wood Camp Site, Addington
+ 1 day		to be advised time and venue
23rd June 2005	Module 15	Bow Lane Scout Centre, Morden (Thursday evening)
3rd July 2005	Modules 8–9 & 13	Bow Lane Scout Centre, Morden
25th September 2005	Modules 12 & 17	Bow Lane Scout Centre, Morden
16th October 2005	Modules 19 & 7	Bow Lane Scout Centre, Morden
5th&6th November 2005 19th&20th November 2005 26th&27th November 2005	Modules 20–24 & 26	Bow Lane Scout Centre, Morden (morning or afternoon workshops)
4th December 2005	Module 25 Management	Bow Lane Scout Centre, Morden

For details of all courses, contact:

Mrs Joan Condon, 34 Arundel Avenue, Morden, Surrey, SM4 4DX
Telephone: 020 8540 5115
E-mail: training@glswscouts.org.uk

Or see the adult training web page or contact your District Training Manager.

Good Service Awards

Bar to the Medal of Merit
Andrew Edmonds	Wimbledon and Wandle
Joan Robson	Sutton
Peter Treagust	Wimbledon and Wandle
Brian Wagner	Wimbledon and Wandle
Medal of Merit
David Batten	Royal Kingston
Alan Clifford	Wimbledon and Wandle
Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Cronk	Wimbledon and Wandle
William Cronk	Wimbledon and Wandle
Patrick Devine	Wimbledon and Wandle
Keith Filby	Wimbledon and Wandle
Andrew Haywood	Wimbledon and Wandle
Richard Mainwaring	Wimbledon and Wandle
Michele McNamara	Wimbledon and Wandle
Geoffrey Reason	Wimbledon and Wandle
Susan Russell	Royal Kingston
Muriel Treagust	Wimbledon and Wandle
Linda Vaudrey	Wimbledon and Wandle
Chief Scout’s Commendation
Andrew Elgar	Wimbledon and Wandle
Jane Ginty	Wimbledon and Wandle
Margo Martin	Royal Kingston

Friday 30 September to Sunday 2 October 2005 at Walton Firs Campsite

...how leaders can help/become involved

We will be putting together a team to run the camp, and will be looking for help in different areas. If you or your colleagues are interested, please e-mail Helen Jeffrey indicating your preferred role(s) and availability:

• Leadership team (whole weekend)
• Helping run an activity (morning, afternoon, or evening)
• Catering team (some meals will be centrally catered)
• Service crew (help Friday evening and/or Sunday afternoon in setting-up/striking the camp)
• Loan of equipment, if required

...problems/questions

Contact Helen Jeffrey at helen.jeffrey@glswscouts.org.uk

Thinking Differently about Greater London South West – A Strategy for Growth

An exciting new document has been produced in the County called Thinking Differently About Greater London South West – A Strategy for Growth.

The aim of the document is to help everyone become focused on specific issues, to raise the quality of Scouting in GLSW and make Scouting available to more young people. These issues are being driven by Headquarters Strategic Vision 2012, which includes the following statements:

The Scout Association is:

• A growing Movement – balanced across gender, age and ethnicity
• A youth Movement – led by young leaders who are supported by older volunteers and by a field-based professional support team
• A focused Movement – with fewer but larger Groups and with fewer but more focused campsites
• A sound Movement – with a strong financial and management base, both locally and nationally
• A relevant Movement – with a strong public perception socially, politically and commercially
• A diverse Movement – reflecting and celebrating the diverse nature of our community

So what is this document all about? Firstly, it celebrates what we are doing well in GLSW. Secondly, it highlights a number of perceived challenges, which we should focus on between now and 2007. It is an accumulation of about nine months work, involving District Commissioners and members of the County Support Team, as well as consulting with many adults and Scout Network members across the County.

The County Commissioner, together with the District Commissioners and County Executive Committee, has agreed the following Strategic Objectives to help the County achieve its goals:

• We will have an effective recruitment and retention policy for both young people and adults
• We will have fewer, but larger, well-managed Scout Groups providing good quality Scouting where it is required
• We will ensure there is a vibrant and well managed 6 to 25 Year Programme
• We will ensure Scouting in GLSW is open to all.
• We will ensure Adult Training is delivered in a convenient and appropriate format for all adults
• We will ensure buildings, financial balances and other assets are effectively used to sustain Scouting through to 2012 and beyond
• We will ensure Scouting in GLSW is perceived by the public as a relevant pastime for adults and young people and is recognised as part of a corporate organisation
• We will have effective, well-structured Executive Committees to support Scouting in the County
• We will ensure internal communication is effective and understood by all in the County

Each of these Strategic Objectives is supported by a number of Key Action Points, which will be led and monitored by members of the County Support Team or District Commissioners. In most instances, there are only five or six action points and to be honest, some of them we have already started.

To find out more about the County Strategy Document, please speak to me or another member of the County Support Team or your District Team. A copy of the document is being made available to every Group Scout Leader and will also be made available on the County web site very soon [see Thinking Differently about Greater London South West].

Nigel Steward Deputy County Commissioner

The Easter hikes in the Yorkshire Dales were successfully completed – five members qualified and a further four can go forward to the next assessment in August. The weather was very kind with dry conditions and good visibility, best remembered by some fantastic views from the summit of Ingleborough on the final day.

Unfortunately, the Network Conference on 9 April was poorly supported, and the Committee welcomes constructive criticism of the arrangements – date, venue, timing, and content. St George’s Day Parades were reasonably well attended and the County Standard was paraded at Royal Kingston and Croydon this year.

The last weekend in April (30-31 April) was ‘busy, busy’. The almost exclusive GLSW rugby team played in the qualifying rounds of the Middlesex Sevens, but lost all three matches against better drilled opposition despite two scintillating tries from Anthony Sharp (Richmond) and another from Gareth Jones (Croydon). Nevertheless, we enjoyed our day and have been invited back next year. Here are the results of our matches in Pool C of the Vase Competition at Grasshoppers RFC:

Greater London Scout Network	7	Eastbourne Stags	36
Greater London Scout Network	7	Sheppey	38
Greater London Scout Network	7	London French	38

The squad was Ed Wilson (Captain), John Atkins (GLSE), Gareth Jones, Ian Smalley, Tom Ridley, Anthony Sharp, Luke Wilkinson, Sean Weston, Stuart Dean, James Gordon, Helen Dean (Physio), Ian Wray (Touch Judge), Chris Dean (Manager). Our thanks to all those who came along and supported the team.

Elsewhere, other Network members were involved in the ‘new’ Sutton District inaugural Camp held at Blackland Farm, East Grinstead. Network members also to part in the Network Ashdown Forest Challenge, hotly contested by twelve teams of Explorer Scouts and older Scouts. This was an excellent ‘linking’ activity for all three sections, and something we could repeat for the other Districts in future.

The Local SNets have a regular programme of activities in which all are free to participate, and details are posted on the County web site. These are complemented by County-organised events such as the Barn Dance on June 10, the Isle of Wight Challenge on June 18/19 and the MS Challenge in Snowdonia on 9/10 July. We also have the privilege of being asked to steward a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on 14 July, and there are still a few places to fill.

Towards the end of the Summer we shall be off to Gilwell Park for the annual Gilwell Reunion, much enjoyed by the GLSW Scout Network last year, and a great opportunity to meet old friends and make new ones. The dates are September 2-4, and we are now taking bookings.

YINS Chris Dean County Scout Network Commissioner

The season may be Spring, but it is also the season for Annual General Meetings – so it must be a good time to report that Richmond-upon-Thames Scout Fellowship, like many fellowships, has a high average age and includes many pensioners. Nevertheless, members have given valuable active support to their District on 2004/05. The list includes St. Georges Day Service, Cub Swimming Gala, Youth Quiz and Scout Cooking Competition.

Throughout last year, members held regular meetings and social activities. An outing to Brownsea Island in June saw them shown around by Brian Beek, Chairman of Brownsea Island Scout Fellowship. Circulation of the island on the return boat trip took members to Mountfitchet Castle and it’s toy museum. Of the meetings where a speaker was on the agenda, ‘Saddle Sore in Montana’ (described as hilarious) makes the mind boggle. Other subjects included, ‘Fungi’ and ‘London’s Buildings’, whilst a quiz, barbeque, Sherlock Holmes evening and a very good Christmas dinner were all part of the programme.

This just goes to show that whatever some people believe, Scout Fellowship in the County is active and alive. The idea that age restricts the programme is not an issue. Members tend to be kept young at heart by their association with youngsters in Scouting. Many would regard themselves as re-cycled teenagers. Are they therefore younger in spirit than Scout Network? Perhaps it’s time for some over 18 year old Network members to join them and find out!

Les Ling Croydon Scout Fellowship

Focus on GLSW

Items for the October issue should be submitted by 11 September 2005 to the editor: focus@glswscouts.org.uk

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