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Focus on GLSW
Scouting in Greater London South West June 2006
County Commissioner’s Message
Six months from now will be the start of Scouting’s centenary year. It will be the greatest chance ever to raise the profile of Scouting to the nation and to recruit more members and leaders with all the publicity and events going on throughout the year. Not an opportunity to be missed!
A short while ago, Jo Launchbury, Theresa Jeffrey and I attended Conference 2007 in Birmingham. We were enlightened about the intended programme for 2007, aptly called Join in the Centenary. As well as supplying a monthly programme themed around the centenary for sections, there will also be staged national events as well as joining up with already established calendar events, such as Red Nose Day for example. We will also be encouraged to celebrate our St. George’s Day activities in some more special way, along with sunrise Ceremonies on 1st August to remake our promise along with all those at the Jamboree and Scouts all over the world.
To enable all leaders to be aware of the opportunities and the events throughout 2007 there will be an information pack issued for every section, due to be launched in September, when all the final details will be in place. County will further supplement this with information evenings.
Having all these opportunities for a special year means being geared up in good time to reap the benefits fully. It also means making people aware locally what we are about and what Scouting provides for young people. It will be no good if all our Scouting is behind closed doors with the general public not able to see or encouraged to join in and become part of our organisation. It needs thinking about and being ready.
BE PREPARED!
Thoughts from the new ACC Fellowship
My name is Natalie Cook and I have recently taken over the post of ACC Fellowship. My experience within Scouting is varied, I entered Scouting as a Venture and when I went to university I became an ASL. Since then I have done some international Scouting as IST at the Jamboree in Thailand and EuroJam and the Moot in Taiwan as a participant. This has given me a huge insight into how Scouting works across the world. I am currently an ACSL and AEL in two different districts and I am really looking forward to working more with the Fellowship groups across the county.
Having just left Network I asked the question ‘What’s next?’ I was told that Fellowship was a service section and to get involved. However the reason that I have always stayed in Scouting is because of the friends I have made and the experiences gained. Although I believe that providing a service in Scouting is essential I also value the social aspects that have enabled me to grow as an individual. From what I have already seen in active Fellowship groups friends provide a service at the same time as keeping the ‘fun’ element that I feel should not be lost. I feel that this is what needs to be promoted to new members coming from Network.
Therefore there needs to be an active programme available in order to encourage Network members to continue. I see the potential of Fellowship to grow through an active programme run by people that have just left Network to support Network activities whilst having close links with existing Fellowship groups. I will be in contact with DC’s about how to implement this, but welcome any ideas or comments that you may have on this topic.
I am trying to build a picture of what is going on in Fellowship across the county so please contact me if you are part of a group to let me know about the fantastic work you are doing, that includes pictures!
Inter County Air Rifle Competition 2006
This competition, held on April 2nd at the National Indoor Shooting Centre at Aldersley, near Wolverhampton was for Teams of eight, made up of four Scouts under 14, one of whom must be under 13, plus four Scouts over 14, one of which may be over 18.
Shooting is at 10 metres, and for both air rifle and air pistol. Each person shoots five pellets at each of four targets. The scores of all targets are counted for each shooter and the scores of every member of the Team count to the final aggregate score.
The end result was that Hampshire came first with a total score of 2381 (ex 4000), GLSW was second with 2368 and Cheshire third, with 2362. A very close result and the Team came away with Silver Medals.
What was most pleasing was that collectively our Team scores were up on last year’s competition and that our pistol scores were so much improved that they were the best of all the teams taking part!
The Team comprised Mike Bamsey & Chris Kendall of 2nd Malden, Sam Lefevre, 1st Tolworth, Alex Willet, 1st Hook, Jeremy Chong & Marc Lam of Merton Park ESU, Melanie Flowers and her father, Simon of Hampton ESU The four members of the Team who took part last year all improved on their performance.
Melanie Flowers (who also shoots for the England Junior Ladies’ team) was top shot in air rifle, with 194 ex 200. Mike Bamsey, with consistent third places in both rifle and pistol won the award for best combined rifle and pistol scores in both under 14 and over14 age groups.
There was also a chance to try .22 smallbore shooting as a separate event. Sam Lefevre was best in his age group at this and was offered the opportunity to train with the National Scout Squad – not bad for someone who has only been shooting air guns since September!
It must be said that all the team worked very hard, attending special training sessions at the weekends from January onwards. Thanks are due also, to the parents who supported their youngsters during this time and to those who transported them to Wolverhampton on the day.
World Scout Jamboree
From 26th July and 8th August 2007, 40,000 Scouting participants will camp together to celebrate 100 years of Scouting. They will be attending the 21st World Scout Jamboree in Chelmsford, Essex.
72 of these participants are from Greater London South West. These have been selected from Scouts and Explorer Scouts in the boroughs of Croydon, Kingston, Merton, Richmond and Sutton, and along with the eight leaders have formed two units, Victory and Nelson.
The units have already met, and plans are afoot for practice camps, unit meetings and fund raising activities. With other Jamborees, there has been a HO-HO (home hospitality) experience for the participants in another country, either prior to or following the Jamboree. As the Jamboree is being hosted by the UK, and they are sending the largest National Contingent, it has been decided that HO-HO will not be available for the UK contingent. The leadership teams of both units have decided that the units will go abroad, and plans are being made for a trip next year – so watch this space!!!
First Aid
If you require first aid training for your Group, or Unit, then County can now offer a variety of courses to suit the needs of First Response, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award requirements etc. To find out more and discuss your requirements talk to Janet Drinkall.
Diary Dates
| 7 June | County AGM |
| 13 June | Croydon AGM |
| 14 June | Royal Kingston AGM |
| 28 June | CST – Bow Lane |
| 1 July | Cub and Beaver Fun Day – Walton Firs |
| 29 July – 12 August | County Explorer Belt Lithuania and Seychelles |
| 4 September | County Finance |
| 20 September | County Executive – Bow Lane |
| 23 – 24 October | Warwick Conference and AGM |
| 29 October | Regional Communication and Consultation Day – Gilwell |
| 6 November | County Finance |
| 19 November | County Day – Bow Lane |
| 29 November | County Executive – Bow Lane |
Opportunities
County Treasurer
Our treasurer Peter Runacres has given notice that he intends to stand down in the next eighteen months and obviously we need to find a successor. It would be helpful to find someone sooner rather than later, so that Peter’s successor has the opportunity to work alongside him for a while to ensure a smooth handover
Gang Show Producer
Andrew Hayward will be producing his last County Gang Show in 2007. It would be great if his successor was also appointed before then, to work alongside Andrew for the 2007 show, to be ready to fully take on SouWest 2008.
If you are interested in either of the above roles within the County and want to know more before making any decisions, please contact the County Commissioner for an informal chat.
Awards
| Queen’s Scout Award | |
|---|---|
| Peter De Boeck | Scott ESU |
| Jenny Riordan | Scott ESU |
| Chief Scout’s Gold Award | |
| William Gavin | 11th Mitcham |
| Daniel Johnston | 11th Mitcham |
| Michael Rogerson | 11th Mitcham |
| 100 Nights Away Woggle | |
| Nick Smith | Purley Oaks ESU |
| Oliver Russell | Purley Oaks ESU |
| Adam Coggins | Purley Oaks ESU |
| Edward Gamble | Purley Oaks ESU |
| Jack Rogerson | Mitcham ESU |
| 75 Nights Away Badge | |
| David Hewer | Purley Oaks ESU |
| Christina Smith | Purley Oaks ESU |
| Kelly Preston | Purley Oaks ESU |
| Cai Griffith | Mitcham ESU |
| Jamie Holland | Mitcham ESU |
| Rory McDermott | Mitcham ESU |
| Caroline Quinn | Mitcham ESU |
| Frances Rogerson | Mitcham ESU |
| Steve Turner | Mitcham ESU |
This has been another busy period for the Scout Network, and it only gets busier! Network members were in evidence across the County for ‘Join In The Adventure’, helping recruit adults into the Movement. Many thanks to those who braved the cold weather, and raised the profile of the Network in GLSW.
At the end of March I was privileged to attend a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award presentation at St James’s Palace, when two of our members, Kate Brown and Emma Wilson, received their Gold certificates. DofE is really taking off in the County, and we have decided to run quarterly ‘drop in’ training clinics as well as the well-established expedition weeks, the next of which is in the Brecon Beacons in late August. If you wish to participate please contact me.
The Network Barn Dance, held on the eve of St George’s Day, was well supported, much enjoyed, and even made a profit ! The following day, the County Scout Network standard was paraded at the Sutton District Parade. On April 30, while several of our Queen’s Scouts were at Windsor, the rugby sevens team was playing in the Middlesex Club Sevens Tournament at Richmond Athletic Ground. This year, we even managed to win a match in the pool rounds against Sudbury and South London Springboks, but this was not sufficient to take us through to the knockout stages of the competition.
The week after more than 20 of us attended Ed Wilson and Karen James’ wedding at Teddington Baptist Church. Congratulations to them both – may you continue Networking!
Looking ahead, we are visiting Godstone Mines on May 30, providing support for Twickeree from June 23–25, and enjoying a leisurely evening sail at Wimbledon Park Lake on June 27. The County Scout Network Conference takes place on July 2 at Walton Firs, and we have invited all Explorers in the County aged 17 and over to join us. After the formal part of the Conference we shall hear from Ryan Evans and Ed Hackett on their trekking experiences in Nepal at Easter, and presenting some Queen’s Scout and DofE Gold Awards. This year’s MS Challenge is in Snowdonia over the weekend of July 7–9, and we are carrying Alan Spiller, the former manager of the Scout Shop in Croydon, in a wheelchair around the 10km course. If you would like to sponsor the team I shall be delighted to hear from you. Better still come away and enjoy a day in the hills, the Challenge itself, and some excellent company. As usual we will be staying at Bethesda – what could be better?
YINS!
Cubs 90th and Beavers 20th Birthday Celebrations
at the County Cub and Beaver Funday 2006
at Walton Firs Scout Site
On Saturday 1st July 2006
This will be an unforgettable fun packed day of adventure, celebration and thrilling events. Come and try exciting activities and skills including bows and arrows (Beavers) archery (Cubs), the maze, camp cookery, arts and crafts, amateur radio, Scouting skills, puzzles and games, skittle alley and circus skills (Abseiling and climbing for Cubs) These are only a few of the things on offer so don’t miss out...
For more information please contact
Focus on GLSW
Items for the October issue should be submitted by 10th September 2006 to the editor: focus@glswscouts.org.uk
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