Soham Grammarian Autumn 1939
SCOUT LOG
The annual Summer Camp of the School Scout Troop was held this year from Saturday, July 29th, until Saturday, August 12th, at Upper Booth, near Edale, in the Derbyshire Peak District, by kind permission of Mrs. E Robinson.
The party consisted of twenty-eight Scouts, under the direction of the Scoutmaster (Mr Riley) and the Assistant-Scoutmaster (Mr Lait). The Camp Site was a "rigg" or flat strip of land some twenty or thirty feet above the Crowden Brook, one of the many small but tempestuous streams that carry the waters of the Peak tableland to the Vale of Edale, thereby feeding the River Derwent. On this "rigg"- some two hundred yards long and perhaps fifteen yards wide at its widest point - we were able to pitch quite a sheltered camp, with a high stone wall to windward to act as a wind-break.
As in the case of last year's expedition to Robin Hood's Bay, it was found possible for a small party to travel by road to the Camp, the ASM's trusty "Morris" once more proving itself a most valuable asset, as will be seen from the ensuing log. In addition the great kindness of Mr RW Fyson (one of whose sons was camping with the troop) in lending a small luggage trailer for the period of the Camp, made it possible to transport from Soham a large quantity of that most valuable of all camp gear - provisions.
Saturday, July 29th.
The main party left Soham at 8.15 am and Ely at 9.35 am travelling by way of Lincoln to Sheffield. Here a change was necessary, the journey being completed by LMSR and Edale Station reached in the neighbourhood of 3 pm The ASM's party, which had left Soham at 8.30 am and gone by way of Stamford, Nottingham and Matlock, had already reached the camp site, and the ASM had been able to unload both car and trailer, returning to meet the main party on their arrival at Edale station. Here both vehicles were loaded to capacity with kit bags, the main party covering the remaining two miles to the site on foot.The weather looked somewhat threatening, so that tents were hurriedly rushed up. Everyone took cover and during an interval in the rain, tea-cum-supper was prepared. Then a cloudburst almost flooded the whole camp and we watched the rapid transformation of Crowden Brook from a rippling stream to a raging torrent. Several juniors spent the night in a near-by barn, whilst the tougher members of the troop "roughed it" in the tents. Trenches, which had been dug round the tents, helped to drain away some of the surface water, but the rain continued all night.
Sunday, July 30th.
After rain and mist early, the day was fine and warm until evening. Breakfast was served in the tents, but afterwards the mountain mist cleared and we were able to take stock of our surroundings. The Camp stood some nine hundred feet above sea level and was dominated by lofty grass-covered slopes, rising to the twothousand-feet block of the Peak itself in the North-West.
We took advantage of the fine weather to consolidate our position on the plateau above the Crowden Brook. A kitchen was built and the tents were made ship-shape.
During the afternoon, the ASM and his Honourable Engineering Company constructed a massive dam to replace one that had been carried bodily away by the cloudburst.
A short Service was held in the evening on the Camp Site, for the troop had been unable to visit Edale Church.Monday, July 31st.
Showers came early in the morning and continued throughout the day, with fine intervals and occasional bursts of heavy rain. Most of the day was spent in the tents, and meals were served with some difficulty. Towards eight o'clock in the evening, another cloudburst damaged the new dam, one tent being again flooded. Several of the Seniors practised axemanship on a fallen oak tree in the valley, the wood proving very tough and hard.Tuesday, August 1st.
Breakfast was again served indoors owing to the misty rain, but later the weather cleared and the morning was occupied with outdoor activities.
In the afternoon, all went bathing in the pool which had been made by damming the Brook. In the evening, Leonard and Turner explored the hill slopes with several others. They returned with a rabbit, which they had managed to catch in the bracken.
Tea was rather late, for the grocer had been delayed, and it was cut short by a bad thunderstorm, but fortunately the worst of the rain missed us, turning Southwards over Rushup Edge.To be continued.
[War against Germany was declared on September 3rd, 1939.]
SCOUT NEWS
Despite the black-out and travelling difficulties, we have continued to hold our meetings on Friday evenings this term. At the beginning of the term the Seniors felled a tree in the orchard, and pulled another one down near the Scout room.Several Seniors have passed their 1st Class axemanship tests by means of these trees. One meeting was spent cooking sausages over fires that had been lit in the orchard.
Badgework has been progressing extremely well this term, and all the new members of the Troop have passed their tenderfoot tests. Many of the Seniors are doing ARP work and are eligible to wear the National Service Badge. The Troop is also collecting the waste paper in Soham.
We are sorry to have lost P/Ls Ashby and Martin; Taylor and Wright have been promoted P/Ls in their places. To make up for our loss we have new juniors in Stockley, Martin, Sykes, Woods and Whitta.
P/L H SIMPSON
Soham Grammarian Spring 1940
SCOUT LOG
(Continued)
Wednesday, August 2nd.
The morning being fine, the farmer's permission was obtained to organise a rabbit hunt over the hill slopes. The whole Troop took part, and the morning's "bag" of five rabbits was borne triumphantly back to camp.
Dinner consisted of an excellent stew prepared by Turner, which contained, among other items, the rabbit caught on the previous evening. In the afternoon, the five rabbits were cleaned and made ready for a "hunter's stew" at supper time.
Heavy rain brought the afternoon's activities to a close, lasting throughout the evening.Thursday, August 3rd.
Rising early, we were greeted by bright sunshine. Breakfast was finished in good time, being followed by flag-break, parade and kit inspection.
During the morning, the "Middle" tent was moved to a new site where flooding was less likely. A party of Seniors went to Edale to obtain paraffin and stamps, returning by the field path which saved nearly half an hour. Immediately before dinner all went bathing in the pool. Richardson swam a considerable distance after only one lesson.
Dinner was interrupted by a shower and was finished in the tents. Afterwards, almost everyone went for a long walk, climbing to Crowden Tower and passing round Grindlow Knoll. A height of 2060 feet was reached, a mere 30 feet- below the summit of the Peak itself.
The top of the massif is always wet and boggy, with pools of water in the depressions of the peaty soil which covers the plateau.
We ascended Crowden Brook, taking the middle branch where three streams join below the Tower. Some very interesting rock-scrambles were had, and the party returned between 5.30 pm and 6.0 pm a heavy shower coming on just as camp was sighted. The hungry travellers made short work of a late tea and the rain continued until far into the night.Friday, August 4th.
It rained steadily from daybreak until noon, and a proposed trip over Mam Tor to Castleton had to be postponed.
Badge work in the tents occupied the morning, and in the afternoon a few Seniors went over the hill to obtain firewood. Others of the Troop hunted rabbits in the bracken, but none were captured, for the animals were much too wary.
In the evening, "wooding" was continued. A large dead tree on top of the left bank was cut down, to fall into the stream with a mighty splash. It was cut into small pieces and brought to Camp, almost enough wood being gathered to last for the remainder of our stay.
Prayers and "lights out" brought to a close a day which was very enjoyable in spite of the morning's rain.Saturday, August 5th.
The weather was much improved, with a fresh breeze but no mist. We took breakfast out of doors and Badge work filled up the morning. Dinner was early, Wright cooking an excellent beef stew for his First Class test.
All except two of the Troop set off at two o'clock to walk to Castleton, some four miles away. After crossing Mam Nick, we reached the famous Blue John Mine. Here we saw immense caverns as much as 300 feet high, the workings going into the hillside for nearly half a mile.
Leaving the mine, we dropped into Castleton, making a few purchases at the Post Office and the Stores. Our return was by the footpath to Edale village, crossing the lower slopes of Lose Hill on the way. Tea-cum-supper was served on reaching Camp, and after prayers some of the Seniors helped a Loughborough Troop to pitch their Camp in a neighbouring field.Sunday, August 6th.
We rose at 7.30 am to find a glorious morning with brilliant sunshine. Prayers and a short Service were held at 11 am followed by a pleasant bath and a swimming lesson.
Certain lack of foresight in the preparations for dinner made it necessary to postpone that meal until two o'clock! After "rest hour," some Seniors went on to the hills in search of rabbits, discovering a number of disused snares on their way.
Tea at six o'clock included extra large slices of cake as a special treat, and afterwards games were played. The ASM experimented, with the quartermaster and a few others, in the baking of "twists" and pastry. Quite creditable results were obtained, much to the enjoyment of the cooks, the ASM's marmalade tart being served up as an example of what can be done with a biscuit tin for an oven and an open fire to heat it.
Prayers at 9 pm and " lights out " at 9.30 pm brought to a close a day which had given much-needed opportunities for drying out both tents and gear.Monday, August 7th.
All except the Senior Tent (!) rose early to find the sun shining brightly. After breakfast, parade and tent inspection preceded an hour's Badge work, and at noon everyone went swimming in the pool. Our "crack" axemen were not a little amused by the efforts of another Troop to fell a two-foot tree trunk with an axe "the size of a penknife." When at last it did fall, we helped them to trim it into lengths with our large axe.
A large tin of sweets sent to Palmer made a welcome addition to the stores, and were distributed after a good stew, the result of PD Smith's efforts. Another culinary item was (at breakfast) oatmeal porridge prepared by E Smith and Wright for their First Class tests.
In the afternoon most of the Troop accompanied the SM over Kinder Low to Edale Cross, coming within sight of Hayfield on the other side. Unfortunately, the attentions of a gamekeeper made it impossible to return over the Moor. The ASM took some of the less active members by car round the Peak. The route was Ashopton, the Snake Pass, Glossop, Chapel en le Frith, Main Tor, returning via Hope and Edale.
In the evening another rabbit hunt was organised, six being brought home before the Troop went to a late bed.Tuesday, August 8th.
The morning was cloudy, but became fine by half-past nine. After a really early breakfast (thanks to Simpson and his lieutenants), parade and tent inspection led on to Badge work.
Dinner was over in good time, though the proposed trip to Buxton had to be postponed when rain set in. In the finer intervals, our hunters went out, but only one rabbit was obtained.
Rain continued into the evening, and after a late tea prayers were read and the Troop went early to bed, save for the Patrol Leaders, who gathered with the SM and the ASM in the Spare Tent for singing (?) and yarns.Wednesday, August 9th.
After a fine morning the sky became overcast at noon, and during the afternoon our accustomed rain began, lasting until late at night.
An early breakfast consisted of PD Smith's and Lancaster's "First Class" porridge. Parade and tent inspection followed at 9.30 am and at the eleven o'clock swimming lesson, Barton floated! A light meal at midday was followed by the rest hour. The SM and a few Seniors set out on foot for Buxton, the rest of the party (under the ASM's guidance) travelling by rail in time to reach Buxton at half-past four. Though an "early closing" day had been hit upon, a surprisingly large number of purchases were made.
All returned together - again in heavy rain - by the 7.20 pm train, reaching Camp tired and hungry soon after nine o'clock. It was a great joy to find that Thompson, who had volunteered to stay in Camp, had an excellent supper of stewed rabbit all piping hot - and prepared on an open fire in pouring rain: a magnificent feat.Thursday, August 10th.
The night's rain gave place to a fine morning, though there were showers to follow, Much of the morning was spent in the bathing pool.
In the evening the Troop assembled at eight o'clock in the small barn for a sing-song, the weather making an out-of-doors "camp fire" impossible. Monologues by Fyson and a song by Alps were the high-spots of the evening, and the singing and yarns continued until half-past ten, when our good friend "Tilley" lit us to bed.Friday, August 11th.
Showers and Bright Periods were the order of the day. Packing began after dinner, but two heavy showers made it impossible to take down the tents before dark. All the gear was packed up, however, by 10.30 pm when the last tent came down in the light of the headlamps of the ASM's "Morris."
Most of the dismantling was done by a party of six Seniors, the rest of the Troop joining in the Loughborough Scouts' "camp fire" across the valley.
The night was spent in the farm buildings, though the ASM preferred a bed in the car on the dismantled site of the Carnp.Saturday, August 12th.
The whole Troop rose betimes-the Seniors before six o'clock and the juniors by half-past the hour. Breakfast finished, with fresh milk to drink, everyone completed the packing of kit bags, which were taken to Edale station by car and trailer.
Everyone was ready to leave by nine o'clock, and the main party caught the 10.9 train from Edale to Sheffield. Unfortunately, many and irksome delays accounted for an arrival at Ely as late as 5.30 pm in the afternoon, when special arrangements had to be made for the transport of those Scouts living at Mildenhall and Newmarket.
The ASM's party travelled leisurely by road, taking the alternative route through Derby, Leicester and Kettering, and reaching Soham as early as a quarter to four in the afternoon.P/L DG ASHBY P/L HA SIMPSON
SCOUT NEWS
There is nothing outstanding to report this term : attendance at our Friday afternoon meetings has suffered because of the recent cold spell, and also because of the influenza epidemic. Nevertheless, we have been going ahead with badge work, including First Aid, and several scouts have won the National Service badge. (Turner, Ward, P Smith, E Smith, Taylor, Simpson).
On Saturday mornings the boys living in Soham have rendered excellent service by helping to amke the weekly collection of waste paper. The proceeds of the sale of paper are being devoted to local funds for providing comforts for Cambridgeshire men serving with HM forces.
Soham Grammarian Summer 1940
SCOUT NEWS
Scout meetings have been modified this term to a form more in keeping with current affairs and work of national importance. A great deal of time has been dedicated to the collection of waste paper in the town and the result has exceeded all expectations. In addition much time has been spent in revising the morse code and first aid work, and the use of stretchers and the ARP Stirrup Pump has been taught to all Scouts.
War-time conditions of food rationing and air raids have necessitated the abandoning of camping this term, but, in the early weeks, a "sausage feast" was held, in the old orchard, to the obvious delight of all.
The ordinary routine of meetings has not been altogether neglected, and some badges have been gained. In addition some seniors have been engaged in estimating time, and height, and weight of objects ranging from a common or garden bicycle to a pair of large gardening boots.
JOHN WR TAYLOR
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last updated 22 Nov 2007