Soham Grammarian Autumn 1945
SCOUT NOTES
The annual camp was spent this year at Houghton, near St Ives, in conjunction with the Sutton Scouts. The site was very good, as Houghton is a pretty little village situated round a central green, with a large mill, which is now a Youth Hostel.
We arrived on a Saturday and pitched our tents.That night the Scout-Master of Hemingford Abbots was in charge, but with the excitement of arrival, it was late before we got to sleep.
On Sunday the patrol on duty was up for kitchen duty at 7 am and turned out a very good meal. The party, which was going to church, arrived too late, and so we held a service of our own that evening.
Swimming was the main activity on Monday, and on Tuesday the camp paraded for inspection by the County Commissioner of Cambridge, who had two rover scouts with him.
On Wednesday we foraged for wood, and lit a fire, which even the rain did not put out. That evening we had a short firework display, provided by the Sutton Troop.
Thursday was visiting day, and many of the Scouts' parents came, and next day we had many games and more fireworks.
Saturday was the last day, and we were very busy packing-up, but time was still found for tests to be passed. The camp finished at 5 o'clock, a very enjoyable time being had by all.
P/L P BOBBY, IIIA
Soham Grammarian Spring 1946
SCOUT RALLY
On 23rd March, the School Scout Troop attended the Rally held at Cambridge, for the Cambridge and Suffolk Cubs, Scouts and Scouters
After the Chief Scout, Lord Rowallan, who was greeted by tremendous roars of applause, had taken his seat, the Rally opened with displays given by various packs and troops. Some of these displays were amusing and included such items as the "Waxworks," whilst the others were mainly connected with Scouting and included, "The Uses of a Scout Staff," "A First Aid Incident" and "Tumbling." The last display, which came under neither of these headings, was "A First Class Journey." Although one Scout, Trooper Jack, demonstrated how to make a First Class Journey, the other "Sloppy Danny," showing how not to make it, soon had everyone in fits of laughter.
When the displays had finished the Chief Scout presented Medals of Merit to Group Scout Master Ayres and Group Scout Master Parr, and then gave us a talk on the Worldwide Scout Movement in which he said we were all brothers. Following on this address The Cambridge District Organiser spoke, and then the meeting broke up to reassemble at the Drill Hall, after tea for the Camp-Fire.
At the camp-fire we enjoyed community singing, under Mr Ramsbottom, the Scoutmaster of the Perse School Troop, and some more sketches. One of these was Big Bill's Cabin, which was "Mighty Fine."
Lord Rowallan ended the evening with prayers, and the day as a whole, both of which were thoroughly enjoyed by all.
RF STITTLE, Troop Leader
SCOUT NOTES
The first announcement of this term is that we have welcomed back Mr Riley our pre-war Scoutmaster, and he has already taken charge of the "fort," so nobly "held" during his absence.
We have seen a vast increase in the number of our members this term, as a result of which we now have four Patrols, consisting each of 6 Scouts and the Patrol Leader.
Owing to the completion of the new buildings almost all the furniture has been removed from the Scout Room, and we are again able to hold our meetings there. As regards tests, everyone now has his tenderfoot badge, and is now going in for either first-aid with Mr Symmons, or signalling with Mr Riley.
On Saturday, 23rd March, the Troop attended the Scout Rally at Cambridge, in the Guildhall, but only two of us managed to remain behind to attend the Camp-Fire.
During the term much progress has been made at Scouts, and we hope it will continue.
RF STITTLE, Troop Leader
Soham Grammarian Summer 1946
SCOUT NOTES
All patrols are now complete, and we cannot take more members until next term, when we hope to start some new patrols. At present we have four, each consisting of five scouts and a Patrol Leader. Everyone has passed his first-aid test and is undergoing training in observation with Mr Riley.
Every patrol is trying to get its own signalling equipment, so that it can practise and send messages to one another. One boy in each patrol is to learn semaphore, which will be useful for sending messages to other patrols in the absence of means of sending morse.
There has been more emphasis on separate patrol activities, and the P/Ls have shown more initiative in running their own affairs, especially the P/L of the Peacocks.
We had planned to spend our Annual Camp in Chippenham Park, but it has been cancelled owing to the imminence of bread rationing. Instead we hope to have patrol camps during the holiday week-ends.
We all hope that we can have a full-scale troop camp next year.
JL PETRIE, IVA
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last updated 23 Nov 2007