Soham Grammarian Autumn 1947
THE SCOUT CAMP
During the summer holidays, the Troop spent a fortnight's camp near Edale, in Derbyshire. For most of us, it was our first camp, and we enjoyed it immensely. However, much hard work was necessary, both before and during the camp.
We left Ely on Thursday, 26th July, two days before the end of term, with suitable comments on the fate of those left behind! After a long journey, during which the P/L's 's mastered the intricacies of luggage-lifts (one pulls "oop to goo dahn, an' dahn to goo oop!"), we arrived at Edale Station. There followed a perilous journey up a steep, rocky cart track, at the side of a stream, or clough, to the camp site.
Edale is a tiny village situated in the middle of the Vale of Edale, one side of which is formed by the Peak Plateau. On the south side of the valley are Rush-Up Edge, Main Tor, Back Tor, and Lose Hill. We were to camp on the slopes of Main Tor, about half-a-mile above the village, on rough ground near the clough. Unfortunately, the wild life of the district, mostly rabbits, said to be once common, had almost disappeared owing to the severity of the past winter, and we saw little in that line during our stay. Throughout the camp, with the exception of three days, either sunshine and mixed cloud and sunshine were the rule. Unfortunately, when it rained, it did rain!
The first day was taken up by settling in, and all the usual first-day-at-camp duties. It was decided to make a trip up the valley to the Pennine watershed on the next day. However, Saturday was cloudy and misty, and the plan had to be postponed until conditions were clear enough. A swimming-hole was formed by constructing a small dam across the little River Noe, in the valley, and. needless to say, many availed themselves of this. In the evening a wide game was played, in which several fierce-looking rams joined, rather to the dismay of one of the P/Ls.
Sunday morning dawned bright and clear, and after attending church in the morning, we set out for the valley-head. The great heat was found exhausting by some, but everyone kept up manfully until we reached Jacob's Ladder. This a steep, rocky path, rising almost sheer for about two hundred feet. The sight of this was almost too much for some, but most managed to struggle up. A certain lazy gentleman is reported to have "conked out, changed gear, and chugged up in bottom!". The view at the top of the valley was certainly well worth while, in spite of the heat haze, and the fact that only three of the five counties to he seen on a clear day could be seen. Edale Cross, a small stone cross about three feet high, is situated right on the middle of the watershed. A halt for much-needed refreshment was made on the way back.
Monday was a "lazy day," after the previous day's strenuous climb. Many of us went swimming; and in the evening a wood expedition over Rush-Up Edge took place.
On Tuesday morning the Troop walked up over Main Nick to the next valley, to see the Blue John Caverns. These are caves, reaching three hundred and fifty feet below the earth, formed by water flowing at a great rate. The most remarkable feature of these caves is that, although formed by water, there is only one opening. This is a mystery so far unexplained. The caves are named after the Blue John stone, which is found in the upper levels, and which has not been discovered in any other part of this country. This visit was extremely interesting, as very few of us had seen large caves before. We returned to a late dinner, and little else was done that day.
On Wednesday afternoon the Troop again crossed Main Nick into the Hope valley, and visited Castleton, an historic little town situated underneath the castle Scott made famous in his "Peveril of the Peak." Afterwards, we went through the Speedwell Cavern. This consists of a long, narrow underground tunnel, half-full of water, through which guides propel boats by pushing on the roof. This opens out into an extremely large, dark cavern known as the "Bottomless Pit," of which neither the roof nor the bottom can be seen. We made our way home from the cavern via the Winnats Pass, a deep, rocky gorge, rather like a minor edition of the Cheddar Gorge. The road running through it has a gradient of one in five. Its rugged grandeur provides a thrilling sight.
Thursday was another lazy day, and in the afternoon a match took place between the cricket enthusiasts of the Troop, and the 17th Soke of Peterborough Troop encamped below us. We won fairly comfortably, passing their total with several wickets in hand. On Friday afternoon, after a morning's badge and test work, most of the Troop went for a walk along the ridge beyond Mam Tor, over Back Tor, to Lose Hill. There is a sup erb all-round panorama from here, at which we gazed for some time. A good swim, as after many trips, finished off the day well.
On Saturday, the ASM took a large party into Sheffield to see Yorkshire play Lancashire in the County Cricket Championship. We arrived just as play was beginning. Yorkshire opened, with Hutton and Keighley, and were still in when rain stopped play, soon after the tea interval, having scored 259 for seven wickets, with Brian Sellers, the captain, and JV Brennan, the amateur wicket-keeper, batting. Hutton was distinctly subdued, and, with the exception of one or two shots, played a very quiet innings before being caught at twenty-six. Gerald Smithson, the Bevin Boy, was the real man of the day. He knocked up ninety-eight before being caught, including seventeen off one over! We returned to camp, tired but well pleased with a good day's first-class cricket.
On Sunday, we attended church again in the morning. The afternoon was taken up by swimming, badge-work, and games. Another wood expedition took place over Rush-Up Edge in the evening. One member of the Troop tried coming down head-first and found the process rather wearing!
On Monday, we awoke to find it raining hard, and it was feared that the proposed trip to Hope, to see the sheep-dog trials being held there, would have to be cancelled. However, the weather cleared up in the afternoon, and we greatly enjoyed the trials, and the gymkhana held in tile same grounds. The sheep-dogs were unanimously decided to be better than jumping events, especially the "double dog" event in which the owner, Ashton Priestley, controlled both dogs simultaneously by merely whistling. Perhaps it should not be mentioned that some members of the Troop seized the occasion to try to make themselves sick on ice cream!
Little was done on Tuesday, apart from packing. The morning was taken up with badge-work and general duties. In the afternoon, everyone had a last swim. We were packing until late an the evening, and only the essentials for the next morning were left.
On Wednesday, after an early breakfast, packing went on apace, and we were ready long before the farm cart arrived to take us to the station. We said good-bye to Edale somewhat sadly, and after an hour's journey arrived in Sheffield. We arrived at Ely, tired but happy, at half-past seven.
In spite of, or maybe even because of, its being our first camp, it was unanimously agreed to have been a definite success, and everyone is looking forward to further camps next year, both in the Easter and the Summer holidays.
P/L JC EDWARDS
Peter Roe 46 recalls: For the Edale 1947 camp we went by train from Ely to Sheffield where we changed trains for Edale. From the campsite I remember walking over the hill at the rear of the photo to the Bluejohn mines at Castleton and also to the sheepdog trials at Hope. I also remember playing cricket at 10pm as we were on Double Summer Time.
Edale 1947: On slopes of Mam Tor, above farm: source
Peter Roe 46
Edale 1947: On the way to climb Jacob's Ladder
1 ..... Peter Roe - J Malcom Watson - 4 - 5 - J Jordan - 7
source Peter Roe 46
Edale 1947: On the way to Jacob's Ladder: source Peter
Roe 46
Edale 1947: On the way to Jacob's Ladder, near Barber Booth:
Tall one in the middle is John Sargent; to the right of him,
man sitting is Mr Jack Symonns, next to scout with hat.
Scout at front far right is Frank Ibbott.
source Peter Roe 46
Edale 1947: On the way to Jacob's Ladder, near Barber Booth
LH scout on Bridge- John Fuller
LH in front of bridge- John Sargent - Frank Ibbot - Mr Riley-
4 - Peter Roe - 6 - John Roe - Roy Leggett - Mr Jack Symonns
source Peter Roe 46
Soham Grammarian Spring 1948
SCOUT NEWS
Owing to the fact that our members come from such a wide area and to the fact that the late 'bus on Fridays is even later now, many members are unable to stay to meetings during the winter months. As a result attendance has been restricted.
Great progress has, however, been made by those able to attend regularly, and five more Second Class badges have been gained this term. Record cards have at last arrived and been issued.
We have heard with regret that our ASM will be leaving us at the end of this term. His work with the First Aid and Signalling classes has been invaluable and we shall miss his help.
There has been a considerable re-organisation of the Troop recently. A Senior Scout Patrol is to be started next term, leaving vacancies for new PL's. The Senior Patrol will take over some of the duties of the ASM and is viewing the prospect with some trepidation.
We have yielded to the clamour of the new boys who have been waiting for admission since last September, and we have now admitted eighteen of them. Eight of them will form the new Eagle patrol under P/L HF Ibbott.
We are now fifty-one in number and start the new term on a note of optimism with the hope of having several First Class Scouts and many more Second Class before the Summer Camp.
P/L JC. EDWARDS
Soham Grammarian Summer 1948
SCOUT NOTES
The Troop membership has now risen to over fifty, and although the lighter nights have arrived, not all the members attend as regularly as they should. The new recruits have passed their tenderfoot, and some are hard at work upon their second class; others, however, are not quite so enthusiastic. Up to the time of writing we now have five First-Class Scouts.
Things really have got going this term, and as the results show, a high standard has been reached. During the term several First-Class hikes have been done and a week's camp during the Whitsun holidays was spent by the Woodpeckers at Witcham Gravel. Several boys from the troop, together with other scouts from other troops, acted as messengers at the County Show.
Arrangements are being made for the summer camp, which will be held this year at East Runton, Cromer. Two more bell tents and a large supply of camping equipment have been acquired. The old tents are being re-proofed by each patrol ready for camp, and we are all looking forward to the camp and holidays.
FI
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last updated 23 Nov 2007