Soham Grammarian Autumn 1949
LOG OF SUMMER CAMP, 1949 EDALE, PEAK DISTRICT
Thursday, July 28th - Forty Scouts, 2 Scouters left Ely 10.6 am and arrived Edale 5.30 pm - found all supplies waiting as ordered. Tents pitched and supper devoured.
Friday, July 29th - HAWKS on duty. Showery morning, fine afternoon. Store tent and kitchen organised, pits dug and firewood fetched. After dinner scramble to summit of Main Tor and along ridge, T /L leading. Evening, cricket, football and damming operations in the Noe stream.
Saturday, July 30th - PEACOCKS. Weather unsettled. Badgework in the morning. Visit by local DC. Afternoon, youngsters went over to Castleton and visited the Blue John Mine and the Treak Cliff tavern. The tougher types went with SM via Edale and Grindslow Knoll on to the Kinder Scout Plateau, a grim weird place in the mist and drizzle which prevailed. Evening, heavy rain.
Sunday, July 31st - OWLS. Wet morning, fine evening. Rest day. Evening walk to Winnats Pass. An exhausted homing pigeon claimed our hospitality.
Monday, Aug 1st - PEEWITS. Fine till evening. Whole troop walked to Hope to see the annual Sheep Dog trials, where some internationally famous dogs were competing. This was a good day. All voted it and the refreshments a great show. The return walk was a trial to some who had been too enthusiastic at the refreshment counters. The cargoes of "pop" and ice-cream took some carrying back over the hills into Edale. Our carrier pigeon died and we wrote to its owner to let him know.
Tuesday, Aug 2nd - EAGLES. Showery weather. Seven Seniors and SM left early and walked via Jagger's Clough, Ashop Valley, crossing at Hagg's Water Bridge and thence over the moors into Derwent Valley, visiting the Upper Derwent Dams and the western arm of the newer Ladybower Dam; thence back along the same route -12 miles of rough walking. All the party walked very well. Meanwhile the younger Scouts with Mr Webb walked via Edale and Jagger's Clough to the ridge of Win Hill, where they had a fine view of the reservoirs at Ladybower.
Wednesday, Aug 3rd -WOODPECKERS. Weather unsettled. Rest day. Rain in the morning. Wide games on Main Tor and Rushup Edge after tea. Early to bed.
Thursday, Aug 4th - HAWKS. Perfect weather. P/Ls and T/L went by train to see a cricket match at Old Trafford, Lancashire v Northants. The remainder of the troop made a frontal assault on the Kinder Scout plateau via Grindsbrook and the steep rocks of White Tor. We took many fine photographs and enjoyed the view over Edale and the camp a thousand feet below. The return route took us along the edge of the escarpment, over Grindsbrook Knoll and down to Edale. Cricket in the evening.
Friday, Aug 5th - PEACOCKS. Breakfast rather late. During the morning a freak squall tore spare tent and store tent to pieces in a matter of seconds. Peewits' tent damaged later by wind. Long walk by whole troop via Upper Booth Jacob's Ladder to Edale Cross and Kinder Low, thence back over the high moors to Lord's Seat and along Rushup Edge to Main Gap and down to camp at 5 pm. Tent repairs after tea by P/Ls.
Saturday, Aug 6th - OWLS. Fine, but windy. Badgework in the morning. Postcard received from the owner of the pigeon. Free day. About 30 scouts in small parties hiked to Castleton or the caverns. Some were late back and found most of the tea consumed. The laggard who had held them back was flung into the stream by the indignant hungry. Our first real accident of the camp occurred after tea when P/L of Peacocks slipped while crossing the dam at the washing place and cut his leg. The cut was later stitched by the doctor, who very kindly came several miles at our call. Later the patient must have become delirious and had the SM up at night to chase non-existent hedge-hogs out of the tent.
Sunday, Aug 7th - PEEWITS. Dull morning, continuous rain from noon onwards. A party of 30 attended morning service at Edale Church. Rain came on about lunch-time and all were confined to tents for the rest of the day.
Monday, Aug 8th - EAGLES. Fine and warm. A lazy day. Morning, badgework, bathing and cricket. In the afternoon a small party visited the caves at Castleton while others played cricket. Bathing after tea. Trout tickling expedition by torchlight after supper.
Tuesday, Aug 9th - WOODPECKERS. Fine and warm. A busy day. Badgework in the morning, followed by cricket. In the afternoon, all not on duty, walked over to see the reservoirs again, following the edge of the new reservoir down to the dam just above Bamford. The walk was slow, the sun being hot, the wild raspberries luscious and plentiful, and the scenery delightful. After walking down as far as the railway below Bamford we hired a 'bus to carry us back to camp. After tea we began to sort out gear ready for packing and went early to bed.
Wednesday, Aug 10th - Cloudy, but dry. P/Ls up at 6.0 am and all packing finished and site cleared up by 11.30. We said good-bye to Edale at 12.37 pm and arrived in Ely at 6.50 pm weary, but happy.
Our thanks are due to all who contributed to the organisation and smooth running of such a grand camp.
JPS, T/L
Edale 1949, view of the camp: source Peter Roe 46
Edale 1949, on Kinder Scout: standing Alan Shaw
front: D Tills? - J Butcher - Russell Lane? - Peter Graves
source Peter Roe 46
Edale 1949, on Kinder Scout: source Peter Roe 46
SCOUT NOTES
We have had a busy and profitable term. A Patrol Competition is being run, causing much healthy rivalry and stimulating a good deal of activity within the patrols. Troop work as usual in winter has been concentrated on signalling and first-aid. We have the good fortune to have Mr Waller to give a helping hand. Our new torchlight games have given us much fun and healthy exercise on dry troop evenings.
Most of the patrols are in good form and are working hard. Eagles have been a little disappointing, but the recent changes in personnel should give us a chance to get them going too. There is a shortage of reliable P/Ls this term, but the candidates for promotion seem to be shaping well.
We have started a Tent Fund to replace our heavy losses of canvas during the summer camp. The thought of earning a little money by honest work has frightened one or two of the less enthusiastic members who resigned rather than face the prospect. We can only congratulate ourselves on that. There will be three vacancies in the troop at Easter.
SM
Soham Grammarian Spring 1950
Soham Grammarian Summer 1950
SCOUT NOTES
This term has been a period of great activity. Already, at the time of writing, two first-class badges have been gained with the prospects of several more.
We have been fortunate in the collapse of three trees in the school grounds these have provided us with a grand opportunity for axemanship. We must commend the Eagle Patrol on the great keenness which they have shown in badgework. They have given a lead in most of our activities, especially when it was a question of raising money.
The highlight of the term was the visit of the District Commissioner when a varied programme was carried out separately by each patrol. During the National "Bob-a-Job" Week this year our scouts earned the grand total of £7/15/0, which was a good five pounds over our target. Congratulations must go to all concerned. Later in the term members of the troop were present at the "handing-over" ceremony in Newmarket.
Camp, this summer, will be on the banks of the River Waveney, two miles below Beccles. Many preparations have begun and it is with great pleasure that we look forward to this annual event. Thirty-five members will be present.
Owing to the formation of a Senior Scout Patrol, under the name of Robert Falcon Scott, there are two vacancies in the Hawks and three vacancies in the Peacocks for next term.
SENIOR SCOUT FP BOBBY
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last updated 13 Apr 2010