Soham Grammarians - Scouting School Year 1956-57

Soham Grammarian Autumn 1956

 


Soham Grammarian New Year 1957

SCOUT NOTES TERM NOTES

Freed by authority from the strictures of the Morse Code the Troop this year has shortened its boundaries and benefited from the concentration on fewer targets. Indoors there have been First Aid practices, Highway Code tests and mapping exercises; outdoors lights have flashed and feet have pounded the gravel as the Gestapo agents trailed Underground scouts. The year began with a crackle in September provided by a large fire in the Shrubbery on which apples were roasted to a cinder and potatoes stubbornly refused to cook.

Travelling difficulties have compelled us to discourage Littleport boys from joining the Troop; nevertheless a welcome band of seven new entrants is now fully engaged on Tenderfoot Tests.

SUMMER CAMP 1956

Scouts, under the SM and AC encamped from July 26th until August 8th by the River Noe at Edale in Derbyshire. Barely had the Scouts time to pitch the tents and admire the beauty of the site - a lea flanked by a gently murmuring river and a long grassy slope surrounded by the frowning Derbyshire hills - before the heavens flooded down upon them, winds lashing through the valleys plucked vainly but vehemently at all slack ropes and the river boiled in fury at the very tent doors.

In spite of almost continuous bad weather which caused less hardy scouts to abandon their camps, most of the surrounding peaks were scaled; the Blue John mines were visited; an expedition saw the famous Hope Sheep Dog trials and a band of venturers penetrated the Ladybower Dams.

All too soon came the final day when in a brief respite from wind and rain the tents were struck and the troop caught-missed-caught the train home.

A French boy, Jacques Cesbron, had camped with us as our guest, and by way of novelty and interest this year we publish below, instead of the usual camp log, extracts from his very French account of the camp.

26th July:
Arrivés à Sheffield, en car nous traversons la ville industrieuse, puis les magnifiques moores. Une heure après, nous arrivons près d'une jolie rivière. Les plus forts d'entre nous vont chercher les tentes à la petite gare "d'Edale." C'est une merveilleuse petite gare avec un employé au large sourire. La salle d'attente avec son poêle (stove) semble être pleine de cowboys. Son train poussiéreux (dusty) qui passe toutes les trois heures et qui repart, haletant, fatigué de son travail, ressemble à un film de Western. Après un rapide coup d'oeil l'employé nous conduit pres d'un wagon poussiérieux, centenaire (100 years old), contenant les tentes. Après les avoir chargées sur un chariot, un tracteur conduit par une main experte nous les emmène près de notre merveilleuse petite rivière, ou déja tout le monde joue. Nous plantons donc ces énormes tentes contenant seize personnes, puis nous jouons. Non loin de ma tente je construis un petit barrage, mais tous mes copains (pals) m'aident, et maintenant un autre "Génissiat" (famous French dam) est construit.

27th July:
Première nuit, premier petit déjeuner, premier baignade, et tout ceci se passe dans la joie. L'après-midi, nous visitons un petit village qui est dominé par une boutique! L'église est entourée du cimetière. Macabre traversée! A cinq heures nous prenons notre thé. Puis avec Sir Walter Raleigh (Mr Riley) et sa pipe nous escaladons (climb) les collines. Une vue magnifique s'offre a nos yeux sur le Derbyshire. Dure montée, mais comme amusante est la descente. Le soir, après avoir consolidé les tentes sur l'ordre de Monsieur Riley, un orage éclate (a storm breaks out).

28th July:
Au petit matin, nous démolissons notre barrage. Il avait avalé (swallowed) une bonne partie du terrain. L'après-midi nous visitons des cavernes. La bougie (candle) à la main, nous descendons un infinissable escalier. Ah, enfin, une immense voûte (vault) s'offre à nos yeux, où nous cherchons ces fameuses pierres de "blue john." A la sortie chacun était étonné de ne pas avoir rencontre son ancêtre (ancestor) se promenant en peaux de bête à travers les cavernes. La seconde caverne ressemble aux égouts (sewers) de Paris. Tout au bout de ce tunnel que nous traversons en bateau est un immense torrent. La descente de cette eau qui se fracasse sur les rochers est impressionante. Un idiot pousse un cri imitant quelqu'un tombant, aussitôt le guide sur ces innocents que nous sommes projecte sa torche et s'arrête sur moi. Combien cette lumière semble dire "Imbécile!"

31st July:
Il pleut toujours! "Il pleut, il pleut, bergère!"
Vers quatre heures environ nous dévalisons (plunder) la boutique du village d'Edale, en achetant vingt bouteilles. Le pauvre homme n'en revient pas! (will never recover from it!) A cinq heures nous escaladons, le temps est assez beau. C'est magnifique, ce paysage: en bas une vallée; au loin des collines, et dans cette vallée un petit train serpente; des maisons aux toits saignants (blood-red); un petit barrage, quelques animaux. Le soleil eclaire le petit village comme un projecteur dans un théâtre éclaire la scene. C'est un paysage de théâtre, de paix, de beauté, de solitude, troublé seulement par le bêlement des moutons.

6th August:
Ce matin, nous revetons (put on) nos plus beaux habits et nous allons à la ville de Hope voir des chiens bergers et du jumping. Je suis émerveillé de l'adresse des chiens envers ces stupides moutons. Le jumping est vraiment intéressant. Les jeunes cavalières vivent tout pour leurs chevaux. C'est une vraie admiration.

7th August :
Hélas, la rentrée approche. Nous faisons avec mélancolie les preparatifs pour le lendemain.

Adieu donc vallée si acceuillante (welcoming). Adieu petit village d'Edale aux milles sourires. Adieu petit train sifflant entre deux collines. Et, le lendemain, c'est l'adieu définitif avec mes camarades. Nous nous reverrons peut être jamais, nos routes seront différentes; mais quel magnifique souvenir je garde de mes camarades Anglais.

OPERATION LADYBOWYER

Three human shapes were seen to enter the store tent. Inside the tent a scrutiny of all the stores was progressing when a large shape blocked the doorway. The three intruders turned slowly to face the unforeseen visitor. But all was well and within two minutes permission had been granted to the three P/L's to make their own expedition and take the necessary supplies.

Amid cries of "Lucky things!", "Swizz!" and other grammatical monstrosities, we set off for the small village station where we bought half-tickets to Bamford despite the old station-master's muttered protest "There's some big 'uns amongst yer."

We map-read our way on foot from Bamford and at last we came upon our objective. The sunlight glistened upon the great sheet of water held back by the huge wall of the Ladybower Dam as a reservoir for Sheffield's water supply. The dam had been made in the junction of two rivers and two villages had been submerged in the process, but the majestic hillsides scattered with sheep had turned the huge man-made structure into a spectacle of impressive beauty.

We followed the course of the river upwards and found that we had to cross a wooded hill without compass. The lower grassy slopes seemed child's play until a dark shape some way to our left was successively identified as a cow, a bullock and finally - a bull. We dropped into a waterless ditch on our right, crossed our fingers and made our way warily uphill into the forest. On the other side we found a way down along a dry stream-bed. We tramped the four miles back to base at a brisk pace just before the now-threatening rain-clouds fulfilled their promise.

P/L CAB, IV L


Soham Grammarian Summer 1957

SCOUT NOTES

As this magazine approaches publication, the editorial staff increase their efforts to be ready in time. In a similar manner, the scouts are now fervently and feverishly checking their gear and equipment. Loud and anguished cries of "Where's that little white tent?", "Who counted the pegs last?", "Anyone see a tent-pole floating around?" can be heard nearly every Friday afternoon, interrupting Mr Joiner's play rehearsals.

The object of all these preparations is to be ready for the Summer Camp at Beddgelert (pronounced Beth-gelert) in Caernarvonshire. This site is an old favourite of ours, having been visited twice before by at least one member, and once by many of the others. There is only one drawback to this site: the rugged grandeur and beauty of the countryside also extends to the tent sites, and a few odd rocks find themselves under our groundsheets and bedding.

The earlier part of the term was spent in a great deal of badge-work. By the time we get to camp, we hope to have at least five first class scouts among our members, as well as several more second class scouts. Anyone who would like to join the troop has only to ask Mr Riley. He will be only too pleased to admit the applicant straight away.

P/L CTG


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last updated 21 Nov 2007