Scouts
This year has shown a pleasing increase in numbers due to a good influx of new members, mainly from the first year. We have continued with six patrols, new Patrol Leaders being R Hill, P Barker, E Reed, G Crow, M Phillips (now replaced by S Oakey) and J King. These, together with K Neal, S Curtis, J Glover and J Yeo, who act as Senior Patrol Leaders, have given the troop a good team of leaders.
Apart from our normal range of activities, various inter-patrol competitions have been staged, perhaps the most important of which was the Indoor Football Competition won by the Falcons. By the time these notes are read the inter-patrol camping competition will have been held (this trophy is currently held by the Eagles and Falcons jointly). The Peewit patrol will also have represented the troop at the County Camp.
One new award that was instituted was the 'Scout of the Term' award, which has so far been won by S McCormack and J King.
Venture Scouts
In the last year the Venture Scouts have become more closely integrated with other Youth organisations. The year's programme began with map-work and orienteering exercises which were then put into practice in an investigation of the courses and state of repair of old footpaths in the Soham/Wicken area. It continued with the unit's first five-a-side football fixture at home to Newmarket Venture Scouts, which proved the necessity for further practice. Further matches followed against Littleport Youth Club and Newmarket again.
In the Spring Term we found ourselves involved in training for the imminent battle of the billy cans with Ranger Guides. The competition was judged by Mr and Mrs Beeby of the Shade School, and the result went in our favour, purely on a matter of taste. For five weeks, again thanks to Mr Beeby, we brushed up our swimming; and, following on from Conservation Year, did some useful clearing work on the Devil's Dyke. This was followed by a visit to Wicken Fen, accompanied by the Rangers. Future events include canoeing at Mepal and on the School Swimming Pool and night hikes in preparation for the forthcoming fortnight's camp in Pembrokeshire.
DG Briston, JR Norman
Venture Scouts Camp
The beginning of last year's Venture Scouts camp was, like the previous year's, rather interesting. We travelled up to Aviemore in three groups, John Fellows and Michael Brogan in company with large quantities of radio 'ham' equipment, eight of us in the Minibus with Mr Bartholomew and the rest by train. The Minibus journey was uneventful except that we were nearly entrapped in a large cage which fell off the back of a lorry! The group in the train met the group of girls who were in the hostel with us for the holiday period, which was enjoyable.
On arriving at Aviemore on the second day of travel we set up tent in a campsite below the hostel in which the Scouts were going to stay. Of course it was raining and when the Scouts arrived by train the next morning it was still raining and, even after many implorings not to touch the tent roof, the tents had to be abandoned because of gushing leaks. That night, and the rest of the time, we Venture Scouts slept on the hostel floor between the Scout bunks.
We enjoyed making the acquaintances of the girls and soon the 'friendliness' was so great that we were ordered 'not to fraternise'. The rest of the holiday was without incident. We climbed, walked and explored the area surrounding, succeeding in climbing from the hostel to the top of Cairngorm, a climb of about 2,800 feet taking us over seven miles of beautiful scenery (when it could be seen through the mist).
Probably Cambridgeshire's shoe repairers did a good trade afterward, and it was certainly worth while for learning geography, 'orthothology' and general sightseeing - and fun. Mr Bartholomew and Mr Hollamby must be thanked for their helpfulness and tolerance during the ten days.
AC Coxhead
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last updated 21 Nov 2007