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A news letter of Great North Scouting |
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Closing date for next edition 26th April |
April 2006 Edition 1 Issue 11 |
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From Your Editor
I don`t whether you realise it, but even as your editor, I do read “Look Wide”. What a difference it is this month. A great first time report from the 25th Newcastle , and two good lengthy reports from the 82 nd group and West Gosforth Troop. Three different angles of Scouting, three different sets of youngsters names, and three wonderful adverts for what Great North Scouting is doing. We do get many interesting reports from our regular groups, and we thank them for that, but it`s great to hear of the others, especially those who haven`t contributed as yet. So what about it.Get your pen and paper out and perhaps we may yet see something that is really exciting.
Weather at the moment is more like winter, but spring is just round the corner so keep smiling.
Smile with Bill at some more peculiarities of the English language
Why can I never find ham in a hamburger?
Quicksand can work slowly, and boxing rings are square.
When a house burns up it is burnt down.
When the stars are out, they are visible, but when lights are out, they are invisible.
You fill in a form, by filling it out.
You `ship` goods by lorry, but send cargo by ship.
Many thanks to Steve Ramsden of Benton
Notes from your DC
Can I congratulate Kevin Futers, 27th Newcastle , on gaining his Wood Badge, I look forward to presenting it to Kevin very soon.
The County Scout Section 5 a Side was an all Great North Final, Gosforth Central Sea Scout Troop winning the 74th Troop. the organiser contacted me and said that for the first time in all the years he had organised the competition, this year was the first year that members of both teams went to him and said `Thank You` for organising the event. Can I thank both teams for their sportsmanship.
We are planning on holding a First Aid Course on Saturday 14th May, at House on the Hill, please contact me if you are going to attend, remember the District pays the majority of your fees, and it is very important that you keep First Aid qualifications up to date.
If you are a Group that does not have all the sections please remember that you, the Leader, should be contacting the Section Leader of the Group and section that you wish your young person to transfer to. Apart from common courtesy, you need to check that there are vacancies in the Pack or Troop before young people are asked to attend.
Kath
Congratulations
1 st Dinnington Cub Scouts Emergency Aid - Sam Glendinning, Matt Glendinning, Luke Clarke, Andrew Bryce, James Row Local Knowledge - Craig Bettison, Jonathan Ord New Seconder - Matt Glendinning
25 th Newcastle –English Martyrs Cub Pack Chief Scouts Silver Award - Matthew Pagett, Thomas O`Neill, Liam McGuinness (These three have now moved into 47 th Newcastle Scouts together with Lee Clarke and Nicky Kenny) Report by Matthew Pagett West Gosforth Scout Troop Invested - Cory Parker, Adam Summers, Rachel Donaldson, Scott Towt, Esther Smith, Dominic Millet, Katherine Fletcher, Sophie Daniels Creative Challenge Award - Matthew Fletcher, Lewis Towt, Aidan Millet. Astronomer Badge - Matthew Harrison, Lee Kerr, Jack Melrose, Matthew Fletcher, Lewis Towt, Scott Towt, Luke Hawkins, Sophie Reynolds, Craig Summers, Adam Summers, Aidan Millet, Tom Donaldson, Rachel Donaldson, Joshua Smith, Esther Smith, Cory Parker Promotions - PL, Panthers- Lewis Towt, APL Panthers - Aidan Millet, APL Lions - Joshua Smith Gosforth Central Middle School Beavers Invested- Matthew Collerton, Ben Craig, Keiran Watson. Swimmer (1) - Alexander Dickinson, Findlay Green Swimmer (2) - Christopher Jones Outdoor Challenge - Hilton Sewell, Fenwick Sewel
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82 nd Newcastle Group Invested as Beaver Scouts - Gideon Harrison, Daniel Hill, Aleck Haddon, Matthew Wood Invested as Cub Scout - Mark Jobson, Invested as Scout - Andrew Benn Chief Scout Bronze Award - Jack Dennett. Joseph Grainger, David Welch, Nadeem Muktadir, George Wilson, Christopher Beckett, George Whitehouse, Harry Hands Chief Scouts Silver Award - Alex Gillie, Participation Badges - Year 1 Harry Hands, Christopher Beckett,Jack Dennett, George Whitehouse, David Welch, John Healy, Liam Colligan, William Woodward, Ben Dimambro, Jordan Heslop, Year 2 Ralph Thoburn, Mark Jobson, Thomas Woolstencroft, Sam Mead, Craig Aitchison, Nadeem Muktadir, Daniel Healy, Tom Lascelles, Zach Haddon, Nathan Rutherford, George Wilson, Lewis Cobb Year 3 Paul Hannon, Philip Maloney, Peter Cook, Sam Thumwood, Jack King, Nathan Rutherford, Adam Royal, Joe Dimambro, Daniel Chambers, Alex Gillie. Year 4 Andrew Benn, Nico Guilliani, Michael McConnen. Luke Wykes Year 5 Josh Pritchard, Tom Hannon, Sean McConnen, James O`Connell, James Wood, Simon Irwin Year 6 Alex Blenkley, Joe Nevins, Marcus Wykes, Rory Roxburgh. Year 8 James Fishwick Report by Carol Preston AGSL
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When our new district of Great North was formed, we began to hear of a mysterious place known as “The House on the Hill”and many of us wondered what it was The next two columns written by Peter Short, gives the story behind “The House on the Hill”
The House on the Hill Story
The renewal of the lease for the Newburn Headquarters Building known in Scouting and the `House of the Hill` has brought to light many of the documents relating to the orginal acquisition of the premises and grounds and provides a fascinating insight into the local area before the extensive residential developments of the 1060s and 1970s.
The first lease of October 1965 was from Northumberland County Council and predates the expansion of the City of Newcastle upon Tyne , in which it absorbed the former Newburn Rural District. The lease for the` Denton Hill Head Farmhouse` and surrounding plot was for a term of 21 years at a rent of £20 per annum. The site plan shows the plot included the land were the reservoir has since been built and no West Denton Way .
The low rent is explained by the Northumberland County Council`s policy at the time towards the encouragement of Youth activities but also the vandalized condition of the `farmhouse` as described in the 1965 survey. Room A: Holes in ceiling(12`0” x9”; 3`0”dia). Fireplace removed mantelpiece smashed: Both windows broken and sash damaged: top panel in door broken. The task of turning these ruins into a Scout HQ was largely carried out by volunteers.
The land boundaries changed in 1970 to make way for the playing fields for the new West Denton School and then again to accommodate the development of the reservoir and booster station. However land in front of Farmhouse was allocated in exchange for the lost portion and the Reservoir contractors left a nice grassy playing field. The Water Board also granted the right of way and use of a car-park which we enjoy to this day.
Over the years the HQ has been well used for District Executive, Committee and Leader Training as well as for Unit Meetings, notably those of the Newburn Venture unit. Social and Scouting events like `Jamboree of the Air` have given happy times and Memories to many. The building also provides equipment storage space for both Scouts and Guides. Currently it is the home of the Griffen Explorers and it is hoped to re-open a Scout troop during 2006.Former Scouts also regularly use it for band practice. Other units can, and do, for a small contribution towards upkeep, hire the facilities for both indoor and outdoor activities.
Although the ground floor rooms were remodelled in 2004, the rest of the building needs a major facelift. Your ideas are welcome and your help and money are required to make the building comfortable and fit for our new ten-year lease period. What better way to mark the centenary of Scouting?
Why not share your memories with readers of LOOKWIDE?
Peter Short (Acting Warden)
| West Gosforth
Due to an increased number of people wishing to join our troop, the leadership team agreed to increase our maximum number from 18 to 24. This led to the creation of a fourth Patrol. On 14 th November the scout troop and the cub pack headed of to the planetarium in Scout Shields. For the troop the visit was a part of the activities they did as part of the astronomers badge, which resulted in 16 members being awarded the badge The Wibbly Wobbly Jelly Circus After 4 weeks of enjoyable hard work the troop observed all kinds of amazing circus skills and then learned how to perform them themselves. They balanced on hand stilts, and some even got to grips with the strap-on stilts.(They rode on pedal goes, fun wheels, and unicycles, dressed- brilliantly- as clowns, hula hooped, juggled with balls, plates- even while on wheels-bean bags and clubs. We had the amazing spectacle of the GSL walking the tight rope while the SL made an admirable Ring Master. We, the large audience, had a fantastic evenings entertainment full of fun and colour, and well worth the large fee (£0) we had to pay to get in.. The entire cast then had to stand with a very sad face with a big red nose stuck on the face. I don`t know how they could- we laughed all the time- but they all gained their Circus skills badge and the Order of the Red Nose. Special mention must be made of Helen Averley who had been tutoring the troop throughout,- she must have been very proud of their efforts.) Report by Caroline Emmerson (Interrupted by Ed) |
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82nd Newcastle Group The 82nd Group held it Annual General Meeting on Friday 10th March. Once again the AGM provided an opportunity to have a family social night with a family quiz and raffle.The event was well attended by families and children and also by Kath Tyson. DC. The raffle raised £88 for group funds. Sue Fishwick and John Wykes resigned as Group chairperson and treasurer respectively. Both were thanked for all their hard work and service they had given to the Group. John Mead we elected as Chairperson and Denise Jobson as Treasurer and the group look forward to a happy and productive working relationship with them both. Katy Tyson took the opportunity to present Carol Preston BSL and Acting GSL, Cate Watson SL. Jennifer Heslop CSL and Mark Taylor ACSL, with their new Great North District Warrants. Report By Carol Preston |
25 th Newcastle (English Martyrs.) Cubs has been great over the past three years. The activities have been wonderful, making fantastic things. But now we going to Scouts. We are definitely going to miss cubs Report by Matthew Pagett. ( Thank you for your report Matthew- you sure have seemed to enjoy the cubs- and you will miss them. But you will, I`m sure enjoy the scouts as much as you have the cubs. Good luck and Good Scouting- Editor) The pack had a sleepover the Church Hall over 25 th / 26 th February. We went bowling at the Metro Centre followed by McDonalds, the back for activities before cooking a meal. We had a lot of sorting out to get the hall ready for our coffee morning on the Sunday by the time we were ready for video and supper and into our sleeping bags. We were up early on Sunday for a super breakfast and all dressed to meet up with the Brownies for 10 am Mass. Some cubs did the Welcome, the Readings , the Bidding Prayers and the offertory Procession. Everyone was full of praise the fantastic clear readings. Back to the hall with parents and parishioners, to run our games and sell items on our stalls. We raised £350 which was brilliant. A quick tidy up the everyone left for home for a little rest before school next morning. Report by the sixers. Written up by Angela Ryan CSL.(well done Sixers- it`s nice to hear from you all) |
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Old age is when the narrow waist and the broad mind change places