A news letter of Great North Scouting

Closing date for next edition

23rd September

September 2007

Edition 3 Issue 4

Editorial

Well! Had a good summer? Celebrated 100 years of Scouting ? What did you do?

Lots of events, camps and of course the Jamboree. Let us all hear about them.

Bill

District Notes

  • The last executive meeting welcomed the new treasurer, Mrs Pat Anson. Tributes were made to Jim Roebuck for his sterling work.
  • New costs were announced for the use of the District Camp Site at Scots Gap. The cost per person per night is now £1.00
  • The County AGM is to be held in the Kings School , at Tynemouth on 27 th September.
  • The next District Executive Meeting will be Tuesday October 2 nd.

Did You Know ?  

  • That of the first 29 astronauts, 20 of them were former scouts.
  • Every country that has scouts were represented at the Jamboree this year. This is the first time that that has happened. The only countries without scouts, are China , Cuba , North Korea , Burma , Laos and Andorra .
  • Many well-known names have been or are scouts; among them are David Beckham, Paul McCartney, David Spielberg and (joined just this year) Dolly Parton the country singer, who is 60 years old.
  • Of the many proficiency badges to be gained, the most popular badge last year was for information technology with 48,069 being given out

DC`s Report

Well done to everyone who attended a Sunrise ceremony, there was a good turnout at All Saints, Gosforth, Dinnington and House on the Hill. My thanks to our newly formed Scout Fellowship for breakfast, bacon sandwiches were well received. Chris Longfield renewed his promise in Switzerland . What other Countries did you renew your promise in?

Congratulations to Ben Smith who was interviewed with Alan Kelly (The DC from Hadrian District) at Radio Newcastle.

Congratulations to Mike Gaunt (GSL at the 73rd) and Franchesca, who were married on August 4th, we all hope they have a long and happy life together.

Please ensure that these dates are in your diary. The Development Day in November is when the dates and activities for 2008 (The County centenary will be announced)

Sept 6th CSL Meeting at Kingston Park

Sept 10thGSL Meeting

Sept 16th Dragon Boat racing – Explorer Scouts

Sept 18th District ADCs

Oct 1st Heat of the Cub Section for Peel Award Cubs

Oct 13th County Peel Award Competition Cubs

Oct 20/21st District Scout / Explorer Camp Moorhouse

Nov 16th Pauline Armstrong Collage competition – Beavers

Nov 17th County Cub Sleepover at Discovery Museum

Nov 25th County Leaders Development Day All

Dec 17th District Carol service at St Andrews

Kath Tyson DC

Celebrating 100 years of Scouting

On August 1 st 2007 , there was a plethora of events to mark August 1 st 1907 , the date that BP started his experimental camp on Brownsea Island . Even the media- newspapers, television and radio suddenly decided that it was a date worth making news.

Apart from our district event, other local groups had their own, among them, the All Saints group on the green beside the Church, and Benton District which Bob Tyson attended ( as acting DC of Benton) before joining us at House on the Hill.

Promptly at 8 am, approximately 80 of us at House on the Hill, came to the alert, and repeated our promise, which was being made at the same time right round the country. Similar sunrise ceremonies were also held worldwide. After this solemn moment, the leaders swung into action and many activities took place, while the ladies and members of the Fellowship brewed welcome cups of tea and coffee, and hot bacon butties, which were dispensed to all present.

The weather forecast had not been good, but the sun shone for the event, and reminded us of the greatness of Baden Powell, who gave this wonderful movement to all of us, to enjoy. It was a wonderful historical moment, in which we were proud to share.

  • An important link with the past.
  • Michael Baden-Powell, the grandson of the Founder, was at the celebrations on Brownsea Island , in Poole Harbour , Dorset . He was asked what he thought his grandfather would have replied if asked to report on the centenary celebrations. He said “ 100 years not out. Team batting well. Declaration not on the agenda”

o Norma Walker o

It is with great sadness that we heard of the death of Norma Walker, Norma was for many years part of the County Training Team, and I know that Leaders who have been established in their role for a long time will remember her. Our prayers and sympathy have been extended to her sons, daughter and their families.

Around the Groups

Fun and frolics as the 82nd Newcastle Celebrate in Style

It was the day that the 82 nd were having a barbeque to celebrate 100 years of Scouting, when it was announced that they had qualified for the County Standard- we had to hold the Look Wide issue back to get it in. What a celebration they had. Weather had been bad and in the afternoon again looked threatening, but the sun come out and it was a super evening. Barbeque was superb, with everything you could wish for- well cooked goodies, and a follow up with all sorts of cake, and other nice things which the Doctor said we shouldn`t have. Then we had a great magician, two well stocked Tombolas ( one for adults and one for juniors), a tug of war, etc,etc. I could not believe how the whole event could hope to run from 5pm to 10pm , but it was fantastic how the time went. Thank you for the invitation to me, I had a great time-especially when I can say with feeling “ Congratulations to the 82 nd,- you have made a good start for the second Century of Scouting—keep up the good work.

Sea Scout on the Airwaves - 30th July

On the morning of 30th July one of our Sea Scouts was invited to give an interview on BBC Radio Newcastle. Ben Smith went with another scout, Tes, from Allendale and the DC of Hadrian District to the BBC studios on Barrack Road in Newcastle and gave the interview Live! They even managed to tie a bowline round the DJ! Peter Duncan, Chief Scout, had been interviewed on the same show only minutes before. Well done everyone.

Sea Scouting Sunrise - 1st August

It was a beautiful morning on 1st August when 7 beavers, 13 cubs, 8 scouts, 2 young leaders, 5 leaders, and almost 20 former scouts gathered on the green outside All Saints Church. Four young people, one to represent each section, stood on top of the tower whilst the rest formed up on the green. The bosun's call could be heard across Gosforth at 8am for flag break. That was followed by a message from the Chief Scout Peter Duncan and some thoughts from three of the scouts and Rev Genny Tunbridge. Caroline Campbell GSL then lead us through the renewal of our promise.

The service was followed by bacon and sausage rolls and tea and coffee. There was also a campfire for backwoods cooking, a quiz, a painting competition, a tin-can-alley and a cycling skills course for the young people to enjoy. Some of the former scouts also brought along some fascinating memorabilia to look at. Those who attended were also invited to sign an attendance book.

Thanks must go to all those who helped in the organising and running of the service. Everyone enjoyed the event and it was a fitting way to welcome in the next century of scouting.

Brian Smith SSL

 

Press Report

With our 100 years celebration catching the eyes of newspaper reporters, lots of publicity has come our way. One which proved of interest to me was dealing with Afghanistan Scouting.

Scouting was suppressed by the Taliban but was restarted after their defeat 5 years ago. There are now 35.000 scouts in the country, with many of their features similar to our own. For instance, they have a similar promise, salute, and motto. “ Be prepared” is “Tayar Osay” in Pashto and “Umade Bashi” in Dari.

They don`t follow our pattern of badges etc, but instead they train for peace, encouraging their elders to give up the arms, and fighting. They help in schools, and do lots of environmental work by watering gardens, and cleaning up areas.

Their uniform is similar to ours except in price- complete uniform is £18.

Afghanistan is still a very poor country and the Government, while giving support to the movement, cannot give funds to any extent. The Movement have a total budget of £1470.

Baden Powell has written about his connection with the country, having fought there as a soldier in 1881.

Quotable Quotes

A veteran MP, Bill Deeds, who recently died at the age of 96, once met Baden Powell. and said of him

“ He was a great man, who left his footprints in the sands of time”.

How true!! With these sunrise events we are proud to follow these footsteps to commemorate his greatness