President’s Patter – Spring 24
Robin Corti, a Great Scout
(Silver Wolf Award, Chief Scout Commendation for Meritorious Conduct Medal)
2nd Whitton Animal Scout Troop Leader, Venture Scout Leader
The Gone Home sign is becoming familiar with readers of my Patter and records with deep sadness the passing away of Robin Corti. Words have been written by others of Robin’s life and his long and illustrious career in Scouting. His later appointments in the Richmond upon Thames Scout District, and the Greater London Southwest Scout County are well known now, but I want to recognise the major role he and his family played in the life of the 2nd Whitton Scout Group prior to those tasks.
When the Corti family moved to Whitton away from their previous Scouting area, they looked for a local Scout Group for their son Adrian to join.
Our Group was the most obvious choice being the nearest and very active, and Adrian’s name appeared in the cast list of Our Show 1980. Robin himself began assisting with the Group’s Troop and when it became too large for one night, it split into Birds and Animals, and Robin became Animal Troop’s first Scout Leader in 1983. Robin then took over the reins of running the Group’s Venture Scout Unit as VSL in 1986 until 1993 when he became Richmond upon Thames District Commissioner. Robin himself appeared in Our Show 1993.
Many ex and present members of 2nd Whitton will treasure happy memories of times spent under Robin’s leadership. Expeditions to Bethesda, the county’s mountain base in North Wales, and of numerous camps, particularly at Hammerwood Scout Camp. With these thoughts in mind, we will all be eternally grateful for Robin’s wonderful times spent with us in the Scout group he always considered his own.
Our condolences and thoughts are with Carol, Adrian and Amanda and their families at this sad time.
Keith Davis (Assistant Cub Scout Leader – Green Pack)
Sadly, I report the passing away of another past 2nd Whitton Scout Group Leader. Keith gained his Queen Scout in 1981 having passed through Cubs, and Scouts. After completing his Venture Scout service, he took on the role of Assistant Cub Scout Leader with my Green Pack. Again. We have many happy memories shared with the pack, camping at Normandy, and other outings and activities.
Our thoughts are with Caroline and his family at this sad time.
A Second to None Start to 2024. Have we been busy – You bet!
A glance at our website will show that once again this term our small but beautifully dedicated Leader teams have been providing a wide spectrum of activities to suit all interests of our young members.
The pictorial records of all twelve sessions can be found in the highlights since January and are expanded on in the Gallery.
The Blessed Few
The Group continues to be blessed by dedication of a few supporters and parents who have answered the call and turned out to boost our funds though Rugby Parking, and by maintaining our HQ and Grounds on the Workday. Without the regular activities of these folk our Headquarters and grounds would quickly become unfit for use by the large number of our members who meet weekly. With the summer months approaching and the lighter evenings, our whole site needs to be available for Scouting activities. With the combined dedicated force of both Leader teams and Group Supporters and the work they put in, all our young people benefit. I would like to encourage more members of the Group Council to share in HQ maintenance, quarter mastering, and fund raising. The Group Council includes all parents of existing members, so we are all part of it. No escape!
Personally, I am looking forward to when one of our favourite Assistant Beaver Leaders is able to return to active duty following a prolonged period in hospital. That day cannot come too soon.
I hope all our families can enjoy a “Second to None” Spring and Summer with the 2nd Whitton Scout Group. Be safe until my next Presidents Patter.
Geoff Benge
Group President
