Presidents Patter – Spring 2022

Bumper Programme mean Bumper numbers

The Scouting Programme offered to all our Unformed members in all of Sections this term has been “Second to None”
Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, and our Explorer Unit have all met on their retrospective nights without fail, and I know not a weekend has passed in the first three months of the year when our young people wearing the green scarf with the white border have been out at a Scouting Event. Some have been organised by the Richmond District, the County and Headquarters but most are of our Leaders own initiatives, and that is where this Group of ours scores.
There are very few Groups that have teams of Adult Leaders with the deep conviction that Scouting has huge benefits for those families who with wisdom have joined their children into our ranks. I think at times some parents must be feeling they live in a Scouting whirlwind such is the programme offered.
Word gets around that 2nd Whitton provides such a high standard of Scouting activities that the need for joining in becomes paramount. This is reflected in the demand for places among the uniformed ranks. In The Scout Association Annual Census for 2022 the 2nd Whitton Group recorded a total of 313 including Leaders (2021 total 273). This did not include the 19 young Beaver recruits joining in early February.
Numbers aren’t everything but when coupled with the numerous opportunities to gain badges and awards it makes for an amazing achievement by our young people, their Leaders, our Lay Supporters and not least our Parents.

They shall not be forgotten, they who work behind the scenes!

The Group again owes a great debt of gratitude this Winter/ Spring to those who have answered the call for volunteers to keep the Group in funds and to the maintain the headquarters and grounds. Car parking on the two England Home matches resulted in a total income of £1570 For Group funds. A great result!
The Workday enabled a number of outstanding tasks to be completed. The outside walls were given a fresh coat of white emulsion and the hall building, now 66 years old (opened by Lord Peter Baden-Powell on the 5th May 1956), looks as good as new. The Project Hut was emptied of years of accumulated stuff. The rubbish segregated from the worth keeping, and there is now room for the Projects in was intended for. Our Trek cart, and a couple of Go-carts, are in good order and have been stored for future use which I know will please many of our older Brethren who still have happy memories of their use.

The Fortunate Ones

Following the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe and the demise of the Young Pioneers (their youth movement), Scouting once more emerged in most of the countries once within the Soviet Bloc. Therefore, you will find Scouts in both the Ukraine and indeed Russia.
In this dreadful conflict my thoughts and prayers go out to the young people who belong to the worldwide Scouting Movement, have taken the Scout Promise appropriate to their country and belief and wear the same purple membership badge, as we do, on their uniforms. Like so many in previous wars they will find themselves on opposing sides not knowing they are kindred scouts but obliged to fight for what their Political Masters demand of them. I wish them all a safe passage until this war is over. Finally, I pray that all can return to a way of life that we presently and hopefully enjoy for many years to come. We indeed are the Fortunate Ones.

And finally –

In these days of political correctness and politics in general there is an unwritten understanding that all Leaders in Scouting and other youth Movements remain apolitical, i.e. do not profess an allegiance to any political ideology or party. Their private thoughts and inclinations are theirs to keep in close counsel, but it is not their place to preach politics to the young people in their charge. On reflection none of our Leaders have time to do anything but engage in pure scouting activities, just ask them! They may have time to answer you.

I NEVER GET TIRED OF SAYING THIS – AGAIN A HUGE THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR LOYALTY AND CONTINUED SUPPORT

Geoff Benge (Group President)