Presidents Patter – Spring 2023

Pauline Lee (nee Goddard)

Pauline or” Auntie Polly” as she was fondly called, became an Assistant Cub Scout leader with Sylvia Goold’s 2nd Whitton White Pack, when her son John became a cub. While her husband, Ian, continued with his role as a Scout Leader, she continued to devote her considerable energies to the pack for a number of years. She finally moved on, in 1985, joining the Richmond upon Thames Scout District’s team as Assistant District Commissioner for Handicapped Scouts. In her passing away our thoughts are with John and his family at this very sad time.

Making the Most of it!

2nd Whitton Scout Group HQ & Grounds occupies an area of approximately three quarters of an acre. It was a derelict builder’s yard and was purchased in1952 for £100. It now hosts the largest Scout Group in Greater London Southwest Scout County. It is right and proper that the Group makes the most of the land held for us in Trust by the Scout Association.
In my last Presidents Patter, I mentioned The Trim trail which will be available for use as soon as better weather allows and a trellis to raise the height of the neighbouring fence is put in place. Since then, the area alongside has been cleared and surfaced for the use of Sections to practice Scouting skills such as fire-lighting, and outdoor cooking. In addition, it is planned to use another area away from the main field to create a Wildlife Garden.
Finally, a Tomahawk and small axe throwing range is being established on the side of the Project Hut (Two of our Scout Leaders are now trained in this growing activity!). The Group Executive see the need to encourage these activities on site, and in their wisdom have agreed to fund all the projects. As a former Group Treasurer once said to me, many moons ago, today’s funds must be spent on today’s members. Finally, a tree, a Ginkgo biloba “Summer Rainbow” will be planted in memory of our beloved patron, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the second, the same species as she herself planted at Windsor to commemorate her Jubilee.

Rare Breeds!

The first Rare Breed is from the past. Cavell Wraight, my wife’s aunt, was a great Group Supporter, who helped at all our fundraising events. She had two sons David and Robert who went right through all the Sections. Both followed different career paths, David in Civil Engineering, and Robert with BOAC & BA. David after retirement settled in San Diego, USA. Sadly, in his later years he suffered a deal of ill health and finally passing away last October. In his will David bequeathed the 2nd Whitton Scout Group, in which he spent many happy years, a considerable sum of money to Group funds. We are very grateful that he chose to benefit us. Over the many years I have been associated with the Group I cannot recall an act so generous, a rare act from a Rare Breed.

Bringing us right up to date I am delighted to place on record that one of my past Green Pack Assistant Cub Scout Leaders, Phil Beal, has been awarded The Scout Association’s Silver Acorn. This is extremely well deserved for his outstanding work with the Group’s Cub Scout Yellow Pack, and not before time. Phil like most of our Leader dedicates a great deal of his spare time for the Cubs Scouts in his care, as their parents can testify. Well done, Phil, you are also among the Rare Breed of our time.

Census 2023

The Annual Census of the Scout Association was due at the end of January and seems to come round quicker every year. The 2nd Whitton Scout Group total of both young, uniformed, members and adult leaders for 2023 was 323 (2022 total 213), an increase of 10 only, but in all honesty, as many young people the Group can cope with, given our number of leaders and the evenings in the week for Sections to meet.
A per capita fee is paid annually to the Scout Association Headquarters, Greater London Southwest Scout County and Richmond upon Thames Scout District. All recipients of the fees try to minimise the cost of Scouting, and our Group also attempts to keep costs down. After payment of the fees the remaining monies are retained by the Group to pay all the bills and maintain our HQ and grounds to the high standard, we all enjoy.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

It cannot be said often enough, and so once more I do not apologies for using the words “Thank you”!
Now that the dust has settled on another 6 Nations Rugby Union Championship, with results some of us would not have wished for, “it’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good”, they say.
So once again the Group has been able to offer secure match day parking, with refreshments, to those who wish to avail themselves. I understand we now have a regular clientele. The staffing of these events means that Supporters and some parents give up their Saturdays to spend their valuable weekends at our HQ overseeing the session. Financially, it is paramount for our solvency, and again many thanks are due to all those who have turned out this season.
It would also be remiss of me not to include in my thanks those who continue to look after our Group HQ, grounds, and equipment, including the trimming of the bushes along the driveway, and with the help of some local residents clearing of a fallen tree that had completely blocked our access.

Geoff Benge
Group President