Presidents Patter – Summer 2022
A Joyous Summer of Scouting!
I believe we have just enjoyed a Joyous Summer of Scouting for the whole of the 2nd Whitton Scout Group. There has been proper scouting across all Sections, thanks to the ingenuity and dedication of our Leaders and their invaluable parent supporters, and perhaps the Crown Jewel of this year’s fine weather season was the Group Family Camp at Walton Firs.
As many of you can imagine a great deal of pre-planning and extra hard work goes into booking, programming, budgeting and accounting, catering, and finally the physical hard work, of loading and erecting this mini Jamboree. A huge thanks must go to the Family Camp Committee comprising both Leaders and Group Committee members for providing this quite unique opportunity for the whole of the vast 2nd Whitton family to gather under the “Nulli Secundus” Banner. The whole camp was wonderous to behold.
“Out & About” with the Sections this Summer
For the few who are not avid connectors with the Group’s Website here are a few reminders of what you’ve missed.
Lakes & River Beaver Colonies:-
Bell Boating at Thames Young Mariners.
Day Camp & Sleepover at 1st Normandy HQ and Campsite.
On board the “Thames Venturer” at Teddington Lock and a litter pick on the lock’s island.
My added Congratulations to the 10 Beavers who gained the Chief Scout Bronze Award.
Green and Yellow Cub Packs:-
Yellow Pack visited Dr. Choc’s Factory in Windsor.
Yellow Pack did Ringo-ing at Sandown Park Ski Centre.
Green Pack held their Summer camp at 1st Normandy HQ and Campsite.
Yellow Pack held their Summer camp at Bentley Copse campsite, near Shere.
Bird & Animal Scout Troops:-
Animal Troop joined Yellow Pack Ringo-ing at Sandown Park Ski Centre.
Bird & Animal Scout Troops combined their Summer camps at Youlbury Camp Site in Oxfordshire.
Combined Group Activities
The Sections each in their own way celebrated the Queens Platinum Jubilee. Her Majesty has been Patron of the Scout Association since she was crowned, 70 dedicated years ago. Her Jubilee message said, ” Scouting is a global force for good. In this country and around the world Scouts are helping others and making the most of their lives”.
The Group’s Sections combined to celebrate St George’s Day by joining the Whitton St Georges Parade. St George is the Patron Saint of Scouting and that is why it is important to celebrate that fact.
“Mick” Duckett
For the most part I use the Scout Tracking sign (placed at the end of a trail indicating the trail layer has finished the job and “gone home”), for someone who has passed away and by me usually for those who have been Group Leaders or Lay members who have served the Group for long periods of time.
In this case, however, it is neither, because for me it is a personal loss. Mick and I were 2nd Whitton Scouts together back in the day. We were both made Patrol Leaders at the same time, he of the Peewits, and me of the Hawks. We completed our First Class badge hike together, from Hampton Court to Walton Firs campsite, Cobham , camping overnight and returning the same route, the next day. Both of us became 2nd Whitton Air Scouts and completed the ambitious cycle ride through Belgium to Luxembourg and back, and took part in Ralph Reader’s “Boy Scout” pageant at the Albert Hall. We both attended Bishop Perrin and Hampton Grammar schools. Mick emailed me in January saying “Dear Geoff, thanks for keeping me in the picture. Our best wishes for a happy and successful year for all connected with the Group”. He still treasured his scouting days.
Therefore, I personally have great memories of our times together and will treasure them always. I felt the need to commemorate his life in scouting. My thoughts and those who knew Mick go out to Olive and her family at this sad time.
“Not a lot of people know that”
To quote a saying of Michael Caine, not a lot of people will have known that it is 90 years since Ralph Reader created Gang Shows. Ralph started a Gang Show in London in 1932 to raise funds for a swimming pool at Downe campsite in Kent. It was a great success and continued until 1974. I joined the London cast at the Sutton Coldfield World Jamboree in 1957 where we performed the show at the Birmingham Hippodrome for the campers. I continued for several years with the show at the Golders Green Hippodrome.
When a show to celebrate the 90 year anniversary of Gang Shows was booked for one night only, on Saturday 9th July, at the Apollo, Hammersmith, some of us old Gangsters were invited to take part. Twenty of us London Gang Show members took part in the item, which opened the second half, dedicated to Ralph’s songs, and what memories taking part brought back, singing “Strolling” and “Money & Friends”. We joined a cast of 157 Scouts and Guides drawn from 37 Gangs from across the United Kingdom. It was a great evening with Dave Catt-Camfield, David Clay, Kevin Huggett and myself representing our Group, and reliving those magical days “treading the boards”.
Thanks to all of you who have supported our tireless Leaders throughout this Summer, Hope you enjoyed your Holidays
Geoff Benge (Group President