Flysheet

The Sutton District Scouting Newsletter – May 2005

Contents

  1. Contents
  2. Welcome
  3. Notes from the District Commissioner
  4. County Commissioner's Message
  5. John Perkins – DC
  6. Pauline Pattison – ADC (Beavers)
  7. Catherine Keen – ADC (Cubs)
  8. Ray Shaw – ADC (Scouts)
  9. Jeff Simmons – DESC
  10. 1st Wallington (Sutton District) Band
  11. Headquarters Hire
  12. Canoe Club
  13. Updated Forms
  14. Diary 2005
  15. Flysheet

Welcome

Welcome to the first issue of the Flysheet. We hope to publish it six times a year and it will appear on the District Web Site as well as being mailed to those who do not use the Internet. If any one has items they would like to contribute to future issues please let Chris Sowden have them and, subject to space, they will be included.

Notes from the District Commissioner

So, we have finally made it. We are one District (again). A lot of people have been working very hard to make it possible for the merger to take place and my thanks go to all of them. The Steering Committee have given valuable help and advice on setting up the Executive and administrative details. The District Camp next weekend has taken the considerable efforts of a team of ADCs and Scouters and I am looking forward to a fantastic weekend and a fitting way to introduce the young members to the new District of Sutton.

Although many problems have been overcome already there will be others in the months to come as we all get used to each other and our different ways of doing things. As the aim of all members of the District must be to provide good, enjoyable Scouting for all our members I have no doubt that we can meet and sort out any potential difficulties. I have been struck by the positive attitude and willingness by everyone I have met to get on with it and to make Sutton District work.

Our District will be the second largest in the County with approximately 2,200 members in 24 Groups and 10 Explorer Units. Whilst we are unlikely to catch Croydon District (3,000+ members in 44 Groups) I am hoping that our numbers will grow. Having spent most of my life as a member of the Association, I am convinced that it is the finest youth movement ever founded and I want it to be made available to as many people as possible. The District team will do all they can to support Leaders in the Sections to provide Scouting of the best quality possible whether at Section Meetings or outdoor activities.

I wish us all Best of Luck in our new District. Above all have fun and enjoy your Scouting.

John Perkins

County Commissioner's Message

As this is the first newsletter of your newly formed Sutton District I just wanted to say a few words to wish you all well in your Scouting.

Changes in our modern world are unavoidable and changes for the needs of Scouting are no exception. I would like to congratulate you all on the positive and well organised manner in which you have moved forward and embraced this necessary change to the organisation of Scouting in Sutton and Cheam and Wallington and Carshalton Districts.

Under the leadership of your DC, John Perkins, and your Chairman, Paul Richardson, I'm sure that Sutton District will be moving forward to accept the challenges and opportunities to provide better Scouting for more young people in the area.

Good luck and best wishes

Roger Hurrion

John Perkins – DC

I started my Scouting life as a Wolf Cub in the 1st Montevideo Group (Uruguay). Our family then returned to England and after a while went to live in Torquay where I joined the 20th Torquay Group where there were plenty of chances to go hiking on Dartmoor. While with the 20th I gained the Explorer Belt and Queen’s Scout Badge and ended up as Troop Leader (roughly equivalent to a Senior Patrol Leader) and then ASL.

On moving to London to be a student, I lived at Roland House, the Scout Hostel in the East End, and joined a Troop in Limehouse as Assistant Scout Leader and then Scout Leader.

Work then took me to Bahrain, where I became an Assistant Cub Scout Leader (there were no English Scouts on the island and my Arabic was not up to running a local Troop!). Moving on again I was variously an ASL in Hackney and Chatham before coming to live in Sutton and joining the 1st/16th Sutton as an ASL. I have done stints as District Scout Leader in Limehouse and Hackney and Assistant District Commissioner (Scouts) Scouts in Hackney and Sutton & Cheam before becoming District Commissioner of Sutton and Cheam two years ago.

I am fifty-six years old, single and now work part time at Tesco. My hobbies apart from Scouting are stamp collecting and trying to keep the garden tidy.

Pauline Pattison – ADC (Beavers)

I've been a member of the Movement since I was 16 years old, when I defected from the Guides to be a helper in a Cub Pack in Morden. Taking my first warrant on my 18th birthday I became an ACSL and later a CSL in a Group with 3 Cub Packs.

I met my husband through Scouting as he was an ASL and later an SL. Two children later and after a short break I was approached by my best friend to take on her Beaver Colony. This was completely new territory for me but I decided to give it a go .The enthusiasm of the Beavers won me over straight away and I have been a BSL for 20 years. During this period I also enjoyed tutoring and catering for training courses as my husband David was a Leader Trainer.

As well as Beaver Scouting I returned to Cub Scouting as CSL of a special needs Group at the school where I still work as a Teaching Assistant, with responsibility for teaching Food Technology to years 10 & 11.

I mulled over the thought of ADC Beavers for some time before taking on the role.

I have been leading Wallington & Carshalton for about 2 years and have enjoyed the support of all the Leaders and the excited faces of Beavers gathered as a District. When first invited to take on the role I said no, thinking there must be someone younger just waiting to go. But as time has gone by nobody has come forward so I had a long and hard rethink and here I am.

I am certain that together we can go forward and make this new District really great.

Catherine Keen – ADC (Cubs)

I have been a member of the Scout Association for almost 1½ years and during this time have been District Cub Scout Leader for Sutton and Cheam District and an active member of the GLSW Scout Network. My background is in Guiding, most recently as a Brownie Guider. I am married to Simon, who is DSL (Activities) and we moved to Sutton nearly 2 years ago. When I’m not busy with Cubs and the Network I organise conferences for The Economist. I am also involved with the youth work and music at my church.

Ray Shaw – ADC (Scouts)

Having left Scouts at the age of thirteen (to become an Air Cadet), I returned to Scouting ten years ago, after having listened to an impassioned plea from the then DC of Sutton & Cheam for somebody to take on the role of GSL at 1st North Sutton. I was only there because my then wife was being invested as an Assistant Beaver Leader. After having sat and listened I decided that this was for me – so I did the foolish thing and volunteered. December 1995 saw me being invested at a Group Scouts' Own by the Deputy DC. I then started my training, which caused some confusion as not many people come into Scouting at GSL level – I was probably the first in Sutton & Cheam. I spent seven great years as GSL at 1st North Sutton, sometimes frustrating but often greatly rewarding. At the end of 2002 I took the extremely difficult decision to step down from my role as GSL, due to pressure of work.

When in the Summer of 2003 our DC asked if I would consider taking on the role of ADC Scouts in Sutton & Cheam I was very pleased to accept the offer. This could have been a short term role due to the merger of the two Districts but thankfully I was asked to be ADC Scouts for our new District, an offer I couldn’t refuse. I now look forward to working with many old friends and with new ones still to be made.

Jeff Simmons – DESC

I started my Scouting career as a Cub Scout with 5th Wallington in 1975, and moved up to Scouts in 1979, narrowly missing out on becoming an Air Scout as the section had only recently closed. I gained the Chief Scout's Award in 1982 before moving to Ruskin Venture Scout Unit in 1983, which at the time was a joint Unit belonging to 1st Wallington and 3rd Carshalton. Over my Venture Scouting days I helped out with Scouts at 5th Wallington, Cubs at 1st Wallington, and assisted on Summer Camps with 1st Wallington Cubs, Scouts and 3rd Carshalton Scouts.

After leaving University in 1989 I came back to Ruskin as VSL, since they were going through a leadership and membership crisis and I was available. Over the following months the leadership team was strengthened and this encouraged an increased membership. Over the following years I began to get more involved with the running of Estrek, a four-day hike for Venture Scouts over rough country (Yorkshire Dales, Lake District etc), and I helped organise various caving trips to the Mendips.

I became DVSL in 1997, followed by ADC (VS) in 1998 and was involved in the organisation of two District Camps and the Millennium Camp. With the changes to the age ranges and formation of the new Sections, I became District Explorer Scout Commissioner for Wallington, Carshalton & District in 2002. I have also, for my sins, been part of the Service Crew at the last two PAGGS camps in the UK (Walton Firs in 1990 and Frylands Wood in 2002).

Since the announcement of the merger I have been involved with the merger steering group and the District Launch Camp.

In my spare time I have a full time job: don’t ask me what I do as I will bore you senseless, but it involves Corporate Pensions and Computers! When I really don’t have anything to do I have an annoying knack of being able to take Land Rovers apart but never being able to put them back together again exactly as they were.

1st Wallington (Sutton District) Band

Cub Scouts, Scouts and Explorers who can play or are learning to play a woodwind, brass or percussion musical instrument are welcome to join the 1st Wallington (Sutton District) Band. Band members remain members of their own Group and continue to wear their own Group scarf but get the opportunity to use and improve their musical talent.

[1st Wallington Band]

The 1st Wallington Band at the 2005 New Year's Day Parade

Band practice takes place on Thursday evenings between 6:00pm and 7:30pm. Please contact the Band Master, Ian King, for further details.

Headquarters Hire

Sutton District Headquarters is ideal for those special occasions, parties, receptions, business functions etc. The booking rates for private use of the main hall are £12 per hour weekdays and £15 per hour weekends. The minimum letting is two hours and a returnable deposit is required. For more information contact Jim Dimmock.

Canoe Club

Sutton District Canoe Club organises sessions throughout the year, owns boats, buoyancy aids, paddles and trailer but desperately needs Scouts, Explorer Scouts and Guides.

River trips are planned for Sunday mornings on the 8th May (on the Wey), 12th June (Kingston-upon-Thames) and 10th July 2005 (all-day on the Thames from Reading). Contact the club secretary, Shirley Quemby, for details.

Updated Forms

The Nights Away Notification Form (Form NAN) and the One Day Activity Form (FS120081) have recently been updated. The main change to the Nights Away Notification Form is the addition of boxes for Scout Campsite details. The Host DC details need not be provided if the nights away take place on Scout owned or operated facilities.

The forms are available from ScoutBaseUK in both PDF and MSWord formats at:

Diary 2005

Tuesday 26th April Formation of Sutton District
Friday 29th April – Monday 2nd May District Launch Camp
Monday/Tuesday 13th/14th June District Cub Mat Ball Competition
Friday 24th – Sunday 26th June District Scout Water Activity Camp
Sunday 26th June County Cub Chief Scout's Award Presentations
Thursday 30th June District Cub Leaders Meeting
Friday 8th – Sunday 10th July District Scout How Cup
Saturday 9th July District Cub Sports Day
Tuesday 20th September District Scout Leaders Meeting
Saturday 1st – Sunday 2nd October County Scout Mission Improbable
Sunday 9th October County Scout/Explorer Cyclo-Cross Competition
Saturday 15th – Sunday 16th October County Explorer Night Hike
TBA November District Scout Five-a-side Competition
Saturday – Sunday TBA November District Scout Tate Shield Competition
Saturday 19th November County Cub Swimming Gala
Sunday 27th November County Scout/Explorer Orienteering Competition

Flysheet

Flysheet is the Sutton District Scouting newsletter. Please send material to the editor, Chris Sowden, preferably by e-mail to flysheet@suttonscouts.org.uk.

Submissions for the July issue should be sent to reach the editor before 24th June 2005.