Flysheet
The Sutton District Scouting Newsletter – September 2005
Contents
- Contents
- From the Chairman
- Awards
- Notes from the District Commissioner
- Beavers
- Cubs
- Scouts
- Explorers
- Diary 2005
- Gone Home
- PAGGS Camp 2006
- Canoe Club
- Flysheet
From the Chairman
Following the excellent inaugural meeting we are now in the fifth month of Sutton District.
The newly formed District Executive has met twice and has been putting in place the necessary structures to meet the requirements of the Scout Association and to look at ways that the District can help provide the most successful Scouting. No doubt at present, to the younger members in the Sections, the formation of a larger District has made little difference as it is quality of Scouting provided within the Groups that really matters, and that must continue.
The “lay member” dealing with public relations has with regret had to resign from the Executive due to unexpected work changes and we are now looking for a replacement. It is most essential to have a strong PR team and Groups will be asked to provide people to help in this respect. Each Group has been asked to provide a representative to serve on the Appointments Committee. Development is on the Executive agenda and help in this respect will also be required in due course.
Groups have been recently circulated requesting offers of help for emergency situations within the Borough. It is pleasing to note that the response to this has been good. “To help other people” is part of our Scout Promise. Well done.
Summer camps, activities and holidays having now taken place, we can look forward to a busy period to continue consolidating our District.
Awards
Medal of Merit
In recognition of outstanding services to Scouting
Jeff Simmons – District Explorer Scout Commissioner
Notes from the District Commissioner
I hope you all have had a good summer and those who went to camp had good weather. Can I please remind all Leaders that Nights Away Notifications are required for all camps no matter how short and they should be sent to the appropriate ADC or DESC in the case of Explorers.
Mobile Display Unit
We have been able to book the MDU for Saturday 8th October 2005 and it will be parked in Sutton Town Centre. The MDU is a large trailer filled with displays (photos and videos) on Scouting and is primarily aimed at adults to interest them in Scouting. There are areas for young people as well.
![[The Mobile Display Unit]](flysheet-2005-09-p1.jpg)
The Mobile Display Unit complete with bouldering wall
Help will be required to staff the display during the day as well as setting it up and taking it down. During the day we need people who are able to “button hole” members of the public and talk to them about Scouting in Sutton District. If you are interested in helping please give me a call on 020 8395 6835. This is a great opportunity to recruit more adults into Scouting and I hope that as many Leaders or non-uniformed members will offer to help.
EuroJam
Everyone who I have spoken to greatly enjoyed the camp and made many new friends. Listening to the range of events arranged it must have been a wonderful experience. Thank you to all the Leaders, specially Ray Shaw, who made the experience for the young people possible. A separate report is attached.
World Jamboree 2007
We are looking for Scouts and Explorer Scouts to represent the District as members of the County Contingent. If EuroJam was so good, just think what the World Jamboree will be like! As the Jamboree will celebrate 100 years of Scouting this will be a one-off experience. If you are interested please contact either Iain Bell or myself for more details.
District Camp 2007
We are arranging a District Camp over the second bank holiday weekend in 2007 at Walton Firs Camp Site. This will be part of the country wide celebration of the Centenary of Scouting. Anyone interested in helping to arrange the camp should let me know as soon as possible so the planning can begin.
Beavers
Don’t forget the District Beaver leaders meeting at District Headquarters on Thursday 22nd September at 7.45pm. Dates and information for forthcoming events will be issued.
There will be a District Swimming Gala on Saturday 29th October at Cheam Baths from 6pm until 10pm. Beaver events will count towards the Group Trophy. Details to follow, but now is the time to become enthusiastic and train your Colony.
Cubs
District Cub Sports Day
The District Cub Sports Day took place on Saturday 9th July at Sutton Arena. The events included flat races, potato races, hurdles, sack races, three-legged races, a relay race, a cricket ball throw, high jump and long jump.
14th Wallington finished in first place followed by 3rd Carshalton in second place and 1st North Wallington Gunson in third place. Also taking part were 5th Carshalton Arthern, 5th Carshalton Floyd, 6th Carshalton, 9th Carshalton, 2nd Cheam, 1st North Wallington Bren, 1st Wallington and 11th Wallington.
Ten Packs entered teams for the tug-of-war competition. The winners were 5th Carshalton Arthern.
Scouts
Well, the summer has been and gone and there have been a good many summer camps having taken place. Three separate troops turned up to their summer camp site to find other troops from just down the road camping on the same site – what are the odds on that happening – a bit like winning the lottery, if only! As I write I look forward to hearing the reports back from the summer camps. I myself was lucky enough to attend EuroJam (see separate report).
As the new Scouting year begins so we look forward to bringing together some wonderful events from both sides of our new District and perhaps some new ones as well; watch this space. We are already planning the Tate Shield and the 5-a-side football for November, and I am receiving Nights Away Notification forms for troops off to camp. What a great way to start the new year – keep up the great work.
EuroJam
Friday 29th July saw 22 young people (Scouts, Explorers and Guides) from around the District along with their leaders meet at Tesco’s car park to be wished farewell and good luck by parents and our District Commissioner, John Perkins, as we set off on an adventure of a lifetime. Our destination was Hylands Park in Chelmsford – yes, the same place as the recent V festival. After a very frustrating crawl around the UK’s biggest car park (otherwise known as the M25), we arrived at North Weald Airfield where we had to park our vehicles for the duration of the event. After registering we then boarded the coach that would take us to the main event. Another hour and finally, after about 4 hours, we arrived.
We were shown the way to where our sub-camp was located, and so began the first of many long walks to get there. We were met at the entrance of our sub-camp by Luke and a very large pile of kit which all had to be carried right across a very large field to our little corner of EuroJam. The event had begun and we had 12 days of opportunity to look ahead to. After a spectacular opening ceremony, where the Chief Scout made a spectacular entrance by rope, the scene was set for an event equal to no other. I hope in the next issue of the Flysheet to have reports from the young people themselves. We will also be making an evening presentation in the coming term, so if you would like to hear more about EuroJam then watch this space.
How Cup
The How Cup Competition, an annual camping competition open to patrols of five or six Scouts, took place over the weekend 8th–10th July at Boidier Hurst Scout Campsite near Box Hill. Seven Patrols, representing six Troops in the District, took part. The winning team this year was the 1st North Wallington team, closely followed by the 5th Carshalton team in second place and the 1st Wallington team in third place.
![[1st North Wallington Team]](flysheet-2005-09-p2.jpg)
The 1st North Wallington team holding the How Cup with Neil Heron (District Scout Leader) and John Perkins (District Commissioner)
75 Nights Away
While at EuroJam, the European Scout Jamboree, three Scouts from the 1st North Sutton’s Chindit Scout Troop achieved their 75th night away with the Scout Association.
![[1st North Sutton Chindit Troop Scouts]](flysheet-2005-09-p3.jpg)
Sophie, Stephen and Martin with Mark Patrick (Assistant County Commissioner Scouts) after receiving their awards at the jamboree
When presenting the awards, Mark said these were the first three of the new awards presented, and also congratulated Sophie on her achievement, since she had not been a Beaver Scout or a Cub Scout and had clocked up her 75 nights entirely as a Scout with Chindit Troop in only 3 years and 3 months.
Greater London South West Scout County launched 75-night and 100-night extended awards for the Nights Away scheme earlier this year. Further details of the awards can be found on the Greater London South West web site.
Chief Scout’s Gold Award
Steven Sooboodoo – 9th Carshalton
Steven Dunbar – 9th Carshalton
Russell Barbury – 9th Carshalton
Explorers
Welcome back after the Summer break. I hope those of you that went on an Expedition or Camp enjoyed themselves.
First things first. For those Explorers that are interested in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) and are not doing it via their school, then Croydon District are organising a DofE Club, the first meeting of which is on 21st September at 7:30 at 41 St Peters Road, South Croydon. All Explorers who need help or advice on DofE are very welcome – they meet once per month on the third Wednesday of the month; and there is an expedition training course at the end of January. They can also assist with the issuance of record books. It is not too far from buses into our District (407 and 455).
All Leaders will be being sent forms [also available on the District web site] for any of their Young Leaders to complete, whether they are in a ‘mainstream’ Explorer Unit or not. These are also required for any non-Explorer Young Leaders i.e. someone doing service for DofE. This is so that we can get an idea as to how much training we need to lay on.
This term I shall be looking at linking both from Scouts to Explorers but also from Explorers to Network, since both sides are not working as well as we would like. So expect a barrage of documents in a few weeks’ time.
You will see from looking at the Diary that we have a date firmly placed. That of course is next Easter and Estrek, an event familiar with the eastern side of the District and older members of the western side (i.e. over 30!!). For those that do not know, Estrek is an event that may be used for all award work within Explorers since it consists of teams of Explorer Scouts walking for three and a half days in a National Park in the UK (the Peak District in Derbyshire this year), where the team plan the walk. Hopefully you have all received the note from Ben Pearcy regarding Estrek and have all contacted him regarding an initial training session.
Well that’s it for this month. I will contact you all shortly with some dates for a Leaders meeting, as we are about due for one.
Volleyball Competition
The Double Dragon Explorer team were runners-up at the GLSW Network/Explorer Volleyball Competition held at Twickenham Rugby Football Club in Hampton on 11th September. Other teams taking part included a team from Ifield (the winners), a GLSW Network team and a Wimbledon & Wandle Explorer team.
Diary 2005
| Saturday 17th September | District Cub Scientist Badge |
| Tuesday 20th September | District Scout Leaders Meeting |
| Wednesday 21st September | Croydon DofE Club, 41 St Peters Road, South Croydon |
| Thursday 22nd September | District Beaver Leaders Meeting |
| Saturday/Sunday 24th/25th September | Introduction to Bushcraft Course – Contact Graeme Wood on 07860 465769 |
| Monday 26th September | Young Leaders Module A Training (District HQ) |
| Tuesday 27th September | District Cub Leaders Meeting |
| Saturday/Sunday 1st/2nd October | County Scout Mission Improbable |
| Saturday 8th October | Scout Mobile Display Unit to visit Sutton Town Centre |
| Sunday 9th October | County Scout/Explorer Cyclo-Cross Competition |
| Saturday/Sunday 15th/16th October | County Explorer Night Hike (book by 7th October) |
| Thursday 20th October | District Group Scout Leaders Meeting |
| Saturday 29th October | District Swimming Gala |
| Saturday 19th November | District Cub Challenge Trophy |
| District Scout Tate Shield | |
| County Cub Swimming Gala | |
| Sunday 27th November | County Scout/Explorer Orienteering Competition (book by 21st November) |
| Thursday–Monday 13th–17th April 2006 | Estrek 2006 – Derbyshire |
Gone Home
Keith Steele
Keith Steele, Chairman of 1st Cheam’s Group Executive Committee, died on Saturday, 6th August 2005. He was 57.
Keith had been associated with 1st Cheam for 48 years, having joined the cubs in 1957 at the age of nine and a half. He moved on through the Group, being highly active in the Scout Troop, the Senior Scouts and the Rover Crew. In May 1997 he accepted the invitation to become Group Chairman, an office he held for eight years.
The Group and District sends its condolences to his wife Sally and their four children, Hannah, James, Julie and Fiona.
Adam Smith
Adam Smith, aged 18 years, died in Majorca on 23rd August 2005.
Adam was an Explorer Scout with the Sutton Explorer Scout Unit and a former member of the Trinity Scout and Guide Group.
A dedicated Scout and an example to all.
PAGGS Camp 2006
PAGGS Camp 2006 will be held in Apeldoorn, Holland from 1st–9th August 2006. The camp is open to Guides, Scouts, Explorers and Rangers aged between 11 and 21 years and leaders. Details and application forms are on the District web site or contact Madeleine Baldwin on 020 8680 5467. The closing date for applications is 1st January 2006.
Canoe Club
Pool sessions will recommence on Sundays 18th September, 16th October, 20th November and 18th December at the pool at Wimbledon College. Details on the District web site or contact Shirley Quemby on 020 8642 3720.
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 November issue should be sent to reach the editor by 28th October 2005.