Scout report 2007 - 2008

Once again this has been a great year for our Section with ever increasing numbers, including the reopening of one Troop, bringing the total to eight in the District. We would like to build even further on this but, of course, to do so we need to recruit more Leaders as well as ensuring that we retain our very valuable existing ones.

The Centenary year continued with -

DISTRICT SWIMMING GALA in October, with entries up on last year and all Troops taking part. Honours went to 25th Ealing for the Aggregate Points Trophy and 8th Ealing the Troop Relay, and with the help of 2 cubs the Inter Group Relay. 5-A-SIDE FOOTBALL was disappointing, with only 8 teams from 6 Troops entering the competition. 7th Hanwell ‘A’ team were not only League champions but also defeated the ‘B’ team in the final of the K.O. Cup. It has been a very full and exciting programme for Scouts in the Centenary Year and we are sure it will be long remembered.
The new year started with the CROSS COUNTRY which, once again, was open to Cubs, Scouts, Explorer Scouts, Leaders and Parents, with entries being maintained at last year’s level. The overall Scout Trophy went to 7th Hanwell.
TOTEM CAMP both the Training Camp and the Main Camp were well attended with entries being maintained at last year’s level. Once again it was a great opportunity for Leaders and Helpers to get together, not only to assist in marking and instruction but to see what actually goes on over the weekend. This year 1st Hanwell Panthers were the winners with 671 points, with 7th Hanwell Cobras and 1st Ealing North Kestrels in 2nd and 3rd place respectively.
My thanks must go to Dave Folkerd who took over the Training Camp and, together with his team, made it a great success. In the main camp, I must thank Malcolm Turner, John Barber, Pete Balls, John Foxwell, Jane and Graham Stanton, not forgetting Jim Vaux and his crew for feeding all at the training camp. Thanks also go to Leaders, Tim Douglas and Josh Aqui for organising, yet again, a great night activity, and Ben Douglas for producing printouts of the mark sheets on the day.
DISTRICT FUN CAMP took place on 5/6th July at Stoke Poges with Cubs, Scouts, Explorer Scouts, Leaders and Helpers camping, and Beavers with Leaders and Parents visiting onSunday. Overall we had 262 on site during the course of the weekend and right on schedule for this event we had some of the wettest July weather that has been experienced for some time. It did not dampen spirits as we had already programmed for water orientated sports on the first day anyway, so everyone had expected to get wet over the weekend but not to the levels we experienced. These are just the highlights of our Section activities with all Troops having held weekend camps, totem practises and summer camps, to complement the full and challenging programmes set.

The 16th Ealing Troop reopened in April after many years and we wish Richard Brittlebank every success and the full support of the District. Our congratulations go to Dominic Figon, lst Ealing North Scout Leader, on achieving the Queens Scout Badge, the first in the District for many years. This takes a lot of hard and dedicated work over a long period and is a great honour - well done Dominic.

I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank all the Leaders, Assistants and Helpers for a wonderful year’s work, and for the support that has been given to me. My thanks must also go to their partners for allowing them to continue their interest.

JOHN SEAR
Assistant District Commisioner Scouts

Visit to the House of Commons

Back in June six of us from 1st Hanwell were given the chance to visit the House of Commons for the Speakers Tea Party which was attended by Scouts from across the country. We travelled to Westminster by tube and met up with Steve Pound MP inside the House of Commons.
Steve showed us around and then it was time to head for the Speakers Chambers where we met Derek Twine, Chief Executive of the Scout Association and Chief Scout, Peter Duncan, who was shorter and posher than I remember him from Blue Peter.
Each group had a photo taken with the MP’s and the Deputy Speaker, then we had some sandwiches and cake and listened to speeches from Stephen Pound MP, David Amess MP and Bob Russell MP, the three MP’s who lead the parliamentary all party scout group. There was a centenary birthday cake, which was cut and everyone had a slice. It was the day before Gordon Brown became Prime Minster and Steve Pound rushed off to see if we could meet him but he was a bit busy !!!! Steve showed us some more of the House of Commons and we met a few more MP’s – the then Chair of the Labour Party – Hazel Blears and the Secretary of State for Defence, Des Browne
Time had run out and we had to be on our way – a very interesting day.
Paul Phillips SL1st Hanwell