SCOUTING EAST
No.214 The Journal of East Belfast Scouting OCTOBER 2000
From The District Chairman
District Commissioner:Mr.Maynard Porter, the County Commissioner, has appointed Ian Diamond to the post of District Commissioner for East. Ian is well known in the District and has shown over a long period of time his application, dedication and leadership. I know that all the Scouters in East will support him in his important new role. He has arranged a District Scouters’ meeting for October (details to follow). Please endeavour to attend to hear about his plans for the future of Scouting in East. The District Executive wish him every success and will continue to support the District Team and Scouters as they take us into the 21st century.
David McFarland: Everyone will now be aware that during the summer David resigned his position as DC. The County Commissioner in his article in the September issue of Belfast Scouting thanked him for his work for Scouting in the County and District. On behalf of the District Executive I would like to thank David for his efforts and dedication in leading East in what proved to be a successful period in our history. Notwithstanding the fact that his work necessitated him being away from home during the week he ensured that the District was fully functional. Fortunately he is not lost to Scouting because he will continue to support 33rd Group. We would also like to thank his wife and family for supporting David in his District duties.
Millennium Camp:I visited the camp at Delamont Country Park on two occasions over the weekend of 26th-28th May. Everyone was thoroughly enjoying themselves. The opening ceremony was very impressive. It started at the Millennium Stone then everyone processed to the Beacon which was lit by the Chairman of Down District Council. Everything was well organised thanks to DC, David, Deputy DC, Ian, their team and volunteer workers. It was very evident that a lot of thought and planning went into this camp. An event like this makes one proud to be a member of East and the wider community of Scouting. Well done to all those who participated and enjoyed a memorable weekend.
50th Anniversary:Congratulations to David and Nance Harrison who celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary on 16th September. They have proved to be an excellent team. David’s work in East Belfast, Belfast County and Northern Ireland has been made possible by Nance’s strong support. Well done to you both and many thanks for your continuing support of Scouting in East.
Billy Jenkins, District Chairman
From The Editor
Many of you will by now have learned of David’s decision to step down as District Commissioner for East Belfast. David had undoubtedly started to make his own mark on the District and did his best during the last two years to juggle his commitment to Scouting and in particular his role as DC with the increasingly onerous demands of a challenging and successful career. Had circumstances been different, he would have wished to devote more time to making a much greater contribution to supporting and developing Scouting in our District than he was able to. We should record our thanks to David for all that he did achieve in his time as DC and for the duties that he willingly undertook on our behalf. It is good to know that he is not lost to completely to Scouting, but will return to Leadership within the 33rd Group. David’s successor will be Ian Diamond, GSL 10th and ADC (LT) who has proved to be a very competent and efficient Deputy to David in recent months. We wish Ian well and look forward to working with him. Please show him your support by ensuring a large turnout at the forthcoming District Scouters’ Meeting.
By now you have probably also received a copy of the document detailing the proposed changes to the uniform. Am I the only one who has reservations about dressing Cub Scouts in ‘mint green’ sweatshirts and Leaders in dull grey shirts? My Cubs were distinctly unimpressed too when I showed them the questionnaire. Personally, I’d keep the existing uniform with the provision that the adult trousers and Cub shorts are changed to something more practical and fashionable such as combats or perhaps chinos for the adults. An option of a polo or rugby shirt or T-shirt for less formal occasions would also be useful for Cubs and Scouts- many Groups have their own already- but difficult to sew badges on to so it would still be necessary and much smarter to have a Scout shirt or Cub jumper for more formal occasions. How about branding a Scout Belt as each activity badge is completed? We could buy a set of brands and then wouldn’t need to keep buying new badges from the Scout Shop? Just a thought, but probably not very practical! One other concern I have is the mismatch of uniform options which will alienate those less able to afford the optional extras as well as leading to even more variation both within and between the Groups in our District than at present. If you feel strongly about the proposed changes, do act NOW by completing the questionnaire before the deadline!
David
East Cub Leaders shipwrecked on Port Erin Beach
30th Pack’s summer camp took place in the Isle of Man from 16th-23rd August. We were also joined by some Cubs and Leaders from 10th Pack. This year, Akela decided against the compulsory dosing of all the Cubs with sea-sickness tablets before boarding the Seacat, with the result that we were treated to the sight of several Cubs and one Leader (who shall remain nameless) sitting out on deck clutching sick bags and looking an unhealthy shade of green when the crossing got a little rough.
Our base for the week was Trinity Methodist Church Hall in the centre of Douglas, ideal for the shops and the beach although the one-way traffic system and limited parking facilities taxed Akela’s driving skills to the limit, while the climb up the steep hill from the sea front nearly proved too much on occasion for the 10th minibus and a few of the leaders alike.
An active and busy itinerary started with a tour of the Laxey Wheel and Mines, and then on to the Snaefell summit by Mountain Railway. Taking advantage of the glorious weather, we opted to walk back down the path rather than taking the train, stopping off en route at the Motorcycle Museum (a Biker’s paradise on the hillside bearing an uncanny resemblance to the inside of John Corry’s garage and not much bigger) at the request of Pamela (ACSL 10th). Pamela had been enthralled by this museum during our last joint camp in 1997 and was once again mesmerised by the display case full of spark plugs! There were also visits to the Ramsey Lifeboat Station, Castle Rushen, Curragh’s Wildlife Park and to the House of Mannanan and Castle at Peel. This coincided with a Viking festival in Peel Harbour at which we were able to cheer on the various teams in the longboat race, before heading on for some fun at the nearby beach.
As there were no showers where we were staying, we made regular visits to the island’s swimming pools. At Castletown, we were inspected by an elderly lady attendant. If our bathing attire was deemed acceptable we were allowed in. Those wearing baggy shorts that could possibly catch in the drain of the pool were forced to wear speedos much to the amusement of everyone else. Even more entertaining was the moment when Johnny (ACSL 10th) was shouted at by the pool attendant for playing with the rafts and inflatables set out for the childrens’ fun session! We also tried out the new National Sports Centre in Douglas and had great fun on the waterslides, even Akela eventually was persuaded down the pitch dark tunnel crashing out the other end in a record breaking 30 seconds!
Onchan Park proved a big hit again this year. We spent an evening playing crazy golf before taking to the rowing boats for the inevitable water-fight. Once again the Leaders came off worse than the Cubs. We returned later in the week to spectate at the Onchan Stock Car Races: the Cubs thought this was really cool, especially when there was a three car pile up on the track!: thankfully though none of the drivers were hurt. We also had a go at roller-skating at the Douglas Pleasuredome; once again the Cubs quickly mastered this and put in an accomplished performance, while some of the Leaders took gingerly to the floor with all the grace of a bull in a china shop. Skinned elbows and bruised knees didn’t stop the Leaders indulging later in the evening, albeit unwillingly in some cases, in a new sport devised by Wesley, called ‘Indoor Taboggining’. This involved being wakened from where some of the Leaders were sleeping on the landing at the top of the stairs to find yourself being launched by Wesley and hurtling down the stairs on your air-bed still in your sleeping bag! I still have the scars to prove it and I can’t quite see it becoming an Olympic sport!!!
One of the highlights of the week was the Port Erin RNLI Fun Day. After parading to the Sunday morning service at Trinity Church, all the Cubs headed along to join in the beach games and sand castle building. But the main reason for travelling to Port Erin was so that they could cheer on four of the Leaders, David, Jamie, Richard and Johnny, who had entered the annual Port Erin Raft Race.
We had even received a mention on local radio the day before the event. We arrived early to build our raft carefully from the materials provided only to discover that building the raft was also part of the actual race. Having dipped our toes in the icy water and eyed up the competition- many of the other dozen teams were veterans of the event- we started to wonder exactly what we were doing there but with all the Cubs to cheer us on there was no going back - we couldn’t disappoint our fans! The whistle blew and we set to building our raft amidst a running commentary from the organisers on the ‘Scouts’ knotting skills and raft design’. We launched the raft. What happened next is a blur but apparently this is the correct sequence of events..David got on, David fell off, David got on again, Jamie tried to get on, Jamie fell off, the raft up-ended, David was catapulted into the water, the knots unravelled and the raft fell apart (I reckon we would have needed some lessons from Alan Campbell and the Sea Scouts from 27th). Undeterred, we swam on round the course dragging the wooden pallets, oil drums, oars and miscellaneous debris and all the while some of our Cubs were being interviewed by the radio crew and saying how embarrassed they were! Despite our valiant efforts we were disappointed not to win the most Heroic Failure Award and were even more humiliated when we picked up a special Visitors’ Trophy after one of the sixers, Peter, literally begged live on radio on our behalf!!
The Cubs had their turn a few days later at Mooragh Park in Ramsey. There Simon, our instructor for the day, divided them into two teams and helped them to construct and race two rafts across the boating lake to the island and back. To encourage them not to fall in, he pretended to frighten the Cubs with stories of Cub-eating eels at the bottom of the lake. The Cubs were not convinced..much to our amusement one of our Leaders was! (and no for once it wasn’t me!). Once the rafts were launched and the race was underway, the Cubs were like sitting ducks in the water. The Leaders couldn’t resist the opportunity to get their own back for the soaking at Onchan earlier in the week.. The sight of Wesley and Jamie drenching the Cubs from a Pedalo was priceless!
We rounded off a busy week with a Spying Mission and Treasure Hunt in Douglas. Only Johnny’s team managed to obtain 24 of the 25 items on the list ranging from a kipper to the most tacky tourist souvenir for £1.. even they couldn’t manage to find a paw print from a Manx Cat though!! Congratulations to Christopher Foye and Mark White who won the 30th and 10th Pack Cub of the Camp Shields respectively and to all those who completed the Cook and Local Historian Badges while at camp. Many thanks to Carolyn (ADC South) and to the 10th Cubs and Leaders who joined us for a memorable and enjoyable week.
David and Fiona, 30th
News from 10th Belfast Scout Group
After years of planning and a year of building, the 10th Group’s New Hall Development has finally been completed and will be officially opened on Saturday 21st October 2000. An expected turnout of around 300 Group Members, Old Boys, VIPs etc. will see 10th enter the Millennium with its new Headquarters comprising of Main Hall, Minor Hall, Kitchen Facilities, Computer Suite, Museum and Committee Room, Offices and a social area, along with new equipment stores, garage for the Group’s minibus and Dens for the Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Venture Unit. Already the Prince’s Trust and Castlereagh College have signed up to use the Group’s new facilities during the day and it is hoped that the ‘McMordie Scout Complex’ will become a focal point for community work in the Dundela area and also for East Belfast District Scouts.
Ian Diamond, GSL 10th
And from 10th Troop...
The summer is over and we can look back on a great summer camp at Gilwell Park, London, in July which 10 Scouts and 5 Scouters attended with wide-ranging activities from sight-seeing to keeping fires alight in the rain. After this, the Troop sent a team of 8 Scouts in August to the Melvin 2000 competition at Larch Hill, Dublin. After six years’ absence, the Troop was again well received and the Scouts returned home with the Mike Loder Visitors’ Shield and a great placing of joint 12th from 54 teams. Well done to all and thanks to Mike for all the hard work and organisation.
The Troop has restarted and thanks must go to our Group Committee for the hard work and super Hall that we have now got. Things at the Tenth have changed with central heating and showers with hot water! The Troop remains very active with a weekend in the Mournes planned for the start of October and a PL/APL training course before Christmas and plenty of weekends at the cottage in between. Things remain happy at Oakland Avenue and we look forward to our new recruits from the Cubs joining all the fun.
Robert McKissick, SL 10th
33rd Venture Unit visit to Switzerland, July 2000
33rd Unit spent the first two weeks of July at Kandersteg International Scout Centre in the Swiss Mountains. During this time we climbed Hockenhorn (10,000 ft) – despite the sore feet afterwards it was well worthwhile as we raised £600 for the Children’s Hospice in the process. A big thank you to Sid the camp manager and to our activities instructor, Radu, who previously worked at Crawfordsburn (‘94-‘96).
Ian McLachlan, VSL
On Saturday 1st July, 7 excited Venture Scouts left the comforts of home to the surprising comforts of Switzerland. Imagine 7 Venture Scouts all in uniform walking to the plane, flying to London and then catching the coach for the long journey. We were kept amused by our coach drivers and one young Scottish Cub. Excitement was somewhat dampened by the time we got there as we were all so tired. But I was excited as it was 2nd July , my 18th birthday. By the time dinner came round everyone was starving. After dinner, I was surprised with a birthday cake and cards and some presents from home (thanks guys!). Then we went out.
The next day we started our gruelling challenges (joke!). We walked up to the lake. It was quite tiring. Once we got there you could not see two feet in front of you because of the low clouds. On 4th July, we went white water rafting. This was one of the funniest days as we missed the train. We got on the wrong train and then ran to catch the right one but when we got to the right platform we were in time to watch it pull away. So we got the next train and then went white water rafting – it was really good. But cold! You get such a buzz when you do it!
Climbing Hockenhorn, we really saw the beauty of Switzerland. We got up early, had breakfast and then went to meet our guide, Rudu. We hiked over all sorts of terrain, some quite hard and steep. We got to the hut and stayed there until morning. We hiked down again. It was really hot and the scenery was beautiful. We also did a snow and ice course- it was very cold. We wore crampons to enable us to walk on the glacier and some of us climbed with ice axes and absailed down a crevice.
All in all, it was one of the best holidays I’ve ever been on. Everything we did was well planned by our Leaders, Ian and Michelle. Thank you for a great time!!
Erin Clark, 33rd Unit
9th East Belfast Scout Group
(Sydenham Methodist Church, Palmerston Road, Belfast)
ART EXHIBITION AND SALE OF PAINTINGS
Proceeds in aid of Sydenham Methodist Church Building Fund
Friday 13th October 2000 10.00am-9.00pm
Saturday 14th October 2000 10.00am-6.00pm
Paintings by many local artists
Catalogue and refreshments £1.50
Big Brother is watching YOU......!
Those of you who have avidly followed the Channel 4 series Big Brother during the course of the summer might be as alarmed as I was to discover that Big Brother even has his spies out and about on the streets of East Belfast, judging by the following note slipped to your editor:-
Question:Which well known Cub Leader in ‘East’ couldn’t pitch a Dome Tent properly at the Millennium Camp- and broke a pole?
Answer:The same Leader who was seen leaving Church on Sunday morning with a teddy-bear in hand!!! (claims it belonged to his little godson!!)(Added clue: He’s good with words!)
News in Brief
Congratulations to Ross Stewart, 33rd Beaver Scout, who picked up a Bronze Medal at the Disabled British Gymnastics Tournament in May. Well done from Ameek and all the Leaders and Beavers at 33rd Stormont.
Congratulations to Alex Henry, CSL 99th, on her recent promotion in work. Alex’s new job involves working in London three days each week but we hope that we will still see her about the District as often as possible, particularly for Saturday events, competitions and camps.Julie and Emma will continue to run the Pack in her absence.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery to our former Appointments Secretary, Rhoda, who hasn’t been well lately, and also to our new DC, Ian, who has been laid up in bed with a bad back….the official explanation from his press secretary is that he tried to lift a jet ski single-handedly!!!
Events in October
7th: NI Cub Scout Challenge, Crawfordsburn
Contact: Eric Wilson or Vic Wooton
14th: Junior Ardnavalley Walk
Contact: SE District, Ardnavalley Scout Centre
16th: District Scouters' Meeting at 7th Belfast HQ at 8.30pm, please try to attend
Contact: Ian Diamond or Anne Jackson
News & Views, Letters & Comments, Reports & Announcements to the Editor:
e.mail: d.bell@qub.ac.uk or eastbelfast@yahoo.com
not later than 6th October for the November Issue please!
