SCOUTING EAST
No.218 The Journal of East Belfast Scouting FEBRUARY 2001
From The Editor
I hope that you all survived the arctic conditions and heavy snow showers that besieged most of the Province over the Christmas and New Year holidays. Perhaps some of our Beavers and Cubs (and maybe a few Venture Scouts and Leaders!) had the opportunity to build snowmen or throw a few carefully aimed snowballs? The snow certainly did not seem to deter some of the more adventurous in East. Indeed, that hardy lot down in Oakland Avenue braved the elements for their traditional Christmas morning football match and the 10th Old Boys Association were also out in force a few days later for a very successful ramble and treasure hunt before defrosting in front of the fire afterwards during a meal and table quiz at a well-known local Hostelry. News has also reached Scouting East of at least one Akela who couldn’t resist the urge to dust down her old sledge from the attic and take to the slopes of North Down!! I enjoyed the chance to catch up with a few former Leaders who were home for Christmas; Andrew Totten and Dougie Black, both ex-10th , were back in Belfast and pass on their best wishes to all in East. Andrew hopes to be returning permanently to Northern Ireland later in the year.
At the last District Scouters’ Meeting before Christmas, our DC talked about ‘putting the buzz back into East’. So it is especially good to start 2001 with some great news of the East District Cub Team’s success in the Belfast County Swimming Gala, and also of continued progress in the re-establishment of a Scout Group in Tamar Street. It is also encouraging that no fewer than nine new Leaders were appointed at the recent District Appointments Subcommittee meeting. I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome you all and wish you every success and fulfilment in your new role. Hopefully, your names will soon be added to the Scouting East mailing list, and I would encourage you all to drop me a few lines from time to time to keep me informed about all that is going on in your Group or Section. Best wishes,
David
News from 30th Pack ……
The Pack celebrated St.Andrew’s Day on 30th November in style with a Scottish Night including Highland Dancing, a Scottish Quiz, and Indoor Highland Games tournament, ending off with haggis and highland toffee washed down with Irn Bru. In December, 27th and 30th Packs came together at the Jack Britton Hall one Thursday evening for a visit by two paramedics, one of whom was Nigel, one of the ACSLs at 27th, to tell us all about the work of the NI Ambulance Service and give us a guided tour of their ambulance. Many thanks to Nigel for arranging this visit.
30th Pack missed out on the District Christingle this year as it coincided with our own Youth Carol Service in Gilnahirk Presbyterian. 6 of the older Cubs took part in a short sketch during the service called ‘The Wally’s Guide to Christmas’ in which we reflected on the true meaning of the festive season. Many thanks to Robbie, Chris, Ross, Max, David and Chris who put a lot of effort into preparing for this play which was well received on the night by the congregation. The following Thursday we delivered Christmas parcels including groceries and Christmas decorations made by the Cubs themselves to 10 sick or elderly members of the congregation. Both the parcels and the visits from the Cubs were much appreciated by the recipients. It should be noted though that things did not always run smoothly. Each Leader took one six, intending to visit two homes. For the record, only Akela managed to run into any difficulty (twice!). Firstly, much to his embarrassment and everyone else’s amusement, he misread an address (it must have been Baloo’s writing, it’s much too soon to need to visit the Optician again!!) and gate-crashed the wrong house with a group of Cubs singing carols and bearing gifts! At the second house, the recipient offered all of the Cubs orange juice which they politely accepted and dutifully drank becoming progressively quieter and looking increasingly uncomfortable as time went on. Only when the lady apologised for forgetting about him and then insisted on offering Akela a glass as well, did he realise what was wrong with the Cubs… she had forgotten to dilute the orange! Like a true Leader to his men, Akela also dutifully downed his drink neat, before we all made a hasty exit and hot-footed it back to the Jack Britton Hall gasping for pints of water!
We rounded off the year with a visit to the pantomime Cinderella at St.Mark’s, Dundela. Many thanks to Richard (ACSL, 10th) who not only arranged tickets for us but reserved seats at the front in prime position for the Cubs to scramble for the sweets thrown regularly from the stage by the cast. The Cubs were delighted to meet up with Richard again whom some of them had not seen since our joint summer camp in the Isle of Man, particularly Max who greeted him enthusiastically at the door with the words ‘Cool make-up, which Ugly Sister are you?’ (It should be noted however that Richard wasn’t actually acting in the play at all but was in charge of sound and lights!’)
David, CSL 30th
From the DC’s Press Office, 10th HQ Oakland Avenue December 24th
Officially announced from McMordie Hall,
In bleak midwinter, some great news to cheer us all.
For on Christmas Eve, we do believe,
ACSL Jamie did finally get down on bended knee
To ask the fair Pamela, ‘Will you marry me?
‘Yes, of course’ This marriage proposal Pamela could simply not resist,
After all, the chance to be bombarded by 10th Cubs with confetti is not to be missed
Congratulations to you both from all in East,
We eagerly look forward to the Wedding Feast.
(The Editor is currently locked in negotiations to secure exclusive rights to the coverage of the Big Day for Scouting East but still faces stiff competition from the Tatler and Hello magazine)
News from 27th Pack ….
Our final Cub night before Christmas was a joint effort between ourselves and the 30th Pack. Thanks to David for inviting us ‘up the road’ to share in a most informative and enjoyable evening with the Ambulance Service. Thanks also to our very own Bagheera (Nigel) and his colleague for giving us lots of useful information and demonstrations. The highlight of the evening was, of course, piling into the back of the ambulance and in case you were wondering, it seems that 20 Cubs can all fit in at once! A great time was had by all and we look forward to another joint pack night soon.
Alison Brown,27th CSL
District Appointments Subcommittee
At its Meeting on 12th January, the following were recommended for the award of Leader Warrants, provided that they are not found to have any legal or moral skeletons in the cupboard. Once again, we found them to be a great bunch of folk and the appearance of skeletons is most unlikely. Welcome and Good Luck all of you!
Hugh John Burgess ASL 4th
Stephen Carroll ACSL 99th
Miss Erin Patricia Clark ABSL 33rd
Miss Helen Elizabeth Joyce ACSL 9th
Miss Alison Claire Kennedy ACSL 99th
Stephen Law ACSL 73rd
Mrs. Collette Ann Quee ABSL 99th
Peter Thomas Simpson ACSL 4th
Mrs. Pamela Jayne Skillen ABSL 99th
Philip Holland, Sub-Committee Chairman
A Word of Thanks
Sincere thanks from Rhoda and myself to all our Scouting friends who telephoned or called at our home following our recent road accident. We found this caring concern quite moving and wish to convey our deep appreciation for it. Thanks also to the Editor for his kind words when reporting our ‘dodgem doings’ in January’s ‘Scouting East’ Finally, as the privileged Founder-Editor of this illustrious little paper (now entering its 40th Year!) may I wish ‘S.E.’ and its current Editor continuing success in 2001 and beyond- KKK!
Ernie Sharp
From the District President
As President, I must be speaking for all of the District in congratulating District Chairman, Billy Jenkins, on his award of the MBE for his voluntary services to The Chartered Surveyors’ Benevolent Fund. His efforts extend to the whole of Ireland and there are many surveyors and their families who have been helped by Billy’s good offices and counselling. As a Professional myself, I must tell you that there can be just as much emotional, financial and health stress amongst Professional people as there is among the more publicized sectors of society. Of course, the ‘Awards Powers’ could easily have extended their remit into Billy’s work for Scouting and for his Church: Billy is just a good practical Christian who is prepared to get on quietly to do what he can to help others. We look forward to seeing Billy’s foty in the Tele, with his penguin outfit and funny hat, and standing outside Buck Palace. Well done!
Philip Holland
4th/99th Pack Holiday at Gosford Guide House
Once again the two packs got together for a weekend away!30 boys and Leaders packed themselves into a bus and cars and set off. We settled in and went for a night hike round Gosford Castle - spooky in the dark and even spookier when the boys are telling ghost stories. Saturday was spent in the woods building bivvies, lighting fires and backwoods cooking. The local DC paid a visit and was very impressed at the 'back to basics' activities. On Saturday night we wrapped up in all the clothes we had with us and headed out to the car park to look at the stars - the 4th's telescope put 99th's to shame - but both got the same results - the Cubs were able to see Jupiter and its moons and look at the rings round Saturn. This finished off the Astronomer badge for the 4th and set 99th boys well on the way to achieving theirs.
It was a great weekend all round - enjoyed by both boys and Leaders.
Alex, 99th CSL
PS Can I just say a big thank you to Mowgli and Mang from the 99th for running Cubs while I am working in London - it is very much appreciated.
From the District Commissioner
Can I wish you all a Happy New Year and a successful one for all Groups in the District. I have recently appointed Julie McIntyre (ACSL 99th) and Suzanne Mclachlan (BSL 33rd) to head our District "Young Leaders Forum" which we hope will commence soon, aimed for all our Young Leaders, helpers etc. under 25 years of age to meet socially and have more imput into the running and organisation of our District. I hope that our younger Scouters will join with this forum and I wish Julie and Suzanne well as they take on this important development in our District.
I met with Anne Jackson (ACC Development) and Sinclair Trotter (Field Commissioner) at our newly acquired Scout facility at Tamer Street recently and have seen first hand the new facilities for the new Scout Group in this area. We are about to appoint new leadership for this group and hopefully with the support from all you people out there in East District will be launching this new Scouting Development programme on the young people of the lower Newtownards Road/Dee Street area. I would ask for the support from all our Groups in East to back this project and we will be announcing a date for a "District work party" to clean, prepare and make ready the Tamer Street Hall for the launch of our newest Scout Group in East Belfast. We hope to soon announce the formation of a new "District Fellowship" for East and again would ask for the support from all Groups in this venture.
Deputy DC Alan Campbell will be setting up a team responsible for adult recruitment for the District and we will be announcing the formation of a "Development Team" for the District who will be looking at every Group within the District, their problems with Leadership, area of recruitment, location etc and will report back with views on how to solve any problems which Groups and the District in general may have. We are looking at the possibility of a District one day conference sometime after Easter where everyone in East can come together and we can address all the findings and recommendations of these various teams and groups and map out the way forward for Scouting in East Belfast. We might even throw in a free lunch!!!!
Keep all the Group activities going. Lets have plenty of camping this year. Keep the Editor happy with plenty of reports of "goings on " within your Group or Section and more importantly lets make this a year where we get East Belfast Scouting back up and running on all cylinders.
Ian
East Cubs Triumph again at the Belfast County Gala
Congratulations to the East District Team of Stuart Brown (99th), Patrick McMorran (99th), Jonathan McLearnon (99th), Jason Harvey (24th), Ross Clark (30th) and Paul Johnston (30th) who retained the County Shield for another year at the Gala held at the Robinson Centre on 13th January. East put in an impressive performance, with a total haul of 11 individual medals, plus Gold in the Relay. Stuart and Paul came first and third, respectively, in the final event of the night, the Champion of Champions Race. Individual results were as follows:
Gold, Senior Breaststroke Stuart Brown (99th E)
Silver, Senior Breaststroke Ross Clark (30th E)
Silver, Junior Breaststroke Patrick McMorran (99th E)
Gold, Senior Backstroke Paul Johnston (30th E)
Silver, Senior Backstroke Stuart Brown (99th E)
Silver, Junior Backstroke Patrick McMorran (99th E)
Bronze, Junior Backstroke Jason Harvey (24th E)
Gold, Senior Freestyle Stuart Brown (99th E)
Silver, Senior Freestyle Paul Johnston (30th E)
Silver, Junior Freestyle Jason Harvey (24th E)
Bronze, Junior Freestyle Patrick McMorran (99th E)
Champion of Champions Stuart Brown (99th E)
Medals Table Gold Silver Bronze Total
East 4 6 2 12
West 3 0 1 4
North 0 0 4 4
David, 30th CSL
Billy Jenkins, M.B.E.
Many congratulations from the members of the District Executive, District Team and all of East’s Scouters to our Honorary District Chairman, Billy Jenkins, on his award of the MBE in Her Majesty’s 2001 New Year’s Honours List in recognition of his charity work on behalf of the Chartered Surveyors’ Benevolent Fund. We wish Billy and Brenda a memorable and enjoyable day at the Palace and look forward to hearing more about this at a future date.
Events in February
17th: NI Orienteering Competition, Crawfordsburn Scout Centre
Contact: Colin Turtle or Sinclair Trotter
24/25th: Annual Leaders'Conference, Slieve Donard Hotel, Newcastle
Contact: Ken Gillespie, HQ
News & Views, Letters & Comments, Reports & Announcements to the Editor:
e.mail: d.bell@qub.ac.uk or eastbelfast@yahoo.com
not later than 6th February for the March Issue please!
