News Archive
Remembrance with a difference
On the evening of Remembrance Sunday at St. Lukes Church, Grayshott, the local Scout Group took over the Church for a very different, and more poignant Service for the youngsters. With some pews turned around at the back, a large screen with scenes of poppies, service personnel on patrol in Afghanistan, bombings, troops relaxing off duty, and repatriation of a body from a war zone, all made the Service more relevant for the youngsters. Organised by husband and wife Scout Leader team Laura and Dan Miles with music provided by family members, the significance of the Service really hit home, particularly after the Scouts had all been given a slip of paper with a picture and brief circumstances of a soldier killed in the last year. All were different, and during the service one by one they were displayed reverently on a pin board.
At the end of the Service the District Commissioner Frank Kitchener presented Wood Badges to Laura & Dan who had completed their Leader training. Laura also received a 5 year service certificate, and Mark Fosberry, an Asst. Cub Scout Leader with Grayshott Scout Group received his Certificate of Appointment.
1st Camelsdale Clean-up
With reports up and down the country of memorials being vandalised, bronze plaques being stolen, and in some cases statues being cut from their plinths to be sold for scrap, it was very gratifying to see Camelsdale Scouts on Saturday morning cleaning up the War Memorial at Camelsdale ponds ready for the next day's parade and service. They scrubbed the stonework clean, edged and weeded the paths, and their Leaders replaced some of the broken stonework.
The work was supported by the Mabel Grant Trust, who are working to get the whole area around the memorial and the pond tidied up.
Chiddingfold Explorer Unit
At their meeting in Chiddingfold Baptist Church on Thursday 10th November, Police Constable Ralph Swindells of Haslemere Police, chaired a discussion among the young men and women who were Explorer Scouts there. The main topic of discussion was anti - social behaviour and excess drinking by young people in the area. There was some minor disagreement about whether or not parents should be informed; whether friends should be "shopped" and parents informed where that friend was covering up for a supposed sleepover; but overall Ralph got his message across, and his visit was much appreciated.
Afterwards Claire Morris, D of E organiser, presented Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Awards to Megan Aslett, Molly Spicer, and Iona Williams. The Awards were competed for over a period of 6 months and included a 2 day expedition carrying all their kit over the South Downs, when it rained continuously for the whole weekend. They also had to carry out some form of voluntary service, improve an existing skill, and take up something new of their own choice.
The District Commissioner Frank Kitchener then presented Certificates of Appointment to Mark Downer and Jon Taylor, both Asst. Explorer Scout Leaders with the Unit. Jon was also presented with a 10 year Long Service Certificate.
1st Camelsdale Cook-up
At their meeting this week Camelsdale Cubs spent the evening trying out their cooking skills, and at the end of it their Leader Mark Russell said, "35 Cubs, 1 1/2 hours, 35 2 course meals, Chef's Badges awarded all round.
Master Chefs don't know the meaning of stress!"
Beaver Scouts go to Legoland
As part of the 25th Anniversary of Beaver Scouting, thousands of Beaver Scouts (6-8 year olds) from the South East Region descended on, and almost took over Legoland at Windsor, on both Saturday & Sunday 8/9th October. Haslemere Beaver Scouts were very much in evidence,and one of the largest groups was from 1st Fernhurst with a total of 73 Beavers, siblings, parents, and Leaders. They had two extra celebrations too as one of their young Leaders Catriona was 16 on the day, and one of the Beaver Scouts was 8.
