Monday 5th September 2016
Issue 4
And so, a new chapter begins
Monday 5 Sep 2016
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Reunion Express
An interview with Tim Kidd
It will not have passed your notice that this Reunion was where Tim Kidd officially took up the UK Chief Commissioner role - his “coronation” as he called it! We caught up with Tim to discuss why his new role and Scouting is special to him. Tim started his Scouting career as a Cub scout with his twin brother, and describes himself as the ‘World’s Most Unexpected Scout’. “I’ve done abseiling and climbing and canoeing and hillwalking and all those things, but it’s not where I naturally sit. My favourite day at school was Maths, Physics, German and French. Anything with sport in I hated.” He credits his leaders with helping him find his mojo: “the leaders realised I wasn’t into activity stuff, so they taught me Naismith’s Rule: a rule of thumb to calculate how long it’ll take you to walk up a
mountain and back. So I did that, and I did a load of route plans and so on, and they said that the next step is you have to try it out and see if it’s true or not. I can genuinely say I’ve stood on top of mountains that I would have never stood on if it wasn’t for Scouts!” He used to explain how important Scouting methods are “You’re giving these experiences to young people and having a range of them, so having a badge system that includes people that want to do chess, along with the people that want to walk up mountains, with the people that want to juggle, with the people that want to tell jokes, and the people that want to do electronics, and the people that want to use today’s modern technology.” “Those are all important because it drags people from their own sense of gravity toward new senses of gravity,
and that’s the importance of what we do.” His experiences as a young person clearly got him hooked. “I’ve got a history in Scouting – my background is the Scout section, so I’ve got quite a lot of sectional stuff. I was a Scout Leader, then an ADC Scouts, the ACC Scouts, and I’ve been a DC, a CC, the UK Commissioner Adult Support, I ran the UK Patrol Leaders camps, I did Regional Patrol Leaders camps way back in the day, so I’ve done all those sorts of things.” As Tim takes up his new position we mention that many will view him as a role model (to which he chuckled) and asked him who he would regard as his Scouting role model. “Mrs Grey, my Akela, I worked towards my Bronze Arrow as a Cub and there were set requirements. One of the tasks was to catch a ball 8 times out of 10, and I was
hopeless, but every week she said ‘shall we try again?’ We’d try again and it wouldn’t go terribly well, and she never got frustrated… though, she must have done, but she never let it show! She accepted me as a young person at where I was, and that’s what’s important; that we accept young people at where they are, not where we want them to be. It’s my Scout Leaders who helped me succeed by listening and observing me, and putting me up mountains my own way.” Tim seems cool, calm and collected throughout our interview but with a clear sense of drive and direction for the Movement, building on the work already achieved before him. We wish him all the best and look forward to seeing him at Reunion 2017.
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Reflecting on the past and the future Reunion this year ended with Scouts Own on the Training Ground, followed by a very special ceremony which saw the handing over of the reigns of the UK Chief Commissioner from Wayne Bulpitt to Tim Kidd. Hosted by Jagz Bharth (Deputy UK Youth Commissioner), Scouts Own this year reflected on our shared scouting values. Jagz spoke of how Scouting is a movement, changing, growing and ever diverse only made possible by its leaders who give freely of their time. Leaders who recognise the satisfaction of a young person when they go home being priceless. The reading reflected on finding strength to encourage others and to see beauty in the world even when you cannot see if for yourself. Thanks was made for the contribution and the difference leaders make by giving of their time. Everyone was asked to reflect on BP’s comments on character – “it is not merely being good but doing good that counts”. In a ceremony dating back to 1919 the UK Chief Commissioner appointment passed from Wayne to Tim. Both made statements about their commitment to Scouting and the skills required for the role of UKCC. In renewing of the Promise the UKCC necker and woggle was exchanged marking the beginning of a new tenure for the Scout Association. In accepting his new role Tim reflected on his own Scouting experiences. Ultimately he hopes Scouting’s membership will continue to grow. “I hope people don’t join for the adventure, but join to find the adventure.”
Monday 5 Sep 2016
Good luck Wayne!
Everyone here at the Reunion Express would like to wish Wayne Bulpitt the best of luck with everything in the future, and congratulations on seven successful years as UK Chief Commissioner.
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A new place to reflect
Started in 2004, the Gilwell Park Mosque was founded by the Muslim Scout Fellowship, who themselves started up in 1998. They identified a need for support for Muslim communities across the country, but also here at Gilwell Park.
atmosphere. Ammanah, who is coordinating the mosque for the weekend, says that her aim is to “show people that we’re here, and help support groups anyway we can”. That includes holding workshops, giving tours, and we’re also told that they have “created take-away packs, to help others leaders run the global badge, the world faith badge, and explore the Islamic part of the movement”. The Mosque was opened in the past year, welcoming people to visit them at events like Cubs100, Gilwell24 and Wintercamp. It’s great to see alongside the chapels, synagogue, and Buddhist sala. Be sure to look out for them all the next time you’re at Gilwell!
The prayer room itself is an ornate space sat on the edge of the activities field which welcomes Scouts in to explore Islam and how faith is supported here at Gilwell. It’s a quiet space, with interactive exhibits of the religion, fantastic decoration, and friendly and calm
Whispers from the Web
Your tweets, pictures and comments Jay Thompson @ThompsonTravels Packed session for #youshape month! #gilwellreunion
Simon Carter @Scoutsscarter Good work by @SPaget85 and team on the new look @GilwellReunion -Thx for picking up the challenge.
Jack Maxton @Jackmaxton Great time @GilwellReunion thanks to all the team for their hard work over the weekend! #iscout
Stu Bennet @ScoutsStuB Gilwell knows how to throw a party! Loved the last two nights with these guys. #gilwellreunion #novoiceleft Scout Adventures @scoutadventures Congratulations to lead instructor Sophie who was presented with her @DofE Gold Award at Gilwell Park this weekend.
@GilwellReunion
/GilwellReunion
Scout Radio @ScoutRadio Scouts Own time at Gilwell Reunion; to reflect upon a fabulous year, and an incredible movement #gilwellreunion
@GilwellReunion
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Reunion Express 2016 was brought to you by volunteers of the Scout Media ASU. Production by James Hage - Reporting by Sarah Paget, Lizzie Harvey and George Wormald-Kelly - Photographs by Tina Wing and Neal Revell Online Edition