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Friday 6th September 2019
100 Years of Adventure started from just one acorn Reunion is always packed with activities, seminars and opportunities to meet new people, this year is no exception. Don’t forget to install this years Gilwell Reunion 2019 App on your phone to keep up to date with whats going on across site. You can tag the sessions and activities you want to attend, post questions and keep track of where you are on the map.
Of course Reunion Express will be using the App to ask questions and take your suggestions. This year sees celebrations for the Centenary of Gilwell Park, as the home of Scouting and as training centre. Over the years the purpose of Gilwell has grown and altered as the movement it supports has also adapted in its 112 years. Over the course of
this weekend you will have opportunities to dip into its and Scouting’s rich history to glimpse moments of the past. So, check in, set up camp on Friday night, chill out and drop by The Lid for the welcome. Over Saturday and Sunday there are one hundred workshops and training sessions. There is of course the Scouts AGM on Saturday and Scouts Own on
Sunday. Visit The Lid, Training Ground and Orchard by day to visit the exhibitors, collect information for programme ideas and perhaps pick up some new skills. No matter how far you have come, whether you are here to learn, network, try something new or just spend time with friends we hope you enjoy everything that this years 93rd Reunion has to offer.
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The story that started with a pig sty As part of our Gilwell100 celebrations, the Heritage Service has created two new displays celebrating the park’s Scouting story. The Pig Sty is one of Gilwell’s most unassuming buildings, but plays an important part in Gilwell’s early story, as it offered shelter to the first Scouts to stay on site. Arriving on Maundy Thursday 1919 the Scouts found the rain was too heavy to pitch their tents so the old gardeners shed became their home for the weekend: They nicknamed it the Pig Sty. The Pig Sty is now home to a display of images from The Gilwell Album, a scrapbook which charts the first two years of the Scouts at Gilwell; from Scouts working to clear
the estate, to the opening ceremony, the First Wood Badge course and to the lucky hedgehog who became the site pet. We have imagined what it might like to have been to stay in the shed complete with a soundscape of rainstorms and birdsong. On Camp Square the Heritage Hub tells the stories of some of the people who have shaped Gilwell Park and left their mark on its ethos and landscape. Tell your own story by adding an oak leaf to our mini Gilwell Oak and take a walk down memory lane by checking the Gilwell Reunion brand timeline to see the unique brand created for each of the 93 Reunions.
Scouts, Skills and a Century of Change at Gilwell Park For 100 years Scouts from around the world have travelled to Epping Forest to learn new skills, make friends and revel in its beautiful landscape. During Gilwell Reunion you’ll be stepping in the footsteps of thousands of others who have visited Gilwell Park in search of adventure and inspiration. Find out more about the sites 700 year history by visiting the Heritage Service’s exhibition at Epping Forest District Museum.
Shuttle mini-buses will be running on Saturday between 10am and 4pm every hour on the hour. The exhibition was opened on the 8 August by Scout Ambassador Dwayne Fields and we were delighted to be visited by Rosemary de Bois Nelson, the great niece of William de Bois Maclaren. Dwayne presented her with his UK scarf in acknowledgement of her great uncle’s legacy.
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Friday 6th September 2019
Some of the things we are looking forward to.
Get in touch and be in the newspaper
Everyone who attends Gilwell Reunion will probably get something different compared to the next person. Some go for the atmosphere and to meet people, some go to learn new skills or take programme ideas away. Whatever the reason, we hope you have fun whilst doing it! We’ve taken a look through the guidebook and have come up with some of our highlghts to get you started.
We want to share everything you go through this weekend, hear all about your fantastic adventures and see what you see - and there’s so many ways for you to get in touch! We have reporters and photographers on site, so feel free to say hi. Celebrating a birthday or anniversary? Drop us a text message or a note into one of the suggestion boxes around site. Think you have a fantastic story? Get in touch! We’re on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and on the App share all the fun with us - and those who are missing out! All our details are on the back page - we look forward to hearing from you.
Why not drop by the CIC throughout the weekend to take part in a Raspberry Pi Workshop. Bushscout.UK are on the orchard with various traditional skills including scheduled Game Prep Sessions (not the running around game type...) Meet the newest member of TeamUK, in the International Departure Lounge at 5pm on Saturday, Callum Kaye, the new International Commissioner, and the rest of TeamUK will be around
throughout the weekend. Perhaps your adventurous side can be inspired by Dwayne and Pheobe’s talk at the smalll campfire circle about their antarctic adventures “Penguins to the Pole.” The Annual Quiz on Saturday night is always a laugh, and this time is being held in the AGM marquee. If the quiz doesnt interest you then there is the Disco in The Lid and the traditional, large campfire at the campfire circle.
Scout Radio Celebrate 10 years with a new look This year’s reunion again see’s the return of Scout Radio broadcasting across the weekend on site on 87.9FM, and online for those offsite and around the world at scoutradio.org. uk or via the TuneIn mobile apps & smart speakers. They will be providing
coverage of all the big events on-site, as well as presenting and broadcasting the main stage activities from, with many guests and activities including Saturdays Keynote speech and the Scouts Own on Sunday to mark the end of the event.
Also, join them on Friday night at 9pm outside their caravan at the market square where they will be celebrating 10 years since the team started, and also the launch of their new branding, and even with a brand new badge.
Caroline Spencer would like to say a big hello to ‘Lady’ Hannah Hammond, who will be around Gilwell wearing a Tiara - dont forget to bow! Happy Birthday to Dean, who celebrated his birthday on Thursday, and Hayley who is celebrating tomorrow, both from the 1st Lyneham Wiltshire! Welcome to all the 1st time Reunioners, and all the regular faces! We hope to see you in the Queen’s Squiffy Woggle Pub! From the QSWP!
Friday 6 Sep 2019
Weather for next 24 hours
The rest of today will be cloudy with brief showers of rain hitting around 6pm, however we should have a dry if cloudy night. Tomorrow should have sunny intervals throughout the morning, with highs of 15°
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Celebrating 75 years of National Service
The Queen’s Scout Working Party (QSWP) is a National Scout Active Support Unit that supports national events and acts as ambassadors for the Top Awards. This year, the QSWP celebrates it’s 75th anniversary and is inviting all former members to attend a celebration event in October. For more details, please visit the QSWP Stand in Fox Marquee on Saturday - but hurry, the deadline for signing up to the celebration is this weekend! Limited edition badges commemorating the QSWP’s 75th anniversary are also on sale for £3 from the Fox Marquee.
Whispers from the Web
Your tweets, pictures and comments
@GilwellReunion
Richard Flood (via the app)
Claire Shadbolt (via the app)
This is what’s it’s all about, fire and friends
Watching the sunset whilst my curry is cooking. Camping on the Quick.
Alice Dale (via the app)
Tom Knight (via the app)
En route to gilwell! With Sarah Button
Sunderland Network setting off for our 4.5 hour journey
/GilwellReunion
@GilwellReunion
07497 898782
Reunion Express 2019 was brought to you by members of the Scout Content ASU. Production by James Hage - Reporting by Sarah Paget, Lizzie Harvey and George Wormald-Kelly - Photographs by Daniel Haigh Online Edition