Issue 2
Saturday 7th September 2019
Flip open The Lid, let’s party! Like a nineties warehouse rave, the lights in The Lid lay low, the smoke screens the stage and the booming frontman (Matt ‘The Seeker’ Hyde) introduces his counterparts: Tim ‘Timmy The’ Kidd, and Ross ‘The Chief’ Maloney). Their eager audience is rallied into a frenzy. The welcome message started with a throwback to this year’s World Scout Jamboree, held in West Virginia, and then a look forward to a
wonderful weekend ahead, celebrating the momentous 100-year anniversary of Gilwell Park as the home of adult training. With over three thousand dedicated scouting volunteers here to celebrate the event, it is sure to be an enjoyable, informative and memorable few days. Although not quite on the same scale, the aim is to match the spirit of the WSJ; there may not be a fleet of 250 drones to light up the Essex sky, you may see Ross and Tim
bearing flashlights on a stepladder... As always, it’s an opportunity to share tips, take away ideas and talk with all the members of Team UK – described as ‘gagging to take your difficult questions’. Fire away! To befit the centenary of Gilwell, there are 100+ workshops taking place, with topics including growth, inclusivity, local partnerships, and utilising our exciting new branding. The message from Tim
Kidd was key to getting the most out of the event – encouraging us all to learn and reunite with old friends, to renew our commitments, and to continue to living by our values, the promise and our laws. To do this in a jampacked weekend, make sure to grab just enough sleep to get by! As a tip, keep an eye on the app for updates and useful information. But for now, welcome to Gilwell Reunion 2019!
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Celebrating the success of WSJ2019 This year, we saw 3,600 young people head out to West Virginia, USA for the 24th World Scout Jamboree. 50,000 Scouts gathered at The Summit Bechtel Reserve for two weeks of high adventure. Scouts from around the world took part in many different activities on the purpose-built site, which also hosts the Boy Scouts of America National Jamborees. The Summit Bechtel Reserve hosts the largest man-made outdoor climbing facility in the USA, the longest canopy course in the country at 9.55miles and the longest combined zip lines in the world at 5.45 miles! UK Scouts will have taken part in hundreds of activities, including archery, stand-up paddle boarding, abseiling, zip-wires, BMXing and lots of walking as the site was huge! We had visits from our UK Chief Scout and Global
Ambassador for World Scouting, Bear Grylls, and former Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon. Plus, the headliners at the closing ceremony were acapella group Pentatonix, who have over 17 million subscribers on Youtube! Whilst standing next to 50,000 fellow Scouts at the closing ceremony, all of whom were reflecting on their two weeks of adventure, new friendships and memories that will last a life time, it’s hard not to appreciate the thousands of hours of service that the adult volunteers contributed to putting on this world-class Jamboree! To all Unit Leader teams, International Service Team members, Contingent Support Team, Contingent Management Team and the Jamboree Planning Team, thank you for everything you have done to provide an experience the young people will never forget.
Gilwell - The heart of Epping Forest 17th Epping Forest was one of the first Scout Troops to visit Gilwell Park in May 1919. They helped clear overgrown woodland and blocked roadways. Gilwell Park’s benefactor William de Bois Maclaren visited the
troop as they were hard at work. Earlier this year we were delighted to invite the current 17th Epping Scout Troop to visit Gilwell Park, join in with some activities and walk in the footsteps of their predecessors.
Did you know? There is a unique brand made for every Gilwell Reunion to brand a leather belt with. This year it is the Gilwell100 Logo!
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Saturday 7th September 2019
Wheely commited to getting to Gilwell Park
Ever said something that means you have to cycle nearly 300miles, ring any bells? That’s exactly the position Tim Sargent found himself in at 7am on Wednesday morning when gearing up for a cycling trip south from Lancashire to Gilwell Park. We spoke with Tim about his frivolous bet. “It was a flippant comment really, and my mate said - bet you can’t - so I had to really” a gauntlet well and truly thrown!
Tim, of 53rd Lancaster, started pedalling at 7am on Wednesday joining with fellow scout cycling adventurer, George Johan Van Ark, at Manchester Airport at 12.30. Then they arrived by midnight on Friday - a pretty amazing feat! “The canals were the worst bit, hidden treeroots under tarmac was uncomfortable, oh and the A5, which we couldn’t avoid. Plus the rain came down hard on Wednesday afternoon. We made it
though, bet won!” Tim admits he didn’t inform his own Scouts of his endeavours but is excited to tell them following successful completion, although it was harder than they expected! When asked if they’ll be cycling next year, the answer was a resounding no and not even back - they’re grabbing a lift! They did float the idea of canoeing here in the future though...
Get in touch and be in the newspaper We want to share everything you do 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 hello. 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 your fun with us - and those who are missing out! All our details are on the back page - we look forward to hearing from you. Shout Outs and Messages
Scouting all over the world... We put a call out Saturday morning for two key geographical points: Who has travelled the furthest? Who had the longest journey? So far we’ve met or heard of Scouts from Glasgow, Denmark, Lebanon, New Zealand and even Mexico! Have you come from far-flung places, or just had an epic journey? Let us know! Text us: 07497 898782 or get in touch via the other methods!
A big hello to Vix Wallis who is celebrating this weekend - it is her 40th Reunion! From Roger and all her friends from Northumberland! Welcome to Matilda who is on her first ever Reunion at the age of 9 months old! Gone home - Graham Stribley, much missed, from Hazel MacDonaldIngle.
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Weather for next 24 hours
The Jolly Good Fellows
Looks like we have a good weekend for a Reunion! Today will continue to be sunny with cloudy outbreaks, reaching a high of 17°c, although the wind may pick up around 1800. Tonight is going to be a cooler, clear night, dropping down to around 8°. Tomorrow morning will again be sunny but overcast.
The 100th year is a very apt moment to reflect on the invaluable resource that Gilwell Park is – a place for training, development and friendship. The Gilwell Fellowship is a group of supporters with the expressed purpose to help maintain the centre, and ensure that it continues to develop for future generations. With charitable donations in the past few years facilitating the excellent on-site accommodation (most recently the International Volunteer Lodge) and efforts ongoing to fundraise for the amazing new Camp Square, the Fellows play an fundamental part in maintaining a world-class home for Scouts.
World-class is right, too, with donors from around the globe – South Korea, Denmark, the United States, Brazil, Bermuda and from here in the UK too. With a new, highprofile honorary chair – HRH The Duke of Kent, they play an important
part in the provision of adventure for young people. If you’re interested in finding our more, pop down to hear the Fellows Reception at 15:00 on the Buffalo Lawn, or elsewise throughout the day in the Raven Marquee.
Whispers from the Web
Some of your tweets, pictures and comments Damian Fell (via the app) Just met Jean-Louis from Lebanon, he’s on a mission to get a selfie with 200 people this weekend.
1st Kinross Beavers (@KinrossBeavers) This evening one of our Assistant Beaver Scout Leaders attended the home of scouting Gilwell Park for @GilwellReunion. There is many scouting members from across the globe in attendance for what looks like will be a great weekend! #GilwellReunion #SkillsForLife
@GilwellReunion
/GilwellReunion
Matt Hyde (@matthyde) We are up and running for @GilwellReunion - looking forward to seeing over 3,000 @UKScouting adult volunteers here this weekend in the centenary year of @gilwellpark #gilwell100 #skillsforlife
@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 With support from Livia Carron, Chris Frankland, Tom Hylands, Stephen Way, Tina Wing, Matthew Wooley, Brian Robinson, Ian Guy, Alex Landers, Mike Dent and Tom Bell
Online Edition