Issue 1
Friday 2nd September 2016
Welcome to the 90th Reunion! With 6 zones, activities open to adults and evening entertainment Gilwell Reuion 2016 promises to be as action packed as ever. If you’ve never been before here is a little tast of what you are in for. If you are up for a chilled out weekend, sit back, relax and catch up with friends. There’s plenty of activities and information points open throughout the weekend for you to wander
between while exploring the home of Scouting and chatting as you go. If you are up for a more active weekend head over to the High Ropes course and take the Leap of Faith or take in the view from the Quick whilst flying across the zip line. All activities are open between 10am and 5pm Saturday and Sunday 10 am til 1pm (check out the mini event guide for accurate timings).
If you are more of a night owl there is plenty of entertainment in the evening. With two bars, a ceilidh, a screening of “The Jungle Book”, the infamous Pub Quiz and the traditional Gilwell Campfire we’re sure there is something for everyone. There are a number of new features this year, notably the Drop in Café where you can stop for a chat and a cuppa with representatives of
various staff teams including The Scout Programme Core Team and the Memberships & Engagements Team. With so much on offer its impossible to highlight everything in Reunion Express so take a peak at your Event Guide and plan your weekend! Don’t forget about the various workshops, speakers and of course the AGM at 2.45pm on Sunday.
Friday 2 Sep 2016
Page 2
Reunion Express
Looking back at the last 90 years of Gilwell Reunions With Reunion marking a significant milestone in its history this year, Reunion Express though it was only right to reflect on the last 90 years of this very special weekend. Initially it was a weekend for qualified Wood Badge awardees, a chance to reflect and refresh skills on an annual basis. As well of course providing the opportunity for the 1st Gilwell Scout Group to meet. Today of course it’s a weekend for catching up with friends, networking with other leaders and the opportunity to investigate programme ideas and seek answers in person to the most challenging leadership questions. All these photos come from the Heritage Collection, ran by the Heritage Service. The Heritage team will be taking part in Reunion They are based on the Training Ground in the Programme and Support Zone. Drop in on them to learn how to make remembrance poppies and make your own. This is a great activity idea for Cubs and Scouts, and even older Beavers. The team will also be encouraging visitors to feedback on proposals for a Heritage Centre on Camp Square, due to open at the end of 2019. Visitors will be given four questions to answer, ranging from whether they think The Scout Association needs a Heritage Centre, and possible themes that could be represented. We hope you enjoy this pictorial walk down memory lane of Reunions of yesteryear.
Page 3
Reunion Express
You tell us... “What made you want to attend the 90th Gilwell Reunion?” My first time there, sounds awesome, I’ve heard so many good things about it, can’t wait!!!
Friday 2 Sep 2016
Whats going on the next 12 hours
Kim Leonard
It’s my 12th reunion looking forward to meeting and making friends and getting new programme ideas and skills
Fiona Gage
Very very helpful to new leaders such as me and we had a fantastic time last year and will do it all over again.
Ian Gornall
Never been before and I wanted to meet up with some fellow Network commissioners as I’m very new to such a responsibility at 18. Charlotte Bird Been coming for years. Chance to see friends from near and far and to make new friendships along the way
Amanda Bonnick
Once you have registered and pitched your tent, whats next? Well, by 1930 the bars in The Lid and the Queens Squiffy Woggle Pub will be open for that scoial drink with Scouting friends. If you dont fancy a drink,
A site full of unsung heroes that deserve a big thank you As volunteers, we all know that any event, especially one of this scale, takes a lot of hours to get set up. Whilst most of us are turning up to have fun this weekend, there are teams of people working hard to make sure everything works. From the Gilwell Staff, all the Stall holders and to all the volunteers who have been down for the past couple of days, this event wouldnt run without the time you have all put in. From all of us here at the Reunion Express, and from everyone on site, thank you for all your time you’ve put in so far, and for all the upcoming time over the weekend.
Gilwell fact of the day
The Greenwich Meridian (the line of zero longitude) runs through the campsite
then there is “The History of Wolf Cubs” in the White House or Home Alone being shown in at The Swan Centre. From 10am there are a number of sectional based seminars, and all the other programme zones open across the site.
Get in touch and be in the newspaper
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 so you can 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.
Friday 2 Sep 2016
Weather for the Saturday
It will be a cloudy, slightly cooler, morning, with highs of 17oc. After lunch there is a high chance of rain that will continue throughout the night. Sunday morning is predicted to be cloudy but dry.
Page 4
Reunion Express
Going back to basics With so much on site for leaders to get involved with, each day we thought we would highlight one of our favourites for you to go and find. Today’s highlighted programme is the new Support Unit and Practical Skills Alliance, BushScout. Being formed in Counties all across the UK, the BushScout team are bringing back traditional skills with style. From paracord bracelets, fire building, hammocking, knife and axe skills, or the ever popular Axe Throwing, these guys have all the back to basic skills you could ever need - and a lot more on top! The team have worked out a programme for every section from Beavers to Explorers and of course, Network can get involved too!
Head over to the top of the Essex Chase near the log pile to find the BushScout team to learn some new skills, refresh
some old ones or find out how they can help you bring a bit of traditional Scouting into the 21st Century.
Whispers from the Web
Your tweets, pictures and comments Loz Merchant @Lozscout Just found this beaut... Gilwell Reunion 2015 with some of the Jamboree crew. FIERRO PARIENTE!
Tim Kidd @TimothyKidd Looking forward to meeting lots of people @GilwellReunion ! #SeeYouThere #iScout
Gareth Jones @GarethWyn97 Just leaving for @ GilwellReunion with @ Leahsier #HereWeCome #Scouting John E Fry @The SteadicamMan Amazing #ExplorerScouts #adventure weekend! Roll on @GilwellReunion ! #Gilwell24 #iScout #Gilwell24selfie #Scouting
@GilwellReunion
GME Scout County @GMEScouts @LadybrookValley Network, @NthT_Network & our ACC Network will be at @GilwellReunion tomorrow. Don’t worry they will be tweeting all the fun
/GilwellReunion
Scout Shops Ltd @ScoutShops We are waiting for you at our #PopUpShop at @GilwellReunion where you can buy exclusive merchandise! See you soon!
@GilwellReunion
07511 487 476
Reunion Express 2016 was brought to you by members 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