South Circular
Amazing trip of a lifetime to Disneyland, and why ‘‘I Am A Scout’ also featuring...
Interview with County Chairman and the NSAGO way to stay in Scouting
Spring 2017
In This Issue Editors Word
2
Around the South Circular
3
Let’s Meet: Martyn Bain
4
Showtime
5
I Am A Scout
6
i.DISNEY 2017 Why I Stayed in Scouting
9/10
GESS do DofE
11/13 14
Editors Word What a couple of months! This is an amazing bumper edition of all of the life changing activities which have been taking place across our County. It’s great to see groups coming to me with content they’d like to feature in South Circular - please keep it coming. Your contributions make this magazine what it is! I hope you enjoy this fabulous read over the Easter break. We’ll be back with a Summer edition soon - in the meantime, get in touch with your articles from young people to southcircular@southlondonscouts.org.uk. Eat lots of Easter eggs and we’ll see you on the other side! Rory Sheridan
Contributors With thanks to the contributors to this issue: John, Joe, Charlie, Mercedes, Evie, Jerry, Tristan, April, Thomas & Elijah
Don’t forget, you can find us online at www.southlondonscouts.org.uk Our calendar, book Our Centre and much more.
Martyn Bain Matt Butterfield
facebook.com/SouthLondonScouts GLS_Scouts southlondonscouts bit.ly/GLSonYouTube
Well done to Daniel who made it into the News Shopper, celebrating his amazing courage and perservance when attending Lewisham’s Water Sports Day.
Around the South Circular...
Chris Ellinson on Lewisham Scout District group: Great afternoon with the 2nd Sydenham Beavers, Cubs and Scouts at the group ‘Bake off’ afternoon which raised lots of money for group funds. Well done to our judges Josie James and Emma Hutchinson.
Royal Greenwich District Scouts shared Andrew Crompton’s post: Congratulations to Explorers from Severndroog ESU for their efforts at the annual Red Flare Night Hike Competition last weekend! Here’s the team and some of the leaders the morning after a long, sleepless but exciting night!
4 Streatham Sea Scout on Twitter: @ 4thStreatham #CubScouts #IceSkating & watching @ StreathamIce Hockey #RedHawks match afterwards. #GreatDay! #iScout
Lets Meet:
County Chairman
Martyn Bain Interview by Jamal Simon One Saturday afternoon in a coffee shop south of London Bridge Martyn Bain, South London County Scouts Council Chairman met with South Circular to discuss his role as County Chairman and his own life in Scouting. The questions began first probing into Martyn’s Scouting life.
How did you get into Scouting? He had joined scouts at the age of seven, before beavers were invented, when his older brother and father were involved in his local scout group. This young boy who loved the outdoors and the adventure made sure age wouldn’t stop him from having fun and when he turned 8 Martyn was invested.
How did you get the job of County Chairman? “Well, I was District Scouts Council Chairman of Woolwich for a period of time and then when the last chairman stepped down and Paul O’Brien (the current County Commissioner) was looking for someone to step into the role, I said I would help him through his term.”
What other roles have you held in Scouting other than being a District or County Chairman? There followed a list of roles Maryn had held in his 53 years of experience. From Troop leader to Gangshow member (including the Royal Greenwich Gangshow on this Year) and even supported the management of several World Scout Jamborees, even helped in the building of one of the campsites (which was essentially a village). Martyn lead a unit to Thailand and has been leading young people since he was a teenager.
What exactly does your role of County Chairman involve? “This involves, firstly, chairing County meetings and AGM’s. I ensure that Sub-Committees run and operate correctly. I am also able to sit in on any District based meetings. I basically just support Paul in his role.” “We make sure the County has enough money to run Scout Groups and pay some of our full time staff which is done by setting general membership fees, which are then followed by or amended slightly by Districts individually. It’s all really about supporting the leaders of the Districts in their jobs” “I also have the job of negotiating the lease on the South London Scout Centre, which is quite a lot of work but then we all know Scouting isn't just two hours a week”
What is the importance of the County supporting Districts? Martyn’s explanation of how the system of support works, in terms of funding and monitoring meetings, seemed a lot like an upside down pyramid with Martyn and other Executive Committee Members at the bottom supporting the District Commissioners and District Chair people who in turn support the troop leaders, their leaders. Then, finally, those being held up as high as possible are the young people; the beavers, cubs, scouts and explorers - those who get to do such fantastic things in Scouting - that was really echoed by Martyn. The conversation with Martyn continued as we discussed shared experiences of Jamborees, people in Scouting we knew, gang shows and more. Which really recognised the unifying nature of Scouting which far surpassed the adventure aspects of the organisation.
What would you say has kept you in Scouts for so long? From the boy of seven to now it is so great to see that this sense of friendship hasn't dissipated. Now Martyn continues this friendship and lets it spread through supporting us young scouts in more ways than one - from ensuring we have enough money to go on our adventures negotiating to keep our Scout Centers open and then being their for the young people in his unit. There are even now younger generations of Martyn in Scouting who should continue this spirit he has been carrying for the past fifty three years. It is not certain how long Martyn will continue on as County Scout Council Chairman.
“
It’s the friendship
Showtime Kian Cropley Over the past few months, Scouts and Guides have been working hard to put on the amazing show that is Showtime 2017 at Bexley Grammar School. It involves young people from the age of 8 and above in the children’s cast and explorers, guides, network and leaders in the adult cast (14 and above). The show is made up of singing, dancing and even comedy sketches which showcase the amazing talents of the community whilst also offering entertainment and enjoyment for the audience and everybody involved, on stage or behind the scenes. We have an excellent production team and backstage team as well as volunteers helping with refreshments. All of these amazing people contribute to the making of the show and put in hours and hours of effort to make the show as good as it is! The cast is also packed full of talent and will make the night spectacular for the entire audience. The show will take place between the 5th and the 8th of April 2017 at Bexley Grammar School. It is a great evening which is enjoyable for the whole family! Please do come along and join us! Check
out
some
of
the
images
from
the
last
Greenwich
Showtime
below!
I Am A Scout Jamal Simon When asked by friends, colleagues, and family about why they saw me walking down Tower Bridge Road in a beige shirt and neckerchief on a monday morning I do often reply truthfully and proudly “I am a Scout”, meaning I’m off doing scout things. Whether that be earning another badge at my Explorer Unit meetings or helping run my troops Cub Pack as a Young Leader. I do enjoy every second of it. Which is something someone who isn’t a Scout can’t quite understand, the joy you get from being part of this community, of doing your part. However, before I can explain what it is to be a scout to whomever asks, an image spawns in their mind. There’s certain idea of what a Scout is, we must all fit a certain personality type, we must all dress the same, look the same, we must all be white, uptight, uncool, unpopular and boring - walking around in a field playing with sticks and ropes. This just isn’t the case. Throughout my time with my unit, and the unit before that, thinking back to all the district events with Lambeth and Southwark, through Winter Camp and Gilwell 24, and throughout my time in Japan on the 23rd World Scout Jamboree, I have never met two scouts who were the same, who fit that personality type, who were boring, or uncool - quite the opposite. I have met hundreds of young, interesting, fun, proud individuals who, like myself, love scouting and everything it has to offer. Show me one organisation which allows thousands upon thousands of young people from across the world to have one shared interest, one shared goal, and the ability to live and work together in harmony - building friendships, communities and lives. I’m still in contact with people I met at Winter Camp 2015. Despite all of this I wish I could say that every Scout I met was openly proud about who they are to their friends, colleagues, and family (although mostly to their friends and colleagues). I’m really writing this as a reminder to myself and to others of why it’s important to walk with our head held high and our scarf prominent around our necks. To never forget why we became Scouts and all we have done with the Scouts. Be proud of cooking for yourself over a fire, be proud of canoeing through rough waters, be proud of working with other people, of building towers, of building friendships, of learning about our environment, of helping our environment, of being part of this world wide community, proud of being being yourself, and of being a scout. All I can possibly ask is that we all make the most of our time in scouting the and opportunities that come our way, now I’m actually being published for many to read. Scouting gives us the ability not just to do fantastic things in the wider sense of the word but also lets us break our own personal barriers and achieve our own personal goals. And that’s why I can proudly say that “I am a Scout”. C. J. Simon
Two Perspectives
I.DISNEY 2017
Ronnie Buckle This was a trip of a lifetime, made possible by Scouting. 27th of January and after a confusion with what coach I should be on, we set off for Paris and then was instantly hit Friday night traffic but the mood was still of excitement upon hitting the traffic. Let's skip forward to when we got on the ferry, for 2 hours where we were allowed to explore the canteen, shops and arcade until we had to strap into the coach again and head to Disney from Calais. Then we arrived. I finally went to bed after listening to the instructions for the days ahead. It was straight to sleep with me. Now into Day 1 our day begins with having a continental style breakfast. After this, we set off for a day of adventure in Disneyland, where one of the cubs decided to show off his skills in break dancing on one of stages near the end of the village. 5-10 minutes later, we arrive at Walt Disney studios where we split into two groups which consisted of the boys who wanted to go on rides that are fast and scary and for the others who did not want to try them went off with the other leader, went off to explore the not so scary rides within the park. The group I was in headed to the Hollywood tower of terror, the tower of terror was so scary but lots of fun and nostalgic since they used the twilight zone to introduce it, after that we headed to the main park after taking some pictures with mike from monsters inc and goofy. Once back in the main park the girls went off to get their picture taken with Minnie mouse and the boys went to space mountain, which was sadly closed, so we went through a makeshift submarine and went to watch one of the star wars shows even though it was the final 10 minutes of the show. After the show, we joined up with the other group and went to explore sleeping beauty's castle. But sadly the dragon was being worked on so we didn’t get to see it. We then got some lunch and saw the frozen parade followed by the group of boys going back to the studios to watch a storm trooper march and star wars character showcase, whilst the girls went back to the hotel since one of them had not been feeling well. The group then went back to the main park to see the main parade before heading back to the hotel to have tea, when we finished eating I went of with a different group to see the star wars light show as the others went to the main park's star attraction when they turn the castle into a projector screen ending day one with a literal bang. Day 2 begins which starts with breakfast followed by a rush to get to the park to enjoy more of the attractions, before having to head back to the coach, sadly meaning we only went on one ride during the trip. It was an amazing weekend.
8th Lambeth joined South London Scouts on a trip to Disneyland Paris. We left Friday night at 5.15pm, and took a coach to Paris, arriving at 3am. We were quickly shown to our rooms where we of course immediately went to sleep in preparation for the big day ahead. On Saturday morning we were up while it was still dark, and had a quick breakfast before leaving for the Disney park opening at 8am. The first ride we went on was flying Dumbo's, and then throughout the day we went on Thunder Mountain, Tower of Terror, Phantom Manner, Indiana Jones, Slinky, Peter Pan ride and RC racer (to name a few of them). The group favourite was Thunder Mountain, because it was big, dark, and we once again got to hear our leaders screaming their lungs out (which they did on practically every ride).
8th Lambeth Scouts We ate sufficient candy to supply Sainsbury's for a month - managing to get through many crepes with Nutella, toffee apples, jellies, chocolate, and more than a few sticks of Candy Floss (some of the leaders also joined in with this). For lunch we had scrumptious pizza while we listened to some African drums. Some of us even tried to order in French. On Saturday evening we went to Walt Disney Studios to watch the Star Wars "Season Of The Force" show. We saw all the Star Wars, with some superb special effects and a laser show projected against the Tower Of Terror. Chewbacka and the Sith Lord entering via the stage lift were particularly good, and it was great to see R2D2, C3PO, Darth Vader and the Storm Troupers. Some of us enjoyed the light sabres so much we had to buy one to bring home. No pictures can convey how good this was - a fabulous experience!!! The end of the first day was the 8pm Disney show with Fireworks back at the Disney Castle which was awesome. We sat on a America truck eating yet more crepes with Nutella, watching the light show and lasers projected on the castle. It was an incredible end to a fantastic day. We eventually got to bed about 9pm, and were able to get to sleep a little faster than the night before. Sunday morning we were back in the parks, and we got in early so we were able to run in and get on one of the first carriages on Thunder Mountain the again.The shopping was great, and many of us bought Micky ears - one of the county leaders spent most of the weekend with a blue monster on his head! Throughout the weekend we met many of the Disney characters, from all the films and cartoons that we have seen over the years. We all had pictures taken with Donald Duck, and even some of the cast from Aladdin. We also met some of the other groups from our county which which was great, and we hope to see them again at South London County events in the future. Finally, a huge thank you to our leaders for supporting the weekend, and ensuring we all had so much fun. Also a huge thank you to our bus driver for getting us there safely. It was a fantastic weekend which we all thoroughly enjoyed!!!! John, Joe, Charlie, Mercedes, Evie, Jerry, Tristan, April, Thomas & Elijah
Why I stayed in Scouting (the NSAGO way) Sam Chatterley
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It’s worthwhile you know, Scouting. Don’t let this be your last night with us.”
These were the last words my then Explorer Scout leader said to me on the day of my last evening as a young person. It was very much the end of an era. I’d been in Scouting since I was a child, and over the preceding eleven years, had been unashamedly shaped by the various Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, and Leaders I’d met along the way. I’d been across the world, had met people I’d never ordinarily had met, and had experiences I would never have had outside of Scouting. But I was at a crossroads. I was moving three hundred miles away for university, so I wouldn’t be able to make the weekly commute back into Greenwich to be a Young Leader at my Beaver Group. But simultaneously I wasn’t sure if I had the ability, or frankly, the inclination, to get my wood beads and really commit myself to Scouting. Could I really leave the Association that taught me so much? That would have soon taken me to Japan, France, Iceland, and Peru, to name but a few? I committed myself to the local Scout Network. Meeting once a month, we didn’t last long. Without a regular group, it quickly fizzled out, and ended up shutting down. I was without a Scout group for the first time since I was six years old. Until I found SSAGO. The Student Scouts and Guides Organisation. This is a group whose sole aim is to be ‘a non-uniformed organisation that enables you to continue or begin your Scouting or Guiding whilst at College or University.
SSAGOs exist across the country, from Exeter to Aberdeen, Birmingham to Cambridge, and achieve exactly that: they let you Scout as much or as little as you want, and place the onus on you to decide how much you want to involve yourself. In my opinion, that’s the most important part. When you get to university, it probably won’t be the first time you’re away from mum and dad. But it will be the first time you’ve been away with complete, unadulterated freedom. No leaders telling you when to get up, no PL telling you to get wood, and no parents coming to pick you up at the end. Once you’re at university, you’re no longer a Young Person within Scouting. You’re an adult, and SSAGO treats you as such. Fancy going to the pub? Try the Pub Scout Festival. Fancy a chance to meet other SSAGOs? Try Rally or Ball. You can shape your Scouting adventure as YOU see fit to. SSAGO, in one form or another, predates Wolf Cubs, the first iteration of Cubs. The earliest record of students forming these kinds of clubs is 1915, with members of the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Manchester, and London forming ‘bob a job’ groups, run by the almost StarWars-esque sounding ‘Imperial Headquarters’.
After the Second World War, groups found themselves with a renewed desire to encourage cooperation, and with that, what would become to national Rally was held at Beaudesert in 1947. What followed was a spectacular expansion. By the beginning of the 1950s, almost every single one of the between 20 and 30 universities in the country during the 1950s had a Scout group. By 1967, the university sector was expanding exponentially, and with that came a recognition of the need for union. Thus, the modern SSAGO was born. SSAGOs have been responsible for some of the most cutting edge research into the effect on education that Scouting has had. In 1987, they even commissioned a report into it, titled ‘Scouting and Education.’ In the modern day, SSAGO rallies regularly attract between two to three hundred Scouts from all over the country, and offers genuine advancement within the political structure of the movement, with a fully functioning national executive. If you’re still reading at this point, you’re Scouty
enough to have encountered Scouting politics. Never indeed have we ever seen a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. A leader enforcing local rules, or being stopped from doing something because of a personal issue with another member of the association. All things that often have a habit of putting you off, don’t they? The beauty of SSAGO, is that it is run by people your own age, meaning there should be none of that. I have a saying in my own SSAGO. It’s direct democracy. By the Scouts, for the Scouts, on behalf of the Scouts. I have a personal, venomous hatred for Scouting politics, and I genuinely believe that SSAGO is one of the purest forms of Scouting. I’ve had animation students offer to do a night teaching a SSAGO how to draw a cartoon. I’ve had cyclists offer to do a night on bike maintenance. Musicians, teachers, medics, filmmakers and politicians are all able to contribute to the activities of a SSAGO, meaning that the bigger the club, the bigger the opportunities to learn, to experience, and to teach.
NSAGO
The People (Falmouth SSAGO)
But alas, I always seem to return to my last night of explorers, wondering if, having just coming back from what I perceived as the pinnacle of my Scouting career, the World Scout Jamboree, this was it. I wish I’d known then what I know now. Cubs built on Beavers, and Scouts built on Cubs. Explorers built on Scouts, and, without a shadow of a doubt, SSAGO builds on Explorers. Now, please don’t take this article as in any way bashing the Scout Network. It is very possible, and oftentimes hugely rewarding to maintain status as a fully uniformed member of the movement. But for those who aren’t sure. For those who want to try a new way of Scouting. For those studying a subject that requires much more of their time than GCSEs and A Levels did, SSAGO is there. * The Falmouth SSAGO was founded in 2016 by myself, alongside some of my friends. At the time of writing, we are under review by the university, meaning we haven’t been officially accepted, but we are on the way.
WSJ 2015
GESS do DofE Joseph Tye On the first weekend of October half term a team of 4 explorer, (Dan, Will, Toby and Myself) from GESS joined 14 teams from across Kent to complete their Duke of Edinburgh Expeditions. Having completed our Bronze practice on the hottest weekend in May on the South Downs, the cooler and shaded woods around Downe and Biggin Hill provided a welcomed change. Starting at Lewisham District camp site and finishing and Greenwich District campsite we hiked around the surrounding area surveying land usage and avoiding fields of cows, crops and chickens. We completed our expedition successfully-no food gone to waste, no injuries and not too many blisters-and without needing to use our emergency rations. A very successful weekend all round!
Coming up... Air Activities Two
opportunities
from
the
Air
Activites
are
coming
up.
Saturday 1st April 2017 Geocaching & Navigation Badge Who: Scouts from GLS/GLSE Where: South London Scout Centre (The Fort) When: 1st April 2017 1030-1600 Saturday 13th May 2017 Stage 1 Air Activities Badge Who: Beavers from GLS/GLSE Where: South London Scout Centre (The Fort) When: 13th May 2017 1030-1330 (AM Session) OR 1430-1630 (PM Session) Full details of how to take part are available online at www.southlondonscouts.org.uk
The Team
Young Spokespeople
Photography
Editor
Ronnie Buckle Sam Chatterley Kian Cropley Abii Phillips Jamal Simon Joseph Tye
Georgia Nelson
Rory Sheridan southcircular@southlondonscouts.org.uk