South Circular
POB Out, Darren In Welcome our new County Commissioner also featuring...
Gilwell 24, an exciting trip by Phoenix ESU and 24th WSJ update
Summer 2017
In This Issue Editors Word
2
Around the South Circular
3
AGM
4/5
Gone With the Wind
6/7
24hrs of activity
7/8
Jamboree Update
9/10
Frylands Roundup
11
Editors Word A bumper issue for you before we break up for the Summer holiday. It’s been an exciting few months for the County with a big change at the helm, the welcoming of Darren Lodge as County Commissioner. Sadly, this means we say goodbye to an amazing CC, Paul O’Brien. Paul has been an encouraging colleague in establishing South Circular and has been supportive in making sure that we communicate effectively internally and externally. I thank him greately for his support in allowing me to set up this magazine and hope that it continues so long as people provide content to fill it!
Around the South Circular...
Have an awesome Summer break and don’t forget to email your articles over! Rory Sheridan Chris Ellinson on Lewisham Scout District group: Great visit to the 2nd Sydenham Scout Group from the Wiggly Wild Show. Bug’s, slugs and slithery things.
Contributors With thanks to the contributors to this issue: Tadhg (Explorer Scout, Phoenix ESU) Paul O’Brien Darren Lodge Matt Butterfield Nick Smith Luke Cohen
facebook.com/SouthLondonScouts GLS_Scouts southlondonscouts bit.ly/GLSonYouTube
Don’t forget, you can find us online at www.southlondonscouts.org.uk Our calendar, book Our Centre and much more.
Eddie Langdown on Southwark District Scouts group: A couple of pictures from our canoe trip yesterday that appreared randomly in the video camera.
Andy Melia on Twitter: @ andymelia Saying goodbye to the @GLS_Scouts boss. Thanks @cc_pob_gls for everything you have done. The County will miss you.
GLS AGM 2017
‘With the summer term just around the corner, I would just like to wish you well with your upcoming events & adventures. Whether that be a Summer Camp, activity day or just a well-earned break. Looking forward to hearing all about your adventures in the next South Circular, so don’t forget to send your reports and pictures onto the County Media Team. Have a Great Summer. #greatscoutingadventures’ - Darren Lodge, County Commissioner
‘It was very sad, but a lovely evening it was so nice to see all the team there. But it’s now great we have a new leader at the helm, driving the County to even greater heights!’ - Paul O’ Brien, County Commissioner 2010 - 17
Congratulations to POBs District Commissioners and County Team who received the County Commissioners Commendation With an Annual General Meeting comes an Annual Report, check it out online at southlondonscouts.org.uk
Gone with the Wind Tadhg, Phoenix Explorer Scout Unit
Once dinner was made and eaten, we headed back out onto the Wight Isle in search of the beach to play videogames in the darkness. Sharp Marran grass and loose dunes provided dozens of hiding spot, making it a particularly good spot for ‘Moonstrike’ and ‘Run-outs’. We then returned via the marina shower-block, and of course to get a picture of Jamie being eaten by a sculpture of a weird bitey insect thing, as one does. We then got back to the boat to the sound of the wind whistling through the rigging, and a warning of incoming weather. Day 3 - Sunday
Day 1 - Friday
Day 2 - Saturday
We met outside our headquarters as instructed Nerves and excitement meant we explorers at 18.30, soon hearing there had been a mix- were up at 06.40, 20 minutes too early for up with the minibus our leader had booked. leader Alex, who ordered us back to our beds. Quickly resolved, it did nothing to quell At 0700 ‘Port Watch’ began to make breakfast our nerves. None of us knew quite what to whilst ‘Starboard’ got ready to be on up on expect from the next few days. Thermopylae deck preparing the yacht for the day’s sailing. is a serious 61ft racing yacht that has been Another briefing, and a stop for fuel, and we round the world three times. Whatever the started cruising down the River Hamble south next few days had in store, they would be a towards the expanse of Southampton Water. new experience. We loaded the minibus with Our course was to head down to the western equal nerves and excitement. Once packed up tip of the Isle of Wight. When we finally got we set down the A3 towards Thermopylae’s out of the river and into Southampton Water mooring, and the Discovery Sailing Project’s we opened up the sails, and learned how to tack the boat whilst dodging large container headquarters on the River Hamble. ships, ferries and the dozens of small vessels We arrived to a warm welcome from our crowding into the channel. Starboard watch Skipper Charles, and shipmate Martin. A quick then went below to prepare lunch for everyone: briefing over a cup of tea saw us split into two a hearty fare of hotdogs and cuppa soups. ‘watches’ - small groups in which we’d work over the next few days. We then began to Breaking into the Solent, we then had easy shift our gear and food across the marina and sailing as we tracked west with the tide. It was into small motor launches, taking three trips easy sailing and arrived to a crowded harbour. across the river to Thermopylae pontoon. We Being 61 ft long, there aren’t many berths settled down and chose our bunks, received a that would accommodate Thermopylae, and quick lesson in how to operate the complicated so we ended up perched on the end of the ‘heads’ (aka toilets), before hitting the sack harbour wall, right next to the hourly car ferry, ready for an early start the next morning.
crews looking far more worse for wear. We later learned the winds had been gusting force-8. Impressive! Despite all this weather, the promised rain never actually hit us. Glad to be off the boat, we headed into Cowes to explore and stock up with yet more snacks, but it wasn’t long before we were back on the boat, tucking into chilli con carne, studying the charts, and challenging each other to games of cards. Day 4 - Monday
We set off from Cowes and started to head east towards Portsmouth. We’d had warning of We woke after an eventful night. The rising more force-8 winds, but the sailing proved to tide had left the mooring lines loose, leaving be fairly uneventful, with very little wind. This the wind to rock the boat, and ping the was welcome relief from the day before though, halyards against the mast. We woke to blue and gave us an opportunity to enjoy the views, skies and light winds believing the worst had and watch smaller boats on the run under the passed, not knowing what we had in store. power of their brightly coloured spinnakers. Leaving Yarmouth harbour the winds picked We neared Gosport, and turned back towards up, creating waves large enough to make Southampton water, motor-sailing up the the boat seem like it was flying. Three reefs River Hamble. It was then time to give Matilda in the sail, and using the smaller ‘stay-sail’ a proper welcome to the Unit, performing still had the boat heeled-over considerably. her investiture on the bow of the yacht. This, combined with the peaks, troughs and A pretty memorable spot to be invested! smashing through waves meant 4 of our party losing their breakfast over the side. Leader Ed We then headed below to clear our bunks, was particularly badly affected, spending most and clean the yacht. More ferrying with motor of the day with his head hanging over board. launches, the obligatory group picture, and then back on the minibus to brave the bank holiday The original plan had been to head for back into London. We were all exhausted, but Portsmouth, but Skipper made the welcome had tons of stories to tell. Despite the seadecision to cow-tail it into Cowes. We must sickness, we all vowed we would be back! all have looked like zombies as we entered Cowes, but our dented pride turned to eagerly recounted war-stories as we received impressed looks by other crews who’d been to afraid to go out, and witnessed dozens of other boats following us in, with much more experienced
24 hours of activity! Jamal Simon Gilwell 24, for me, is probably one of the greatest experiences in the lifetime of a Scout. This weekend away brings adventure, it brings a challenge, and most importantly it brings together hundreds of Scouts from across the UK, and a few from around the world. The idea behind the event is from 9:00 AM on the Saturday until 9:00 AM on the Sunday, Scouts and Explorers stay up participating in a wide variety of super fun activities, rides, and courses. I could fill the page with the number of activities available over the weekend but that would only outline the faint silhouette of the experience given to me from such a fantastic weekend. Of course everyone’s weekend was different, which is one of the beauties of the event, but to try and show the most representative explanations of Gilwell 24 I spent my time talking with a number diverse people; talking, interviewing, and just spending time with them - really trying to see every side of the event. Although the name may say otherwise, Gilwell 24 doesn’t start on the Saturday, nor does it begin at Gilwell Park, but it actually begins at a train station, or coach stop, or even in front of your house because the excitement and discussion between scouts before the event is the starting point for all the fun. For me it was Liverpool Street Station, sitting on the train with some scouts from North England, discussing the next few days ahead, our journeys there (and the six trains their group took), our hobbies, and lives. The ease of discussion between Scouts is what I found most fantastic; the three things that came out most from my interviews were “friends, people, and family spirit”, as that truly is what the event, and Scouting as a whole, is all about. It’s the one thing that I believe everyone is able to experience over those three days. Because the next important aspect of Gilwell 24, is its accessibility.
I have written down in my little red notepad that; ‘With all my time here and all the people I’ve met and seen participating in Gilwell 24, I realise that the greater communities created by this experience are able to swim to their own individual depths of comfortability. Many chose to dive to the deepest darkest unseen segments of this metaphorical ocean - doing things they’ve never done before, nor never thought they would do - whilst others chose to paddle in the shallows only treading past their feeling of comfort, some even decide to sit on the sands, sunbathing, and watch the ocean move along. But all are free to be themselves and all have fun.’ Which, as a sleep deprived thought, felt like pure genius, but understandably may make little sense. To summarise I was trying to show that how much you do and what you do depends on you. There are some, like me, who stay up the whole 24 hours, some who try but don’t survive, others who just do the day activities, and an elite few who complete what is known as Gilwell 48; meaning from Friday till Sunday they don’t sleep, again some try and fail, I met one person from Wyvern Kennet Explorers who actually succeeded and on the Sunday morning was still wide eyed and active. But who is this event for? Well the simple answer is for everyone. Just by walking around the camp and interviewing people you could see a diverse representation of the United Kingdom of all ages, races, religions, colours, and creeds. You would think that would mean a variety of different answers but I was surprised to find a lot of similar stories; when interviewing a few people from the explorer group “Kes” - Ava Dench, Matt Hubbard, and Lizzie Lenthall (she was actually from “Hesu”) - I heard praisings for the atmosphere created by the event, appraisal for the large campsite, a love for the wide range of activities and - to add the cliches - friends, people, and family spirit. Most had also been in scouting for 7+ years, saying they joined and stayed for this very same reason - the family. It seems as a kingdom we have become more united in the past few months; Daniel Davis from 7 Drew spoke about his feelings on the recent terror attacks across England and the world and his “feeling [of] distress about the future” but that also events like Gilwell 24 that bring young people together and give them a “safe break for fun ultimately having a long lasting positive effect” on communal, national, and global identity. This inclusive communal environment could be seen from the gates to the hilltop; especially in the campsites well designed makeshift mosque where those who wanted to could make their daily prayer, it could be seen in the diversity of the opening ceremony crowd, and it could be seen at the pride tent - coincidentally open throughout pride weekend; where rainbow flags flew, colourful cakes were sold, and all were welcome whether you be openly LGBTQ+ or cisgendered and straight. Katie Lazarus from Wyvern Kennet Explorers, whom at 12:30AM had me singing the entirety of the Hamilton Soundtrack and at 2:00AM had me dancing to ‘Grease Lightning’ in the pride tent, joined with the others I had interviewed in expressing just how much they had enjoyed the experience and that all would definitely come again - with reactions ranging from “Yes” to “DEFINITELY!” and “HELL YEAH!”. Much like Katie, I’ll definitely remember this; as all said they would. Whether that be for the escape room, or the rave/disco, or the water slide, the ninja challenge, or unicycles, or the movies, the pub quiz (which I came 3rd in), the rides, or the total wipeout challenge, or even for… no absolutely for the people. Over 24 hours I built friendships and memories I’ll never forget, I’ve remembered why I joined scouting and why I stay, and I’ve built an air of excitement for the next Gilwell 24.
Young Spokesperson Abii Phillips has provided some photographs from the weekend.
Frylands Roundup Nick Smith
Chairman, Frylands Wood Events Committee What a year it has been so far at Frylands Wood.
We’ve held our annual It’s a Knockout Big Weekend on the first bank holiday in May. We had over 400 young people taking part plus adults took us to just over 500 people total. A huge turnout for it and great weather meant that on Saturday everyone enjoyed the IAKO followed by our home cooked BBQ served and cooked by our fabulous crew members. On Sunday everyone got to try out our onsite activities which went down a treat. We closed the weekend with a traditional Frylands Wood Campfire which was by no means small!!! We followed this up with our Summer Beach Party Funday where we welcomed over 450 young people to take part in a range of activities. We were also lucky enough to be joined by the RNLI who ran a stand on water safety for the day, not forgetting our own Frylands Beach. Punch & Judy kept the young people entertained with various shows throughout the day as well. More recently we have held our first of Activity Evenings for this year which was open to the older sections. Joined by 250 young people from uniformed youth groups across south and south east London we had a great evening. We had live music from young and upcoming bands/musicians and also a visit from the ice cream van. All site activities were open for young people to have a go at on a queue and do system. Our next Activity Evening is for the younger sections on Friday 22nd September. We’ve also got our annual Grown up Give it a Go in September. An all adult weekend where you can camp, enjoy activities and have fun singing on Karaoke all without the young people. We look forward to seeing you at one of our events soon. To find out more head to www.frylandswood.co.uk Submitted on behalf of Nick Smith by David Heathcote (District Media Development Manager, Lewisham)
Coming up... Air Activities The Air Activities Team have relocated to The Fort (South London Scout Centre). They have lots of activities to offer Scouts from across GLS & GLSE! Saturday 12th & 13th August Microlighting Who: Scouts and Explorers in GLS/GLSE Where: Old Hay Airfield, Paddock Wood, Maidstone What do we get?: A 15-20 minute flight time Cost: £15 per Scout/Explorer What’s Involved: Scouts and Explorers will be able to assist with the setting up of the aircraft followed by taking off and flying several thousand feet above the Kent countryside. This activity is subject to good weather on the day and could be cancelled at short notice. They dont need a leader just a parent to drop them off and pick them up!
Saturday 14th October 2017 Stage 1 Air Activities Badge Who: Beavers from GLS/GLSE Where: South London Scout Centre (The Fort) When: 14th October 2017 1030-1330 (AM Session) OR 1430-1630 (PM Session) What do we get?: Stage 1 Air Activities Badge Cost: £4 per Beaver What’s Involved: A team of instructors who have an aviation background help beavers to understand the basics of flight. Beavers will find an aircraft they find interesting and research more about it. This is an interactive day with a number of different activities!
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