Scouting

On the last two parades of the term we welcomed a regular C.S.M. from the Depot of The West Yorkshire Regiment; he is coming each week to assist with Drill. This type of help from our affiliated unit is much appreciated. We would like to have a more real contact with them, for after all, the logical thing would be for those entering the Army for their National Service to serve in our local Infantry Regiment.

An effort is being made to produce a permanent record, on the wall of the training room in the new hut, giving a list of those past members of the C.C.F. who have gained their commissions in either Regular or National Service. Much information of Commissioned Officers since 1946 has already been collected, but we should be most grateful to O.P.s who may read this for particulars of their achievements. The details we want are :—Date, Regiment, Corps, Service, etc., and whether Regular or National Service. It is felt that by some such means as this, attention will be drawn to the importance of producing officers for all three Services. We are constantly being reminded that the percentage who achieve officer rank in the North is far too low. We are always most interested to hear from O.P.s who have become officers in local units.

THE GROUP

We are very pleased to record the award by the Chief Scout of the Medal of Merit to Col. K. G. Chilman, T.D., "in recognition of his outstanding service to the Scout Movement".

We offer our congratulations to him upon this well-deserved honour that has been conferred on him after twenty-three years warranted service with the School Group. This Group was started by him in 1931 at the suggestion of S. M. Toyne, Esq., Head Master of that day.

SENIOR SCOUT TROOP

During an otherwise uneventful term P./L. (S.) J. H. Baines and P./L. (S.) R. D. Beckitt received the ice-axe trophy which they hold for a year to commemorate their winning of the York Senior Campercraft Competition in November. The trophy is now mounted in Big Hall. Progress was maintained in Queen's Scout and Bushman's Thong badge work while the last two Scouts attached to the Troop completed the First Class Badge and will be invested as Senior Scouts during the Summer Term. Towards the end of term planning began for the camp held in the Easter holidays in place of the traditional Youth Hostel tour.

The Easter camp was held at Mappleton, near Ashbourne, in Derbyshire from Tuesday, 6th April, until Wednesday, 14th April. Despite gloomy forecasts of snow, rain, wind, and hard frost from pessimistic members of the School, the period of camp was almost completely rainless and, during most of the days, anyway, comparatively warm. True, we had to break the ice on our drinking water on more than one morning, but we soon learned to combat the cold nights by pressing into service all available articles of clothing, and even, it was rumoured in one tent, a hot-water bottle. We camped on the Derbyshire bank of the River Dove, though not in 'Dovedale proper, which lay about three miles to the north. The site was flat and pleasant and suffered from only one disadvantage, a shortage of wood. During camp we explored Dovedale, 'Manifold-dale and the surrounding country, while a cycle tour took in the Derwent Valley. Two of the Seniors successfully completed a Venturer journey which entailed tracing the River Dove from its source near Buxton down to camp, a distance of some twenty miles.

On Sunday, 25th April, most of the Senior Scouts attended the annual St. George's Day Service in the Minster, at which the lesson was read by P./L. (S.) J. H. Baines.

SENIOR SCHOOL TROOP

Most of this term's meetings have been held indoors. Considerable progress has been made with First Class Signalling and Pioneering, and several boys have completed an interesting course for the Firefighter badge at the York City Fire Station.

Preparations for the Lake District tour in the holidays (an account of which appears below) have been completed during the term. The Scouts will be busy during "Bob-a-Job" week which also occurs during the holidays, but the results will not be available until later.

THE LAKE DISTRICT TOUR, 1954

This year a party of fourteen Scouts, led by Mr. Bennett and with Messrs. Chilman and Cooper as whippers-in, set out for the Lake District on 7th April. In spite of the fact that the hike took place rather earlier than usual, the weather was very fair. There was, however, enough wind, rain, and mist to show us what the mountains are like in bad weather. The following is a log of the hike, distances being approximate and calculated by the "ficelle" method :-

WEDNESDAY, 7m APRIL. Weather good. Arrived at Windermere p.m. and split into two parties. Mr. Bennett's section went direct to arrest Head, where there is a good view of the high mountains, and 42

thence cross-country to the Troutbeck Youth Hostel. The remainder visited the shores of the lake before going up to Orrest Head. We were assisted across the Trout Beck by the oldest inhabitant, but unfortunately the stream had altered its course since he last forded it, and the second party was delayed considerably (a) by the sudden departure downstream of one of Steel's shoes, and (b) by the stranding of two patrol leaders who were not prepared to wet their feet. Dredging operations some fifty yards from the scene of the accident recovered the shoe and scornful remarks liberally spiced with good advice finally shamed the P.L.s into taking the plunge. Distance covered, 6 miles. A very watery moon shone through the dormitory windows tonight.

THURSDAY, 8TH APRIL. Wet. From Troutbeck to Patterdale. Cloud started at 1,000 feet and descended to meet us as we walked upwards in three parties. Mr. Bennett's section went to the top of the Garbourn 'Pass before turning North and walking up the ridge towards High Street. Guided by compass and a series of precipices to the East, they reached the col between Thornthwaite Beacon and High Street. A quick descent by the screes brought them to the shores of Hayeswater, after which they had little difficulty in reaching Patterdale. Mr. Chilman's party went by a more direct route, following Hagg Gill and descending to Pasture Beck over Caudale Moor. Mr. Cooper's party intended following the Roman Road to the top of High Street, but thought better of it shortly before noon, by which time the rain had penetrated the fuhrer's neck defences, and when the most scientific of casts failed to find the Roman Road. It therefore traversed the hillside, hearing the progress of the Chilman party below. It reached the col first and descended to Pasture Beck, where it spent a profitable half hour damming the stream. At the end of this time Mr. Chilman appeared on the scene, and the parties proceeded together to Patterdale, having tea in a bus shelter near Brothers Water, thoughtfully put up to mark Her Majesty's Coronation. Distances covered, 15 miles and 11 miles.

FRIDAY, 9TH APRIL. At Patterdale. The day started in a rather unpromising manner, and it was decided to spend the morning by the shores of Ullswater and to await developments. Fortunately, the weather improved steadily and there was no rain. Lunch was taker. by all except Wright near Silver Point. Wright, however, had sped onward to Howtown to await our arrival. After three hours he realised that he had missed his lunch, but he was able to beg sustenance from two charitable ladies, thereby giving himself strength to proceed independently, reaching home by three local summits The remainder of the party returned to Patterdale in separate groups, via Place Fell, via Bannerdale, via Boardale and via nowhere in particular. Distance covered varied from 13 to 6 miles.

SATURDAY, 10TH APRIL. From Patterdale to Keswick. A lovely day. Two routes were chosen, both starting up Helvellyn via Striding Edge. Mr. Chilman, with six Scouts, then set out for the Sticks Pass, down which Maxwell's rucsack travelled on its own until it landed in the beck. At Stybeck most of the party found a convenient bus, but Mr. Chilman and Baldwin reached Keswick on foot, after making a detour to see the Stone Circle. Mr. Bennett followed in his wake with a rather smaller party. Mr. Cooper took another five Scouts down and up Swirral Edge so that Catstye Cam could be climbed. After lunch on the top of Helvellyn (very blustery) this band proceeded along the tops of Raise, Stybarrow Dod and Great Dod before dropping down to Wanthwaite. Some difficulty was experienced in finding a route capable of keeping the party out of hospital, and much time was lost. It was soon obvious that we might well be late for supper at Keswick. Luckily, a double-decker bus appeared at the crucial moment, and the last two miles were covered in style. Distance walked varied between 16 and 8 miles.

SUNDAY, 11TH APRIL. From Keswick to Longthwaite in Borrowdale. Weather fair, cloud at 2,000 feet. Before lunch at Friar's Crag every member of the party attended either Sung Communion or Morning Prayer at St. John's Church. At Friar's Crag there was a good drying wind for Maxwell's property. After lunch the nautical members of the party performed complicated naval manoeuvres in two boats. Everyone chose his own route to Longthwaite, either by Watendlath, along the shores of the lake or across the lake by launch and along the tops from Cat Bells to Lobstone Band. Distance walked, 8 miles.

MONDAY, 12TH APRIL. At Longthwaite. An energetic day to the top of Scafell Pikes by Grains Gill, a pleasant variation from the more usual Styhead and Sprinkling Tarn route. After an icy lunch on the roof, we went down to Styhead by the Guides' Route. The more energetic then went up Great Gable, and returned by Green Gable, Brandreth and Honister. The views were particularly beautiful today. Distance walked, 14 miles.

TUESDAY, 13m APRIL. From Longthwaite to Elterwater. Weather rather threatening and definitely nasty at times. We kept together up Langstrath and over the Stake Pass. An attempt to go up the Langdale Pikes was frustrated by stragglers and the weather, so we continued down Great Langdale to Elterwater. As a scout is a friend to animals, we went to the rescue of a sheep stuck in a stream. After much heaving and a certain amount of lost wool, the sheep was landed, but it promptly jumped back into the stream Apparently it wanted to get out the other side, for subsequent haulage from that quarter eventually proved successful. Distance walked, 13 miles.

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