C.C.F. Leadership Course, 1959 "In 1958 Northern Command held a Leadership Course at Otterburn for boys from the C.C.F. detachments of schools in the Command. This was so successful that the experiment is to be repeated this year. The aim of the Course is to develop in cadets, through physical endeavour, the qualities of discipline and initiative that make a leader." On the 2nd of April I was seated in a railway carriage, travelling towards Newcastle, with very mixed feelings. The above paragraph was all I knew of the next 10 days of my life. Where I was to sleep, what I was to eat were all shrouded in mystery. On arriving at Otterburn I was delighted to find the living conditions excellent (clean, well heated barrack-rooms); a further shock awaited me—the food and service were undoubtedly of Officers' Mess standard. However it soon became apparent that a contented soldier was expected to do more work. The first few days of the Course were really preparation for the culminating 36 hour exercise, which was to test us all to the full. This initial training period consisted of Battle P.T., always followed by an assault course (first individually and then as a team carrying an 8 foot log), weapon training, demonstrations, short exercises in fieldcraft and map reading, even lecturettes—in fact we did the lot, working 14 hours a day. On the final exercise I was lucky enough to be a platoon commander, which gave me an excellent excuse for remaining stationary and directing operations from "an armchair". Even so, this exercise was a very severe test. These were the most rewarding ten days I have ever spent in any holiday. For anyone thinking of the services as a career this is an ideal opportunity. The certificate given at the end of the Course will carry a lot of weight with the Regular Commissions Board. Moreover, it is an excellent holiday on which a lot can be learnt, and it is to be hoped that in future years more people will take advantage of it. N.R.B.
THE SCOUT GROUP At the end of term all members of the Group went home equipped with "Bob-a-Job" cards, to take part in an activity which has become something of a national institution. It might be appropriate to explain the reasons for "Bob-a-Job" week as it enters its second decade. The Scout movement is, of course, entirely self-supporting and by 1949 rising costs were putting a severe strain on the movement's slender resources, and a reliable source of income had to be found to support Imperial Headquarters, Gilwell Park, and a number 39
