Scouts

The training programme consisted of the usual films and lectures, which accentuated aircraft servicing and maintenance. One whole day was devoted to a map-reading exercise, in which the School sections acquitted themselves very honourably, due, perhaps, to their superior knowledge of the countryside around York. An instructive visit to R.A.F. Leeming was arranged for one afternoon, during which we were shown the latest radar equipment, Javelin jet fighter aircraft, and Canberra bombers. Other training activities included a visit to the control tower and classification shooting, in which the School flight gained and retained a high number of marksmen

Since we were the only C.C.F. at Linton, the other flights being made up of Air Training Corps sections, our flying, which was in Chipmunks, was restricted to two half-hour flights each. For some of the older cadets, there was a chance of a flight in a Sea Prince aircraft, which unfortunately did not materialise, since the plane was unserviceable. Some boys were to have been decompressed for jet flights in the future, but this, too, did not take place. However, Cpl. Shubrook was lucky enough to win a flight in a Vampire T-11, which marked the climax of our flying activities. It is hoped that some flying can be arranged at Linton during term time.

Although there was very little of the popular inter-flight competitions, it was generally agreed that R.A.F. Linton provided an excellent camp as far as the St. Peter's School contingent was concerned. C.L.B.

THE SCOUT GROUP

Mr. Holbeche, who has been Scout Master for four years, has reluctantly decided that he can no longer give up the time to run the Scout Troop, and next term Mr. Craine will be presented with his warrant as Scout Master. We are very grateful to Mr. Holbeche for all that he has done for the Scout Troop and in particular for stepping in at a time when the future of the Group seemed jeopardised by the shortage of Scouters. We are glad to know that Mr. Holbeche will continue to help the Group whenever possible and he has already been unwary enough to suggest that he might be seen at camp again.

We say goodbye to a number of Senior Scouts who are leaving School. Among them we are very sorry to lose J. M. Smith and D. E. Coulson, who have been two of our longest serving and hardest working Assistant Scout Masters. We are very grateful to them for all that they have done, particularly in the Senior Scout Troop.

We were very shocked to learn of the death by drowning of one of our Senior Scouts, M. J. Macartney. Those of us who were privileged to be at camp with him only a fortnight before his death will long remember his good humour and his willingness to undertake any camp job, no matter how menial. 48

SENIOR SCOUT TROOP

As always in the Summer Term our programme was curtailed by the approach of G.C.E. for many of our members. We did, however, hold a number of successful out of door meetings and these culminated in the construction of the lift bridge by a pioneering team. The fact that it did work confounded even those engaged in the project and the bridge provided amusement for a large number of onlookers.

Our Field Day was spent on the moors and was very successful, despite the fact that it lasted some three hours longer than was intended. The party which was the prime cause of our late return stoutly denied that their map-reading was at fault and claimed that it was merely their concern for the grouse which had caused them to take a rather roundabout route.

The camp in North Wales was one of the most successful Senior Scout camps we have held and was marked by a spirit of very good humour. An independent appreciation of camp, written by one of its prominent practical jokers, follows below.

SENIOR SCOUT CAMP—CRAFNANT, N. WALES

Despite gloomy forebodings, the morning of 26th July dawned bright and clear, and we set off for camp in good spirits. An uneventful journey by train brought us, after many changes, to a small Welsh town with the impossible name of Llanrwst. Those of us who had not travelled down by the School Minibus here met the rest of the party, and we arrived at the camp site together.

Out of the chaos of those first two days there did eventually arise a presentable camp, despite almost 30 hours of continuous rain and an inevitable ebb of morale. For purposes of administration we dropped the normal system of patrols, and divided into two subcamps under A.S.M.s Smith and Coulson. Rivalry between the two camps encouraged progress, and whereas camp A excelled in cocoa, for coffee we turned to camp B.

It was, therefore, with some relief that we woke on the third day and found a change in the weather. It was decided to make the most of the opportunity, and a party set out immediately to climb Snowdon, taking lunch with them. In its object the expedition was entirely successful, and the summit was reached without mishap, other than a severe blow to one's sense of achievement on finding a hotel and railway station on the summit.

Other expeditions from the camp site included rock-climbing trips to Tryfan, a long walk via Carnedd Dafydd and Carnedd Llewellyn, and a pleasure party to the coast. These and all excursions were helped on their way by the School Minibus, and we must thank the two long-suffering drivers, Smith and Brisby, for their unfailing helpfulness.

Because of an early start on the last morning the camp fire was held one night earlier than usual, and was much enjoyed, especially

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as Mrs. Owen, on whose land we were camping, brought her family to join in. Some of those taking part in the sketches showed great promise for a theatrical career; others seemed in danger of being thrown into the stream.

So, after the tiresome business of packing, camp came to an end, and nothing remains but a few strangely assorted memories :—the incredibly bumpy and hair-raising ride from the station, in the back of a decrepit (Welsh !) grocery lorry; the everlasting bombast and questions of our two foreign visitors, Jean-Louis Perret and Siegfried Horn; the mysterious patronage of the old gods that sprang up in the camp, and the altar to Juno that appeared in the precincts; the local preacher's startling sibilants, and finally the motto which stuck throughout the camp, and confronted every labouring cyclist met by the Minibus—"Stick at it, Adam !". D.K.H.

SCOUT TROOP

First we welcome Mr. N. J. Dunstan into the Troop as Assistant Scout Master. He has already taken an active part in the training of the Troop since Christmas, and early in July Mr. Nix presented him with his Warrant. We trust he will enjoy his scouting under Mr. Craine, who takes over the Troop in September.

The Summer Term is always active if only because the year's 1st Class training and testing culminate in the 1st Class Journey for all those Scouts who are up to standard. In all, fourteen Scouts were awarded their 1st Class Badges by the end of term, which means that we shall probably retain the Local Association Shield for yet another year. We should like to thank Hewitt, J. A. Shouksmith, Vaigo and White for their invaluable help in carrying out this strenuous programme. Meanwhile most of the senior members of the Troop, flashing their Scout Cords, were either engaged on pioneering exercises or completing the construction of patrol boxes for camp.

The Field Day took place in the Howardian Hills for a change. The four patrols were dropped at different points on an arc ranging from Brandsby to Whitwell and found their way across country for lunch at Hovingham, having carried out various tests of observation and field study en route. The Wide Game proposed for the afternoon never really came off, owing to the suspiciously late arrival of the Foxes Patrol (led astray by McKay).

Lastly, we are grateful for the part played in the Summer Camp at Bamburgh by the Patrol Leaders (Haxby, McKay and Wroe) and by two Senior Scouts (Hewitt and J. A. Shouksmith), particularly the latter who proved to be a quietly efficient storekeeper; and a personal note of sincere gratitude is extended to Mr. Craine, whose loyal and cheerful presence, in the Scout Hut or under canvas, is a source of strength to any Scouter. Under his guidance, the Troop will be in safe hands.

SUMMER CAMP, 1960

The annual Summer Camp was held on a very pleasant site overlooking the sea near Budle Bay in Northumberland from 26th July to 3rd August. Mr. Holbeche and Mr. Craine, assisted by two Senior Scouts (Hewitt and J. A. Shouksmith), were in charge of the party which consisted of 18 Scouts and one French boy, who was completely nonplussed by Mr. Holbeche's pathetic attempts to converse with him "after the scole of Stratford-atte-Bowe".

The camp was graced by quite good weather and several interesting places were visited. On Thursday, after a day to settle in, the whole Troop chartered a frail craft to chug round the Fame Islands from Seahouses in pretty choppy conditions. Several members of the Troop proved to be indifferent sailors but all was well by the time we landed on Longstone Point, where the bird and seal life delighted the naturalists. On the following day a small party of enthusiastic climbers set out to climb the Cheviot, the highest peak of the nearby range. Unhappily an anonymous Scoutmaster led the party up the wrong mountain, but the venture was nevertheless enjoyed by all. The other main outing was to Holy Island on August Monday, where a hot afternoon was spent either visiting the Priory and Castle or sunbathing on the beach. Dear old William (the more ancient of the Scouters' cars) chose this occasion to break down, but half-a-dozen stalwart Scouts pushed him to safety over the causeway to the mainland before the tide came in.

Apart from these excursions, the whole Troop attended either Holy Communion or Matins at Bamburgh Church on Sunday; and several afternoons were spent either bathing or playing cricket on the beach.

Back in camp, the patrol competition was won by Seals as a result of three rigorous inspections; but all the patrols displayed a high standard in some aspect of scouting, especially cooking. Hounds, almost entirely made up of choristers, continually overcame the tedium of kitchen chores by bursting forth into the Te Deum and various anthems. which partly made up for the Camp Fire being rained dff. After certain Scouts had shown unwonted interest in a nearby Girl Guides' camp, an invitation was received to attend their Camp Fire, and we were duly represented at it. On the next evening a Night Game (no connection with above visit) was arranged over some rough country near the sea. Chaos reigned throughout but no one seemed to mind.

Finally, a word of thanks is due to Mr. Holbeche, who was attending his last camp as our Scout Master, for all the hard work he put in, both in arranging the camp and in seeing that everything ran smoothly. We are grateful to him in particular and to everyone else who helped to make this such a memorable and enjoyable occasion. J.A.S.

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