Scouts

seeing the coast of Norway that the Radar broke again, and we had to feel our way into Bodo on Saturday morning. After we had spent about one hour loading the equipment of "The British Schools Exploring Society", we were given four hours' leave. We started to make our way home in a considerably more choppy sea, arriving back in Leith at 5 a.m. on Monday morning.

The cruise was a most valuable experience, and not to be missed, in future, by anyone interested in seeing life in the Navy. During the week we were given talks on various aspects of the Royal Navy and the ship, besides mixing in with the seamen, helping to keep watch and cleaning the ship. J . G. A.

R.A.F. CAMP, CRANWELL

The annual camp was held this year at R.A.F., Cranwell, the home of the Flying Training College, which serves the R.A.F. in a similar way to that in which Sandhurst serves the Army. It was to be expected, therefore, that the accent would be upon drill and personal smartness, and in this we were not disappointed. In addition, however, the training facilities proved numerous and interesting. A special training programme was laid on, of which everyone was given a copy, and was strictly adhered to, 55 minutes being the time allowed for each of the six daily periods of instruction.

The first day of the camp was taken up with the Graduation Parade of the College cadets, who were quite magnificent, and a flying display, both of which were attended by all the camp flights. Other training activities included shooting, swimming, flying in Chipmunks, primary gliding, navigation, a survival exercise, a tour of the College, airmanship lectures, visits to the workshops, and lectures upon the Equipment and Secretarial arms of the R.A.F. L/Cdt. Dickie was also fortunate enough to obtain a flight in a new Hunting Jet Provost Trainer. Sunday was occupied by a Church Parade and Sports Meeting, while a visit to Lincoln was arranged on Saturday evening. Several periods of P.T. and drill, together with a visit to the Control Tower, made up the balance of lessons.

Although modernisation plans interfered to a small extent with the accommodation and catering for the cadets, there is no doubt that trained, professional instructors and a great variety of equipment combined to make R.A.F., Cranwell, a most instructive and enjoyable camp.

THE SCOUT GROUP

The number of scouts has risen this term and the total is now 29. We have welcomed three second class scouts, Maslin, Beaumont and Bilsborough, and two tenderfeet, Shaftoe and Rae. The first class scouts have gained four more Scout Cords, A. C. Milnes, P. A. J. Gilson, Bailey and P. N. Abel, and have done most of the work towards gaining the Backwoodsman Badge. I should like to thank J. A. Shouksmith for his help throughout the year in the training of these scouts and R. A. B. Wood for his help with the Backwoodsman Badge training this term. Three scouts have gained their First Class Badge, Boyd, N. J. Smith and Robertson, and three others are awaiting the results of their journey. Four more scouts will be doing their journey next term when they have completed the required number of nights at camp. B. J. Atkinson,

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Stapleton and Stevens have now completed their second class training and much credit goes to C. E. M. Atkinson, who has done most of their training.

Bicycles were used on the Field Day this year, each patrol being given a roundabout route, which finished on a disused airfield near Riccall, about 8 miles south of York. After lunch various bicycle races were held in the afternoon, and the day finished with a short wide game in some very thick woodland between two runways. In the scoutcraft competition our pioneering, knotting and highway code scouts did very well, the latter obtaining full marks.

The Annual Camp at the end of term is in the Isle of Man and 24 out of the 29 scouts will be attending.

We say farewell to a number of Senior Scouts and amongst them we should particularly like to mention M. J. French and J. A. Shouksmith, who have been warranted Assistant Scout Masters this year. We thank them for the help they gave at the camps they attended, and mention should perhaps be made of the very competent and professional handling of the School bus by French during the Senior Scout Camp; he was ably assisted by Brisby and Vaigo when they were allowed to take the wheel! Two warrants as Assistant Scout Master are being awarded for the next school year to Hardman, who will assist with Scouts, and to Williams, who will assist with Senior Scouts.

SENIOR SCOUT TROOP

Amongst the highlights of the term was the presentation of his Royal Certificate to R. A. B. Wood by the County Commissioner. As a rule these certificates are presented by the Chief Scout, representing the Queen, at large receptions at Gilwell Park, but Wood elected to have his presented locally and this was done at the Annual General Meeting of the York Scouts Association.

As a small contribution towards York Youth Week, which was held in conjunction with the Commonwealth Technical Training Week, we erected an aerial runway in Rowntree Park as part of a pioneering and camping display by York Senior Scouts. The runway was extremely popular, and we were kept very busy giving free rides to innumerable small children throughout the whole afternoon. We also constructed a gateway for the Scout section of an Exhibition illustrating leisure activities and hobbies.

Our field day was held in the Goathland area of the Yorkshire Moors and patrols were dropped at various points on the moors without maps. Their only guide was a set of notes that they had written some weeks earlier, without knowing that their own skills in construction of routes from maps were going to be put to the test in the field. It is perhaps a matter for some congratulation that all patrols reached their rendezvous by the time limit, though not without some difficulty in deciphering and putting to practical use the rather illegible notes that some had produced. However, this year we did manage to be back at School in time for the evening meal!

At the end of term a good deal of time was spent in preparation for our camp in Derbyshire, and we should like to thank Vaigo for the efficient way in which he handled much of the packing and also for carrying out a good deal of preliminary reconnaissance of our camp site land the area around the Peak District.

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As has been widely made known, Senior Scouts will be given the option of wearing long trousers from 1st November, and as the majority of our Seniors are in favour of this, we shall make the change-over on that date. It will be possible for us to make arrangements for the official pattern of trousers to be obtainable through the School, and only the official pattern will be allowed, in order to conform with the regulations.

SENIOR SCOUT CAMP, DERBYSHIRE

Any camp under canvas is largely dependent upon the weather, and it is a mark of the success of this year's Senior Scout camp that, despite adverse conditions and a certain amount of grumbling, spirits were kept up throughout the nine days in the Peak District.

As always, there was plenty to be done in camp, but parties left almost every day on foot or in the School Minibus, which was again found invaluable for visiting part of the district which would otherwise have been inaccessible.

Undeterred by the weather, a party set off on the second day of camp to climb Kinder Scout, whilst others went off on rock-climbing expeditions or remained in camp to prepare the evening meal—including steamed pudding—quite a challenge on a wood fire!

Later, a visit was paid to the Blue John Mines, though, regrettably, all attempts at losing the G.S.M. failed.

The following day, Saturday, was fine, and various parties set out to climb or walk. One party reached Mam Tor above Castleton, while others explored around the head of the Derwent valley.

The whole camp joined in the longest expedition of camp, up on to Bleaklow Hill and across some difficult peaty ground on to the Snake Pass.

This expedition was followed by the camp-fire, though not everyone had recovered sufficiently to enjoy it.

It was, then, a successful camp, enjoyed by everyone, even Claude, a French visitor, though he is now firmly convinced that British Scouts do nothing but walk. D.K.H.

SCOUT CAMP

The Annual Summer Camp was held on the Isle of Man on a site about a mile from Kirk Michael from 1st to 9th August, and apart from two wet days we were graced by good weather. The party consisted of 24 scouts and two scouters, Mr. Craine who, as an inhabitant of this lovely island, was able to select an excellent site and organise the camp's activities very well, and J. A. Shouksmith, whose main job was to distribute and keep a check on the food.

When we arrived at the camp site after an exceptionally smooth crossing, we discovered that another troop was occupying more than its share of the field, so we had to use a rather inferior field for the first three days. Because of this we decided not to settle in properly until the Friday and as a day trip round the island had been arranged for the Thursday, this was not so inconvenient. Unfortunately we had selected the worst day for this trip as it rained all day and when we returned in the evening, not having seen the island at its best, some of our tents had leaked badly and had nearly been blown down by gale force winds. This meant that half the troop had to sleep in the barn for the night and everyone was pleased to move to the more sheltered site the following day. 37