The Scout Group

Unfortunately the day we were allotted for flying was one of the worst in the whole week; conditions were very bumpy and we were lucky to go up at all. As it was, we got 25 minutes in a Chipmunk and 35 in a Valetta.

We were luckier with the day for our evasion exercise. The weather was fine and not too hot, which was almost ideal. We were dropped supposedly in enemy territory with the task of returning to camp without being caught. Penalties were incurred for capture and for slowness. It was an arduous exercise but was enjoyed by most people as a welcome break from the bookwork of preceding days. The two St. Peter's platoons, though they did not win, did very creditably.

In the Athletics competition, held on the Saturday after the Church Parade, the St. Peter's iepiesentatives did not shine but were much younger than most of the others, many of whom had done athletics all through the summer term and were fit and in practice.

In the Drill competition we were eleventh and in the basketball competition we were knocked out in the second round after about ten minutes of extra time (and after breaking a light bulb) by the finalists. In the .303 shooting we had four marksmen out of twelve which was, I think, the highest percentage of any school present.

We were fairly comfortable and well fed; it was a successful camp and an experience not to be missed.

SCOUT GROUP

The Group has enjoyed one of its most successful years for some time, thanks largely to the influence of the Rover Crew, all members of which left at the end of term. We shall not be able to form another Crew until 1964, but already we can see that it will be possible then. Eight members of the Group were Queen's Scouts at the end of term, while four Rovers held warrants as Assistant Scoutmasters. The whole Crew, including Bradshaw, who had left school in March, assisted with the running of the Summer camps. Hirst and Ormiston, with Bradley and Haxby, were at the Senior Scout Camp in Ireland; Bradshaw, Clegg and Foster with the Scout Camp in the Isle of Man; while Hopwood and Gray assisted at the Chilman Group Camp near Thirsk. We say goodbye to them all and thank them for the excellent work they did, both at these camps and during the year.

We were very pleased to be represented at the World Jamboree in Greece by one of our Queen's Scouts, J. J. Cooper. His impressions of the Jamboree follow.

THE ELEVENTH WORLD SCOUT JAMBOREE

This great event was held at Marathon, in Greece, from the 1st to the 11th August. There were about 14,000 scouts there and the British Contingent of 1,500 was the largest.

During these eleven days the scouts from about ninety different countries camped together. The aim of the camp was to "Scout Higher and Wider" and this was the theme of the Jamboree Song, which was played several times daily.

Each morning was diveded between different activities, such as swimming, field sports and the labours of Hercules. In the afternoon there was a rest period of two hours, which was needed with temperatures of more than 100° F. This was followed by the Talent o'Rama, in which troops demonstrated different skills. These activities, with a few others, counted towards the Laurel Award Scheme, which provided each scout with the opportunity of winning a badge.

The evening programme usually consisted of camp fires or special events. Three of these events were, the opening ceremony, a visit from the King of Greece, and the Closing Ceremony, which were all very impressive. On three nights the larger contingents gave National displays which were very colourful.

On the two Sundays of the Jamboree there were very moving services which were attended by many Christian scouts.

After the Jamboree the British contingent went on a four day tour of Greece, which was a fitting ending to a very great experience.

J.J.C.

SENIOR SCOUT TROOP

Training was concerned more with the outdoor badges during the Summer Term and a large number of the Troop gained the Senior Pioneer Badge. In connection with this a party spent a weekend in backwoods shelters of their own design and construction. These were extremely robust and would have served to house the occupants for many months. Unfortunately the pressure of work and other activities meant that they could only be used for one night.

J. Gray and J. E. Perks gained their Queen's Scout Badges. Perks is the youngest Queen's Scout we have had in the Group and also has the distinction of being the only member of the Group to have qualified through the Airman's Badge, in place of the Bushman's Thong. We look forward to the day when he flies us to camp!

The day appointed for our Field Day dawned wet and cheerless. However, by common consent, we decided to press on with our project on the Yorkshire Moors. Patrols were dropped, after travelling blindfold, at various points around Rosedale. The only indications they were given of the routes they were to follow were in verse (of a sort) prepared by one of the A.S.Ms. The work of the last two Patrols to be dropped was further hampered by thick cloud which completely obscured any landmarks. It says much for the general state of map-reading that all (nearly!) arrived at their various rendezvous. It says even more for their self-control that all accepted that they were only half-way to their ultimate destination, which they had to find without the aid of maps!

We erected our traditional runway in the Museum Gardens at the triennial Scout Gala. This gave Hutchinson and Rowbottom an opportunity to spend the greater part of a day up a tree, which is apparently a very rewarding experience. As usual the Runway was very popular and our main problem was keeping the long queue of small children in order.

The year's programme culminated in a most successful camp held in Ireland. I am most grateful to A.S.Ms. Hirst and Ormiston for their help in running this camp. Hirst undertook the catering and never have we eaten so well in camp, being regaled with such dishes as casseroled lamb chops and goulash. Ormiston, as baggage master, was a tower of strength and an excellent spirit prevailed as is obvious from the report that follows. 29

SENIOR SCOUT CAMP, 1963

It is always a bad sign when the members of a camp start talking about Paradise. When this occurs on the first day of camp, even before the site has been reached, one might well imagine that something was drastically wrong with morale.

The Paradise in question was Dublin quayside; a spot ethereal enough, when considered from the open deck of a packed steamer ploughing through freezing mist at 4-0 a.m. Two things comforted the troop—the thought of Cooper sweltering under a pile of washing-up at the Jamboree in Greece, and the sight of the G.S.M. plodding sturdily up and down the deck, his head down against the icy wind. Noble thoughts of protecting his sleeping troop were passing through his mind; the thoughts of the troop were anything but noble when they were awakened to the miseries of the night •by the G.S.M.'s boot descending thunderously in the immediate vicinity of their heads.

By dawn the whole troop was assembled in the bows to watch the approach to the Liffey. One of our members was even moved to poetry (though the G.S.M. thought it was delirium) and "Ode to Liffey" was added to the masterpieces inspired by Dublin's fair river.

Breakfast on the boat was the first of the luxuries which were to make up for the execrable crossing. The Irish steward gave us a preview of Gaelic place names when he corrected our pronunciation of our destination —Kilmacanogue. His description of the place was not heartening to those expecting social life at camp: "It's the sort of place you don't realise you're in until you've walked right through it." There was no doubt about it—this was Ireland.

The train to Bray left us yet eight miles from the camp site; eight miles uphill, that is, for Calary Filling Station (the highest in Ireland) lies on a shoulder of the Sugarloaf—one of the most impressive of the Wicklow Mountains. About half the camp had brought bicycles across with them; they now set off up the hill. The other half threw Scouting principles to the wind and caught a bus, arriving just in time to see the G.S.M. toiling up to the brow of the hill.

The camp-site was excellent with a marvellous view down to Dublin Bay. The three days of brilliant sunshine which marked the first half of camp made this spot so pleasant that very few excursions were made. A peaceful lethargy set in which no-one wished to break. The proximity of the little store at the filling station was another attraction, as the owners, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, were kept busy by a continual stream of ,clients for ice-cream. Ian, their son, conducted a party to swim in "his -pool" —a magnificent lake two miles over the moor. A.S.M. Ormiston Accompanied them and by coincidence the A.S.Ms. had trout for breakfast next morning.

The fourth day of camp was cooler, and small parties set out to visit the surrounding countryside, Glendalough or the Powerscourt Waterfall. Those that remained in camp were entertained by Eva, the Johnson's Alsatian, who won all hearts but the store-keeper's.

The indefatigable G.S.M. led an enthusiastic party (including Washington) up the nearest peak and followed that success by bullying most of the camp to Enniskerry for Church on Sunday. Viscount Powerscourt, the Chief Scout of Eire, showed us to our places, and, looking at A.S.M. Hirst, expressed surprise that we had walked the six miles from 30

Calary. This, however, was nothing compared with the journey back. We decided to walk through the grounds of Powerscourt House, and to go out of our way to see the famous waterfall. On the G.S.M.'s suggestion (i.e. orders) we were without capes, and it poured with rain most of the way back.

Other highlights of the camp were a night-game on top of the Sugarloaf, and the camp-fire, attended by Mrs. Johnson and the District Commissioner.

Luckily the weather stayed fine for the tricky job of packing the tents, and camp was struck without trouble. The return crossing seemed comparatively mild, perhaps because we were better prepared for it, but nevertheless Liverpool looked very friendly, even in the cold grey English dawn.

Looking back on it, we had a remarkably pleasant and trouble-free camp; if we achieved nothing else, at least we taught the G.S.M. to play Chess!

SCOUT TROOP

D.K.H.

This term completes the year's training programme and many scouts have gained badges. Scout Cords have been gained by Fear, Gow and Watts. First Class badges by Anfield, Bailey, Cressey, Doyle, P. J., Fleming, Hodgson, McGrath, McKay, McKenzie, Rank, Summers-Smith, Sugar, Wood, J. and Wood, R. Second Class badges were obtained by Farmer, Anderson, Medlycott, Moss, A. J. and Moss, R. I.

The field day consisted of patrol hikes from various starting points finishing at Hovingham. Despite the rather heavy showers the day was a success and each patrol arrived near to its scheduled time. The Scout Cord training this term was taken by C. F. Foster and a lot of work was done on the Backwoodsman Badge and this will be completed at camp in the Isle of Man. I should like to thank Foster for his help and M. A. Clegg for his work training the scouts who obtained their first class badges.

SCOUT CAMP, 1963

The Scout Troop camped once again on the delightful site at Bishop's Court, Kirkmichael, in the Isle of Man. This site is first class not only because of its ease of access to water and wood (essentials), but also because it allows fairly regular bathing sessions, as the beach is only mile distant.

The Isle of Man, too, is a delightful place. It has, apparently, but half the population of York in total, and almost all are employed on the land or fishing. The people are very independent, and command liking and respect in all who come in contact with them.

All appreciated the chances they had to "see" the Island, both on the trip round the Island on the second day, and the day out (for most at Peel) on the fourth day. The Bishop's Court itself, where the Troop attended Communion and Evensong on the Sunday, is fascinating both for its historical relics and the charm of its services. It is a private chapel of course, but many of the local people attend the services there, and these were much enjoyed.

The Camp itself was organised on a Patrol basis, which, although a risk if the patrols are not of equal strength, was amply justified by the 31