Scouts

SCOUT GROUP

We say goodbye to Mr. N. J. Dunstan as he leaves the School at the end of term. We are very grateful to him for having taken out a warrant as Assistant Scoutmaster, even though he had never done any scouting before, and we thank him for the help he has given with the Scout Troop.

J. J. Cooper was presented with his warrant as Assistant Scoutmaster at the end of term. He will continue to help with the running of the Senior Scout Troop during the Summer Term, while J. W. Hey and R. P. Shouksmith will be appointed acting Assistant Scoutmasters to help with the running of the Scout Troop.

SENIOR SCOUT TROOP

R. P. Shouksmith is to be congratulated on becoming a Queen's Scout before submitting himself to the rigours of the Welsh expedition in the last week of March. The term's activities were overshadowed by the expedition, though other training also continued, especially for the Ambulance, Despatch Rider and Meteorologist badges.

A number of evening exercises were held, the most spectacular being a night hike in the Elvington area. This was meant to be an opportunity to hike by the stars, but we were foiled by the thick fog which descended upon us. Last year, in a similar attempt, we had been foiled by a blizzard and on both occasions we had to revert to the use of maps. The Derwent Valley in thick fog at night is a very much greater test of map reading than might be imagined, but all the parties were found, even if some of us were back very much later than had been planned.

Twenty-one members of the Senior Scout Troop elected to take part in the expedition to Snowdonia. This was a very satisfactory number considering that the expedition was to be held immediately at the end of the Easter Term. There was little doubt that the expedition was a very great success, and I should like to congratulate the patrol leaders concerned on the way in which they tackled the project. We have not held such an expedition since 1956, but the obvious enthusiasm of the party who went this year suggests that this may become an annual event. A report of the expedition follows and I should like to say in my own defence, to correct an impression which may be gained, that I did in fact spend a certain amount of the time walking and climbing!

K.G.C.

SCOUT TROOP

Training has continued this term and most of the scouts have passed three more First Class tests. Five of them will be ready to do their First Class Journey at the beginning of next term. Baby and Hardie, who joined as tenderfeet last September, have now done all their Second Class tests except the journey, which will also be done next term. Three boys left the Troop this term, so our numbers are now 29.

I should like to thank Mr. Dunstan, who is leaving the School, for his help during the last few years and wish him every success in the future. With no regular A.S.M.s I should also like to thank Shouksmith and Bailey for their help with the training and testing for the First Class First Aid.

The summer camp will be held immediately after the Summer Term on the Isle of Arran, and it is hoped that as many scouts as possible will attend.

SNOWDONIA EXPEDITION, EASTER, 1964

Preparations went ahead during the Easter Term for the expedition. Everyone arrived safely at Conway, some, we are told, by way of Birmingham! The weather on the first day was none too inspiring, since it had rained continuously since Manchester, but the second day dawned bright, if not exactly warm. Camp was struck, but as the first day was meant purely for running-in purposes, we all met again that evening in the Crafnant valley. The following morning the various parties branched off, one party on bicycles, to meet some three days later at the foot of Snowdon itself. Surprisingly enough, not many stories of courage and endurance were exchanged, but one particular party will forever shudder at the name of Tryfan. Saturday night was spent in either Portmadoc or Beddgelert, and most of the group went to church in Beddgelert on Easter Sunday. Otherwise Sunday was a rest-day, rounded off by an unofficial camp fire.

Monday's main objective was Snowdon itself. This was conquered by the most difficult route possible, only to find hordes of holiday-makers in sandals and slippers (useless in all that snow), who had cheated by coming up on the railway.

The Tuesday was spent in moving to the last collective camp site, and we were dragged out of bed on a freezing April Fool's morning to drive into Bangor for the return journey. Most members of the group were oblivious of the breath-taking mid-Lancashire scenery, being sunk deep in British Railways seats.

Bearing in mind that it was the first time the present Senior Scouts had done anything of this kind, everything went off extremely smoothly. The patrol leaders are to be congratulated on their organisation, but the greater part of the honour must go to our Scoutmaster, Mr. K. G. Coulthard. In all sincerity, none of this would have been possible without his participation (and as he always impresses upon us, it was entirely voluntary work !); he spent what must have been quite a boring week driving round North Wales, picking up supplies, making rendezvous here and there with various parties. The mileage on the minibus must have been astronomical, since every party covered, on average, about eighty miles. Indeed, without the minibus, and such a driver, the expedition would not have been thought possible, let alone been possible, and we offer it, and Mr. Coulthard, our deepest thanks.

Surprisingly enough, there were no external injuries throughout the whole expedition, apart from the usual crop of blisters. Internal troubles were a little more frequent, but far from fatal. There were those who said that such a camp, at that time of the year, would be suicidal, and not without a little justification; however, everything came off quite smoothly, and it is to be hoped that such a camp will take place more frequently, at least every third year, since it will help any Scout enormously to go on one of them, and return a better Scout, we hope, from the experience. A.D.B.