join the adventure - hertfordshire...join the adventure issue 22 — january 2009 page 2 campsites...

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ISSUE 22 — JANUARY 2009 Join the Adventure

www.hertfordshirescouts.org.uk

Campsites & Activity Centres

Email: [email protected]

Kathy Overman, 41 Gun Road Gardens, KNEBWORTH, SG3 6EB

The Registrar County Office Well End Activity Centre Borehamwood WD6 5PR Email: [email protected]

The Registrar County Office Well End Activity Centre Borehamwood WD6 5PR

Tolmers Scout Activity Centre Tolmers Road, CUFFLEY, EN6 4JS Email [email protected]

Well End Activity Centre, BOREHAMWOOD WD6 5PR [email protected]

Hertfordshire Scouts’ 7 Centres — Located in the Scottish Highlands, Snowdonia, the Peak District and Hertfordshire.

Phasels Wood Scout Camp Rucklers Lane KINGS LANGLEY Hertfordshire WD4 9NA

Tel: 01442 252851 Fax: 01442 252162

E-mail:[email protected]

Patricia Hall, Little Croft Roestock Lane, Colney Heath St Albans. AL4 0QW

Tel:07521 384300

Tel: 01438 812819

Tel: 0208 236 0040

Tel: 01727 821113

01707 872900

0208 953 2326

Email: [email protected]


Application Form

I wish to apply for the Spring Bank Holiday Sailing Week 2009 Name:———————————————————————————————— Address———————————————————————————–———— ————————————————————————————––—————— ———–————————————————————————–——————— Post Code—————————— Telephone No————–——————————

Age: (if under 18—————————— Scout or Guide Group or Unit: ——–————————————————

Previous experience or ————————————————————————— RYA certificates held——————————————————————————

Course applying for – Young Sailors Courses (circle choice)

Course applying for – Basic Skills & Module Courses (circle 2 choices and 1 reserve - except Basic Skills)

Signed by:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (for Scouts or Guides under 18 a signature from the parent or guardian is required) Send application to: Richard Watson, 19 King Edward's Road, Ware, Herts. SG12 7EJ

email: [email protected] Please photocopy for your records Applications to be received by March 17th 2009.

Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4

1st Choice

Basic Skills

(Full Week)

Seamanship Skills

Sailing with Spinnakers

Day Sailing Performance Sailing

Start Racing

2nd Choice

Seamanship Skills



Start Racing

Reserve Choice

Seamanship Skills



Start Racing

Other Courses: (circle choice)

Instructor (requires First Aid qualification Powerboat Level 2) First Aid and Level 2 powerboat to be held) Catamaran Endorsement

Other Courses: (circle choice)

Instructor (requires First Aid qualification Powerboat Level 2) First Aid and Level 2 powerboat to be held) Catamaran Endorsement

1st Choice

Basic Skills

(Full Week)

Seamanship Skills



Start Racing

2nd Choice

Seamanship Skills



Start Racing

Reserve Choice

Seamanship Skills



Start Racing

Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4

mailto:[email protected]�




…….and so a New Year dawns – perhaps rather gloomily for some, but we have to be reminded that in the midst of this global reces-sion, there are hundreds of millions of people around the world far worse off than us, many of them members of their national Scout association.

I am writing this contribution in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, one of the poorest coun-tries in the world. It is impossible to describe the degree of poverty in this short piece – the street children, the beggars, the crippled, the blind, people living in water pipes waiting to be laid or under a square of plastic by the side of the road. Life is very tough in Ethiopia but its peoples are proud and optimistic. Scouting has had a chequered history here as it has been banned twice since its founding year 1934. The first banning was during the Italian occupation during WW2 and then a fur-ther banning between 1974 and 1991 by a socialist government. But now it is active again and recognised by the World Organisation of Scout Movements (WOSM). The numbers of Tadagy (Cubs), Medebegna (Scouts), Wotat Scouts (Explorers) and Awaki (Network +) are on the increase and like many African countries, Ethiopian Scouts are involved in a variety of community development programmes. We are now about half way through Hertfordshire Scout County’s Centenary year. My challenge set in January last year for 100 Groups, Colonies, Packs, Troops or Units to em-bark on the International Friendship Partnership Award has yet to gather momentum. Here’s how to get started:

Identify a partner and a project that relates to International Friendship. Together with those involved, set objectives for what you wish to achieve and plan the

project. Take part and successfully complete the joint project. Assess the benefits to those involved. Award the Partnership Award to those Members taking part.

Here’s one idea for you to get started. 12 of our 18 districts are represented on the Expedition to Swaziland in July/August 2009. All of the Scouts involved are collecting materials, such as children’s reading books, Scouting or otherwise, uniforms, scarves etc. to take with them to support a newly formed Scout Group at the orphanage and school in the north of Swaziland close to the Thirst for Life national campsite. If you don’t know who is going from your District, please get the materi-als to the County Activity Centre at Well End and mark the package ‘FOR SWAZILAND’. There are challenging and exciting times ahead. A Happy New Year to all.

International Matters

Mike Aston ACC (International) 8 Causeway Close, Potters Bar EN6 5HW

( 01707 658644 Email [email protected]


HAPPY NEW YEAR Welcome to this New Year edition of HEADLINES. There are many activities and events planned for 2009. All details are posted on Hertfordshire Scouts website. Use the contact facility on the site if you have any queries. These are directed to the volun-teer leader in the County with the infor-mation. Check out your permits when planning your programme for the year. If you need to renew then your DC will be able to advise on how to do it. Deadline for the next issue is 12th January 2009. A Happy New Year to all. Melvyn Teare Editor

CONTENTS Activity Centres Page 2 CC writes.. Page 4 News and events Page 5 2009 Calendar Page 6/7 Sailing Week Page 8/9 Frank’s notes. Page 10/11 News Page14/15 Plus 2 centre page pullouts

for the Watford and Saracens matches

Cover photo: 1st Baldock Scouts Centenary celebrations

If you have any comments about how we can improve HEADLINES, or any stories that you think we might be interested in, please email us. Hertfordshire Scouts is a registered charity( number 302606)

Hertfordshire Scout County Office Well End, Borehamwood, WD6 5PR.

Tel 0845 053 0437 Email [email protected]



Apology In October an article was published in Headlines on Stevenage Scout leader Tom Moore written by Frank Brittain, County Archivist. The arti-cle stated that Tom was on a solo expedition that included a trip to Liechtenstein. This was incorrect. Tom travelled to Liechtenstein with the Hertfordshire County Scouts as a leader and had been very involved in organising the Explorer Belt expe-ditions that took place there. He travelled out with the Scouts, was in-sured with the Scouts, spent all his time in Liechtenstein with the Scouts apart from one stop off at an International Scout Jamboree and was fully expected to travel home with the Scouts. I would like to apologise for any distress the article may have caused to Tom’s family, friends and colleagues. Scouting was a huge part of Tom's life, he was proud to be a Queens Scout, and he gave an enormous amount of time and commitment to Scouting. This apology is published after consultation with Tom’s mother, Mrs Diane Moore.

Melvyn Teare Editor

Ivor Thomas: County Commissioner

I wish everyone in Hertfordshire scouting and their fami-lies a happy and prosperous New Year. Now the festive season is over everyone is looking for-ward to the many activities planned for 2009. The first involving all the County is the census due at the end of this month and I am looking forward to seeing the out-come of the many large and small activities you have car-

ried out last year to develop scouting in your Groups and Districts. For all the other events going on next year check the calendar on the county’s website. I look forward to the Celebration of Achievement where the County in a small way recognises all the recipients of awards from Chief Scouts to Silver Wolfs that have been made in the past year. I have had the privilege and the pleasure of presenting most of these, particularly to adults, and if you have not let me know of a suitable opportunity to present your award then please do so. There are many opportunities open to everyone involved in scouting in Hert-fordshire to do as much as they want—please make sure you grasp these op-portunities as thinking about them will not get them accomplished, talking about them will not get them achieved only actually doing them will you see the benefits of your endeavours.


County Water Activity Team & District Representatives Meeting Thursday 5th March - 20.00hrs - 1st Hertford Scout HQ RYA Small Craft First Aid Course Sunday 8th March - 9.30 all day - 1st Hertford Scout HQ Module 25 (Assessors) Course Sunday 15th March - 9.30 all day - 1st Hertford Scout HQ Sailing Week 1st Theory Day Saturday 4th April - 9.30 all day - 1st Hertford Scout HQ Sailing Week 2nd Theory Day Saturday 25th April - 9.30 all day - 1st Hertford Scout HQ & Stanborough Lake Powerboat Course and Instructor's Catamaran Endorsement Sunday 3rd May - Monday 4th May - Brightlingsea RYA Small Craft First Aid Course Sunday 10th May - 9.30 all day - 1st Hertford Scout HQ East Mersea County Centenary Sailing Week Saturday 23rd May - Saturday 30th May - East Mersea County Sailing Regatta (Scouts - Explorers - Network/Adults) Sunday 20th September - Bury Lake, Rickmansworth

Water Activities - Calendar Dates 2009

ITTH – Introduction To The Hills 2009 The popular ITTH is fast approaching Friday 1st May –to Monday 4th May

Herts Scouts and Guides aged between 10 and 14 are invited for an action packed weekend at Orchard Farm in the Peak District. We will introduce you to numerous activities, including; climbing, cycling,

walking & orienteering. Prior to the trip, we will hold a gathering for the Scouts and Guides together with parents/guardians to enable us to share our plans for the weekend and for you to raise any questions you may have. The cost of the weekend at Orchard Farm and further details can be obtained from the organisers detailed below. The cost last year was £82.50. If you are a Guide, Scout or Leader who is interested in joining this fun weekend and would like further information, please do not hesitate to contact me on the contact details below. To confirm your place send your details with your deposit of £35 (non-returnable), made pay-able to ‘ITTH – Herts Guides & Scouts’, by Friday 6th February to:

Angharad Morris 16 Straw Plait Way, Arlesey, Beds, SG15 6SJ Tel: 07980 666498 E-mail: [email protected]


RECORD BREAKING GREEN BERET CHALLENGE

Over the weekend of the 14th - 16th No-vember the Scout sections annual Flagship Event, The Green Beret Challenge took place at Lees Wood Campsite. The weather was exceptionally mild, despite the erratic weather conditions during the pre-ceding week. This year’s event, the 25 An-niversary, saw a record breaking 130 teams start the challenge. This included 6 teams from outside the County, competing for the visitor’s trophy. In addition to this there were in excess of 3000 data entries into the scoring system, over 70 day & night exercise bases and over 2000 camper nights. There were some great new activi-ties in the Day and Night Exercises includ-ing pedal carts, cooking and putting your team in and out of a Ford Fiesta via the windows. The camping arrangements at Lees Wood were first class, thanks to the Lees Wood service team who had marked out all the

camp areas for the Districts prior to every-one’s arrival. The Lees Wood service team also worked tirelessly to get everyone in with trailers and kit on Friday evening and then, again, on the Sunday to get everyone out. Incredibly on the Sunday just one hour

after the closing ceremony finished the site was virtually deserted with only muddy footprints to show where everyone had been. A little after that we had a sprinkling of rain but luckily all the tents were already gone and that was it until next year. The organising team would like to thank all of the Leaders and especially the Explorer Scouts who provided the 71 bases that operated over the course of the day, all under the watchful eye of Peter Makewell. The Assault course was again constructed & dismantled by the Lees Wood service team and Panther Fellowship under the guidance of Ian Leach. The Orienteering course was once again masterminded by Paul Tuck and his merry band. Special thanks go to Steve Jordan and the rest of the scoring team, who managed to fall into bed at 05.00hrs after a long day of results processing and printing. Next year the Challenge moves to pastures new. Gilwell Park is the venue, and we have been assured of a warm welcome by the Centre Manager, Andy Lanham. The challenge for the GBC management team is to have even more teams at next year’s event, as it continues to grow in popularity. Full details of the scoring are available on the County website. Ian Greaves Green Beret Challenge Management Team

Overall Winning Team 4th Radlett Scout Troop


Nominations for the appointment of a new County Commissioner closed on 30 Novem-ber and the Search Group have asked me to pass on their thanks to everyone who submit-ted, supported and encouraged nominations. The response was extremely impressive and we received submissions from a wide range of people across the county representing differ-ent age groups, scouting experience and geo-graphic location. This is just what we were hoping for and it is encouraging that so many people were prepared to participate in this important exercise. What’s more, the quality of the nominations was very high and presented the Search Group with a difficult task. After a long evening of deliberation a short-list of five names has been submitted to Rob Lyon, the Regional Commis-sioner, for further consideration. So, what happens next? Each of the short-listed candidates will be contacted and, if they are interested in progressing to the next stage, they will be invited to attend an interview with the Regional Commissioner during January. It is anticipated that an announcement will be made in late February or early March and the new County Commissioner will take up their appointment in April. As I am sure you realise, this is an important appointment for the future of Hertfordshire Scouts and I am personally grateful for the interest that has been shown by so many peo-ple. We all look forward to a further announce-ment in early 2009.

Michael Shurety County Chairman

Latest news & events For more detail visit

Hertfordshirescouts.org.uk


Centenary of Scouting in Baldock ends with

a bang!

Baldock Scouting marked the end of its Centenary Year with a fantastic fire-work display at Wymondley Wood Scout and Guide Centre. The display was fired by a dedicated team led by Stuart Wylie, one of the 1st Baldock Scout Group leaders who also happens to be a professionally trained pyro-technician. Despite the freezing cold, pouring rain all day, water logged site and gusting winds – the display commenced exactly on schedule and was synchronised to a specially edited sound track which was broadcast across the site. Highlights included a 5 metre high waterfall of fire, multi-shot fans, high speed barrages and 100 rockets and mines. To make the evening complete, the 1st Baldock executive committee had a team of people serving hot food from barbeques with soup and other drinks from the kitchen. Attended by over 100 parents and children, the display marked the end of a great centenary year and we are now starting to plan for our next 100 years of Scouting in Baldock, starting with making the most of the Hertfordshire Scouting centenary!

Kings Langley Christmas Lights were switched on Saturday 29th November, with the traditional razzmatazz and fun. 1st Apsley Scouts organised the grotto once again, where children came to visit Santa and his clown helpers. It was all very sweet and wel-

coming; however, next door something much more disturbing was going on…

1st Apsley Leaders were painting the faces of chil-dren, (young and old), when along came our MP, Mike Penning, to see what was happening in the marquee. He was persuaded to sit down and rest his weary feet; little did he realise that moments later he would look like an English Warrior! Mike Penning DID survive the experience, and was not harmed during the face painting attack!


An overwhelming 510 visitors signed the visitors book during 30 openings, with over 50% being young people under 16. My thanks go to the 10 Stewards who assisted me in particular Freddy O`hare and Ken Johnson who each attended several times. Each Steward was given a unique red scarf (the colour of the first County Badge issued in 1913) with a 2008 Hertfordshire centen-ary badge to the point. I also thank the Well End Management Committee and es-pecially Warden Brian Templeman and the staff of County Office Di and Melvyn, who all put themselves out to help meet my needs and ensure that the Scouts of Hert-fordshire appreciated more fully the His-tory and Heritage of our unique Scout County. One of the most interesting characters to attend was Ken TuffenPHOTO who as a Senior Scout, cycled from Hertfordshire in 1962 to the opening of Lochearnhead Scout Station. I have yet to meet anyone else who was present at that event so please let me know if you were there as I have booked Ken for a re-enactment jour-ney for the 50th anniversary on Saturday August 4th 2012.

Other news! St Albans Museum in Hatfield Road opened an exhibition on WW2 and how it affected the City. The History and Heritage Section of Hertfordshire Scouts

have provided several artefacts. This exhi-bition runs until March and has already had several visits by Scout Groups. I regret to report the “Going Home” of one of the oldest Scouts in Hertfordshire, Don Goodchild died on 4 December aged 97 following a short illness. Don held a number of roles in particular the Langley area of Watford and in November 2006 was awarded a 70-year emblem to mark his long adult service, one of only two in the county. Time approaches when a further change in the dissemination of news around the County is due. I shall miss writing to you on a regular basis in Headlines but my Jot-tings will still be available on the Website. www.hertfordshirescouts.org.uk FRANK BRITTAIN [email protected] 01727 860086

http://www.hertfordshirescouts.org.uk/�






Further to my report in December, the Exhibi-tion of 100 years of Hertfordshire Scouting came to a glorious end with the Potters Bar Scout Fellowship as final visitors and the Museum was returned to normal use for meetings by January 1. Throughout Novem-ber and December many made the effort to attend at weekends and several Fel-lowships, Groups and Ex-plorer Units made bookings for private midweek tours. Old Scouting friends were a delight to meet after many years. Jack Olden HQ Pub-licity and PR,(PHOTO) is the only surviving member of staff that worked at Scout HQ before WW2. He lived in Hertfordshire and was GSL of the Fourth Borehamwood Group, bringing friends who were all previous Group members in-cluding Bill and Janet Turnbull, Peter Collier who became DC of Elstree District, Tony Allport (the first member of that Group) and Maureen Downing. Other notable visitors were Hilary & Stan Stokes, Rob Wilkinson, Mick & June Westwood, Peter & Joan Jay, Ray & Sheilah Sawyer, Jan Yardley and Gordon Marshall, Rose DeRoeck and Beryl Workman and Rita Hawkins.

Invited guests included Mr & Mrs Woolf (PHOTO) the parents of the only surviving Hertfordshire holder of The Cornwell

Scout Badge awarded to their son Steven of the First Buntingford Scout Group in 1985 and Helen and Ian Carson whose brother Graham received the Cornwell Award in 1947 while with the First Brox-bourne Group. Pat Styles, the Assistant Archivist at Gilwell Park and Diana Weston came from the Lowenwood Museum in Brox-bourne to see how I could help with an exhi-bition they are planning for the centenary of East Herts District in July. Further civic dignitaries included Peter Ruf-fels, the deputy Mayor of Hertford, Bert Pawle the Mayor of St Albans, former Scout Chris Lloyd, Chairman of Three Rivers Council came with his wife Yvonne and was accompanied by Peter Edwards, DC of Rickmansworth and Chorleywood. The Lord Lieutenant, The Countess of

Verulam (PHOTO) at-tended with two of her deputies, Paul Brenham and Nicholas Halsey. I had presented her a copy of my book Mile-stones of 100 years of Hert-fordshire Scout-ing some months earlier

and explained that it had been written to sup-port the exhibition. There was no doubt that she had read the book before attending, as continual references were made to the exhib-its and their place in the history of Hertford-shire Scouting. This visit by the Lieutenancy continues a link that has matured since 1911 when Lord Clarendon became our first County Scout President.

Frank’s Archive Jottings



Spring Bank Holiday Sailing Week 23rd May – 30thMay 2008 at East Mersea. If you would like to take up or improve your Sailing then consider attending the Sailing Activ-ity Week at East Mersea. We have a team of qualified instructors who will be able to help you. Apply on the form to come, preferably as groups, but individuals can be accommodated as well. The week will suite older Scouts, Guides, Explorer Scouts and Network Scouts. Scouts or Guides younger than 11 years of age will find the week taxing! The sailing activities will be based on the syllabuses of the Royal Yachting Association (RYA). The RYA sailing qualifica-tions are gained at the end of the week if the course requirements are completed success-fully. The week is preceded by 2 sessions at the 1st Hertford Scout Group Headquarters, Marshgate Drive, Hertford on Saturdays 4th and 25th April. These sessions are used to un-dertake the theoretical parts of the RYA syllabi. When attending these sessions, course mem-bers will need to bring a packed lunch. It is im-portant that everyone should attend these day sessions, as time for theory will be limited whilst camping at East Mersea. Those applying for the Instructors Course will need to attend both days. Those applying to attend the Young Sailors Courses Stages 1 – 4 should attend on Saturday 4th April with Stage 1 & 2 sailors also attending a sailing session on 25th April. Those applying for all other courses will need to at-tend on Saturday 25th April.

East Mersea Arrangements The course activities will start at 09.00hrs on Saturday 23rd May (High Tide 11.49hrs.) with rigging and launching the boats. The setting up of camps should take place taking into account the timing of the launching. The boats will be taken out of the water at the end of the week on the evening of Friday 29th May (High Tide 16.31hrs.). Derigging and any remaining course administration will be undertaken on Saturday morning when certificates will also be issued.

Each person or group will be responsible for their own camping arrangements. There are two campsites suitable for persons on the courses. The first site is Fen Farm, which is a commercial campsite catering for caravans and groups in tented accommodation, mainly fami-lies. The site is owned by Mrs. Lord (Tel 01206 383275). Persons wishing to use this site should make their own arrangements with Mrs. Lord as soon as possible, stating that they are with the Scout sailing course. Fen Farm is about 1 mile away from the sailing area. The second site consists of a field near to the launching ramp and farmhouse (Ivy Farm). Ralph Spence, the farmer, has now developed a farm outbuilding into a toilet and shower facility and there is also fresh water available in the field and rubbish disposal facilities. The field is closer to the sail-ing area than Fen Farm. Only those camping may take cars to the tents at the beginning and end of the week. Those camping at Fen Farm may cycles along the lower path to the sailing area as the Country Park has formally re-quested this. The farmer can usually accommo-date some parked cars in the Farmyard. Every individual or group will have to provide their own camping equipment and be self-supporting.

Sailing Arrangements The sailing activities will be based at a point known as Mersea Stone, (map ref: TM 073 154) which is a steeply shelving shingle and shell beach on the River Colne opposite Brightlingsea Creek. The beach allows access to the water at all states of the tide. Sailing will start daily at approximately 10.00 hrs. depending upon your sailing group’s arrangements, which should al-low enough time for visits to nearby shops if necessary. It is possible that some evening sail-ing sessions may take place, although the sailing will normally finish at approximately 17.30 hrs. The evenings from this time on will be free to enable everybody to cook their evening meals, dry out, sleep etc. As the whole day will be spent sailing, packed lunches should be planned for eating adjacent to the boats on the beach, also it is most important that plenty of warm


clothes are taken. Although a limited number of buoyancy aids will be available it is preferable that you bring your own. The cost of the courses will be around £112.00p depending upon the numbers at-tending and will cover the cost of the use of the boats, certificates and course expenses only. There is a charge of (although this may be subject to change) of £3.50p per head per day for the week for those camping on Ivy Farm as the overall limit there is 60 people. It would greatly assist the planning of the week and the courses, if at the time of applying, you could state whether you would be willing to lend or make available any kind of suitable sail-ing craft for members of the courses to use. We can arrange insurance cover for the craft for the week if boats are not already insured. If a leader is booking for a group of Scouts or Guides please ensure that a form is filled in for every individual wishing to take part in the week. You will be notified of the final details of the courses during the last week of March, so if you do not hear anything after applying for a place, do not worry, just take it that you have been accepted. Only in cases of difficulty or if the courses are over-subscribed will you be notified about place allocation. The R.Y.A. Dinghy Sailing courses to be run will be as follows:- Young Sailors Courses (under approxi-mately 14 years)

Course YS1. Young Sailors Start Sailing Stage 1




Adult and Advanced Youth Sailing Courses

Course A1 Start Sailing and Basic Skills

Course A2 Seamanship Skills

Course A2C Catamaran Endorsement Module

Course A3 Sailing with Spinnakers

Course A4 Day Sailing (Cruising)

Course A5 Performance Sailing

Course A6 Start Racing

Course IN. Instructor (tidal) Course AI. Advanced Instructor Endorse-ment. Courses A2, A3, A4 & A5 may be able to be run separately or together during the week depending on demand. It will also be possible to undertake two of these modules if required during the week. The appropriate R.Y.A. certifi-cates or badges will be awarded at the end of the courses to those who successfully complete them. When applying for a place please ensure that you enclose details of certificates already gained and your preference for the course(s) in which you wish to participate. If you have no previously gained certificates, please enclose a brief description of your sailing experience to ensure that as far as possible you are placed on the best course to suit your needs. If you wish to apply for any of the courses, please apply on the application form on page 15 and send to:

Richard Watson

19 King Edward's Road

Ware, Herts. SG12 7EJ

email: [email protected]

Applications to be received by March 17th 2009.


join the adventure - hertfordshire...join the adventure issue 22 — january 2009 page 2 campsites...

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