Issue No: 7 January 2009

The newsletter for the 5th Carlton (St John’s) Scout Group

Well, here we are at the start of a new year and I would like to take the opportunity to wish you all a

happy and prosperous 2009.

On Thursday 8th January Leaders, Young Leaders and Group helpers enjoyed a great evening at Navarra

restaurant where we held our annual dinner. It was great to see a full room of dedicated supporters and

I would like to thank everyone who has helped the Group during the past year, in whatever way they were

able.

Many of you have been asking after Geoff, our Chairman, who was admitted to hospital back in November

with serious back problems. Well I can tell you that Geoff is making good progress (albeit slow) after

undergoing major surgery. Basically he has to learn to walk again and has been told that it may be six to

nine months before he is able to walk properly, unaided. He sends his best wishes to all and I’m sure you

will join me in returning our best wishes to him.

Our annual bag-packing at the Co-Op, Carlton Road, raised £1158; this was nearly £100 up on last year

and was a great achievement in what are increasingly hard times for many families. A big thank you to all

those who gave up their time to assist and special thanks to the Co-Op staff. But the biggest thank you

must go to the many customers who were so generous in their giving. However, it is with regret that we

learn that the Co-Op is to close down in the next couple of weeks – this will be a severe blow to us

financially, as it provides such a large proportion of our fund-raising. Consequently, we shall have to give

great effort to find alternative sources of funds during the coming year and I would sincerely hope that

you will support us in doing so. Remember, it is only because we have had good levels of fund-raising that

we have been able to maintain your child’s subscriptions at the same level for the past few years!

Looking back over records I find the following facts:

As a result of our bag-packing activities, Co-Op customers have, since 1999, donated a remarkable £14,456, of which, in turn, we have donated £3,815 to the Air Ambulance and £848 to other various charities, including Marie Curie, Oxfam, Diabetes UK and both Parkinson ’s disease Fund and Paediatric ICU at the QMC.

You can see, then, that this source of funding has been far more than just keeping down the subs! - It has allowed us to share our good fortune with others and ‘help other people’ -which, I am sure you will know, is part of the Scout Promise.

Welcome to all those new to the Group – I am certain that your time with us and your Scouting

experiences will be enjoyable. To those are have left or are about to leave for pastures new – good luck!

Steve Baker

In this edition :-

We look towards the future of the group & have managed to persuade one of our younger members to

tell us a bit about themselves

Spotlight On…… Daniel “Bolo” Bolstridge

Tell us a bit about yourself…

I have lived in Nottingham all my life and live in Carlton with my Mum, Dad and Brother (who is a also a member of 5th Carton in the Cub Section).

I am currently attending Christ The King Sixth Form, studying for my A levels in ICT, PE and Maths, General Studies and Ethics. Prior to this I attended Sacred Heart Primary School.

What other interests do you have outside of Scouting?

I enjoy playing and watching most sports, but I mainly like a good game of football or badminton. I also play pool regularly with my friends.

How did you originally become involved in Scouting?

One of the teaching assistants at my primary school ran the 5th Carlton Beaver colony and advertised it through the school, so that’s how I found out about it and joined the group.

How long have you been involved with 5th Carlton?

About 11 years moving through all the ranks from Beavers through to Explorers.

Describe your best moment in Scouting…

My best moment in scouting was probably last year finishing my Duke of Edinburgh Gold Expedition in Snowdonia, Wales, which consisted of completing a 4 day 3 night expedition over very mountainous terrain which you would expect in Snowdonia.

And what has been your worst?

My worst moment in scouting was probably not being picked to represent Nottinghamshire in the 21st World Scout Jamboree in Chelmsford, Essex. Although this did have a positive outcome as I went down to help with the opening ceremony and carried the Bosnia and Herzegovina’s National Flag onto the stage. Another bad moment in scouting would have be finding out about the death of one of my fellow scouts whilst in I was in the scout section.

What is your favourite sport/pastime?

My favourite sport is Football as this was the first sport I played competitively, playing for Netherfield Boys FC.

Where is your favourite holiday destination and why?

It would be the Balearic Islands as that is the only place I’ve been out of England and is a good all round holi-day with plenty of activities to do in the day or night.

What do you see as your ideal retirement?

Well I haven’t really thought about that yet as I am one of the younger leaders around and hopefully have a lot more living to do before I get to that age!!!!

Position held within the Group: Young Leader - Beavers & Scouts

Notable achievements within the Beaver Colony last term

Chief Scout Bronze Award - Andrew Colton

Emergency Aid Stage 1 - Everyone in the colony!!!!

Congratulations and well done to you all!!!!

Co-Op Bag Packing 2008

5th Carlton Scout Group would like to extend their thanks to ALL

who helped during this year’s bag-packing

As in previous years we will be making a donation to the Notts & Lincs Air Ambulance

The Church Band help celebrate Christmas.

On the evening of Monday 22nd December the Church Band aided and abetted by a small

choir performed in John Lewis’s store in Victoria

Centre. Performing for about an hour Christmas

Carols were the order of the day.

Led by Kath & her sax, the group performed

really well which certainly added to the

“Christmassy feeling” in the store which, no

doubt, will have filtered through

to the customers.

In return for the band’s efforts John Lewis were

to make a donation to the group which will placed in the mini bus fund.

Here we see a selection of photo’s from the Band ‘s performance

We raised an astonishing £ 1158

The Scouts have been extremely busy over the last term with badge work with many badges awarded. Among many notable achievements are:-

Chief Scouts Award Tanya Barnaby

Outdoor Plus Challenge Award Tanya Barnaby, James Colton,

Outdoor Challenge Award Jack Betts, John Pearce, Jade Pringle, Paige Pringle, James Walker, Rebecca Whitt, Meadhbh Majors

Adventure Challenge Award Luke Prout

Creative Challenge Award Alex Edmond, Callum Hyett Community Challenge Award Isobel Martin, Maddie Martin,

Jamie McElhone, Luke Prout Promise Challenge Award Meadhbh Major, Maddie Martin The Entertainer’s Badge has also been presented to all the Scout’s who took part in the Musical Soirée evening in November

Well done to you all!!!!!

News of a former member who “has done their best” Many of you will remember Jessica O’Sullivan, an ex- Cub, Scout and Band member. Jess left us a couple of years ago to concentrate on training for her beloved sport of kick-boxing.

Often, while shopping in Tesco, I see her Mum and she updates me on Jessica’s progress and I am delighted to tell you that back in October

(I think it was!), Jessica become the U18 WORLD CHAMPION.

Our congratulations to Jess

Steve Baker

Space Camp

Last term saw the District Space Camp – attended by the majority of

Groups in Central Notts.

We camped at Oaks in Charnwood, just south of Shepshed. It’s a

great camp site despite its sloping field. We used the Alpine Hut for

dining and space-themed activities – this included making rockets

from paper and plastic based kits, which the Scouts would then

decorate to their own design. Accuracy of assembly was of

paramount

importance if they

were to perform

well in the air. As

glue took time to

dry and some

rather thickly

painted decoration

took a little longer,

assembly and flight

preparation was

over a couple of days.

A trip to the National Space Centre, at Leicester, was enjoyed by all

those who attended. The exhibits gave an insight into the real world

of space travel and the inter-active equipment around the centre was

both educational and enjoyable for the Scouts and the adults.

Back to Oaks Campsite meant that the rockets could by fitted with

their ‘motors’, which would hopefully propel them into the outer

hemisphere (who knows, they might bump into Cecil as he was

eating all the spiders up there!).

The time had now come to test out the Scouts’ handy work. Under the close and watchful eye of Dave Turton, Camp Commander, each Scout was able to launch their rocket from a battery-powered launch pad which automatically ignited the motor propellant and …3-2-1 wooosh – up they went (well some, anyway) One a two took more turns in the air than a Scout at washing-up

time but the majority reached dizzy heights of 60 feet (20ish metres) or more. Well deserved prizes were awarded to the owner of the best decorated rocket and to the Scout whose rocket went highest. Thanks to all the leaders and adults who supported the camp, which all the Scouts seem to thoroughly enjoy.

Steve Baker

Champions again!!!

We are delighted to report that we won the district Scouts 6-a-side football

competition again last term which enabled us to qualify for the County competition.

Unfortunately though, we were not able

to take up this challenge as we were unable to field a team who’s combined ages where less than the combined age

limit set by the County.

Never mind, we’ll be prepared next year

so watch out Nottinghamshire we’ll be back!!!!

Welcome to the following new members of the group. We hope your stay will be

an enjoyable one!!!:-

Beavers

Max Bearman, Joel Gerrard, Robin Hutley, Jimmy Laxton Charlotte Render

and a very special welcome to our new permanent parent helper, Heather Laxton

Good luck to the following who have recently changed sections within the group:--

Beavers to Cubs

Andrew Colton, Pasquale Cross Brandon Harbinson

Cubs to Scouts

Joseph Whitt, Sophie Boyes

Scouts to Explorers

Tanya Barnaby

Our best wishes for the future go to the following who have recently left the Group:-

Rebecca Whitt

5th Carlton Musical Soiree – Saturday 29th November 2008

The Soirée showcased the amazing talents of all the performers – from the youngest Beaver to the experienced seniors. We enjoyed ‘Cecil the Spider’, the singing around the Camp Fire (well done Steve!) and the Last Night of the Proms led by Richard Colton, as well as a running and quirky commentary from the ‘Pulpit Puppeteers’!

The Soirée celebrated the achievements of all the Groups and also the Golden Anniversary of St. John’s Church and we were delighted by the great atmosphere and full house – including special guests & good friends Vernon & Jackie Coaker and Stuart Thorpe from District – as well as many friends from the St John’s congregation and local community.

These events don’t ‘just happen’. The Soirée was the result of hours of hard work and preparation by the children, leaders and ‘stage hands’ – and particularly the tireless work of the Bashton Family and Andy the Lighting and Sound Engineer – who were amazing and the evening would not have happened without them. We also appreciated and enjoyed Mrs Mildred Penfold’s wonderful piano accompaniment – thanks Mildred!

We’ve received great feedback from the stars of the show - each and everyone who performed - and the audience – both saying how much they enjoyed the evening: ‘it was great fun’! The Soirée also raised just under £450 for the Mini Bus Appeal –

thank you so much to everyone who attended, helped and supported the Raffle with gifts or buying tickets. Your generosity is really appreciated.

This tribute to the Soirée is incomplete without saying how much we all missed Geoff Allen – aka Chil – who had helped at the rehearsals and during the preparations but was sadly in hospital for the performance. We missed you Geoff and will sing to you when you’re back – we send our kindest wishes for a good recovery and we are all thinking about you.

A SUPER SOIRÉE –

CONGRATULATIONS & THANKS TO THE CHILDREN & ALL INVOLVED! Janet Baily & Family

Fire!!!!! In October the Beavers visited the fire station. Looking at these photo’s & the quotes from

some of the colony a good time was had by all!!!

We went to the fire station. Two fire engines were at a hedge fire,

only one was left. A fireman showed us around. We saw the pole

and the heard the alarm, he showed us outside - we all had a go at

spraying the water and got to see the inside of the fire engine. We

had to leave now. It was sad to leave the fire station but I had a

good time though.

Jimmy Laxton

When we got there a fire engine went out on a call.

We pressed the buzzer and the chief came to the

door. The man sounded the alarm for us to hear. He

showed us the machine that prints addresses of

where the fires are. We looked around a fire engine and all the equipment

on it. Then it got new water. The firemen let us have

a go with the hose. Alex Fisher

I liked it very much, the best bit was looking at all the equipment. I

didn't know about the oxygen gauge. I liked squirting the water too.

Andrew Colton

Diary of Events – Spring Term 2009

Saturday 7th Feb District Swimming Gala (Scouts)

Sunday 8th Feb Church parade

Tuesday 17th Feb Scouts visit to the Houses of Parliament, London Eye

& Thames River Cruise

Sunday 1st March Annesley & Morning Springs Orienteering Event (Scouts)

Sunday 8th March Church Parade

Sat 14th March Scrub Clearing, Colwick woods (Scouts)

Mon 23rd Mar - Gang Show 2009, Theatre Royal

Sat 28th Mar

Sun 29th March Peak District Hike (Scouts)

Thurs 9th - Scouts Easter Camp - Ilkley

Mon13th April

Fri 17th - District Water Activity Camp (Scouts)

Sun 19th April

Sat 25th April St George’s Day Parade, Southwell (Advance notice)

Please note other events are likely to be added to this list but were not available at the time of

printing. Full details of further events will be issued during the weekly meetings nearer the time .

Date of next issue: May 2009

If you have any articles that you would like to be published please ensure that they

are supplied to Adrian & Deirdre by 15 April 2009 either by telephone on 0115 9116 883, in person at 4 Middledale Rd or by e-mail at:

a.bashton@ntlworld.com

If you did not receive a copy of the last newsletter and would like one

could you please contact Adrian Bashton

Thank you for taking your time to read this issue of the Group’s newsletter and

we hope you have found it interesting.