The Infamous Anglesey Camp
I have been meaning to do this for a while - please find here pictures and one of my very rare camp diaries. This is a Sixers and Seconders Camp that took place in 2003 when I was running Rowallan Cub Pack - the pictures are a pleasure to look back on and I have also published one of only 3 camp diaries I have ever composed. I hope you enjoy seeing and reading about this rather eventful bank holiday weekend.
Camp Diary
Anglesey - 2nd May 2003 till 5th May 2003
David Prestage
Luke Sarson
Tom Bevan
Tom Bean
Chris Johnson
Oliver Simons
George Bliss
Leo Davies
Baloo (Richard Dunning)
Alex Smith
Kay Morris
Dee …..
David Germain
Louise ……..
Robert Powell
Andrew Evans
This is a light-hearted account of the Sixers and Seconders weekend on Anglesey and is simply my account of what happened during our time together. I was not always around with every member of the camp at every moment so is a very one sided attempt at providing some memories for the lads to look back on and also a chance for the parents and friends to find out more about what we all got up to.
• As I have promised the lads, a few things have been missed out to prevent embarrassing them.
• I make no apologies for any bad grammar or spelling.
• Please take this diary in the way that it was intended.
David Prestage
Luke Sarson
Tom Bevan
Tom Bean
Chris Johnson
Oliver Simons
George Bliss
Leo Davies
Baloo (Richard Dunning)
Alex Smith
Kay Morris
Dee …..
David Germain
Louise ……..
Robert Powell
Andrew Evans
This is a light-hearted account of the Sixers and Seconders weekend on Anglesey and is simply my account of what happened during our time together. I was not always around with every member of the camp at every moment so is a very one sided attempt at providing some memories for the lads to look back on and also a chance for the parents and friends to find out more about what we all got up to.
• As I have promised the lads, a few things have been missed out to prevent embarrassing them.
• I make no apologies for any bad grammar or spelling.
• Please take this diary in the way that it was intended.
Camp Diary - Page 1
Friday 2nd May 2003
BALOO SETS OUT
The day started with Baloo (me) rising from my bed at around 8.30am, I started to pack my rucksack. About 10 minutes later I placed it by the front door and put with it my sleeping bag, spare hike tent, spare pegs (these will become a valuable item of equipment as you will see), cool boxes and ice packs, day rucksack, maps and other odds and ends.
Time for some breakfast (this is actually a bit of a luxury) and time to wash, dry and put away a weeks worth of dishes.
9.45am – Drove to Crewe Railway Station and purchased all the tickets that we required, the ticket lady kindly allowed me to buy them in three lots so that I had three separate receipts, although she was curious as to what I was planning on doing with all the tickets;
1 Adult Holyhead to Crewe (Open Return)
1 Adult, 3 Kids Crewe to Holyhead (Open Return) - Me, Andy, Rob, Kay
8 Kids Crewe to Holyhead (Open Return) - The 8 Lads
10.15am - I set off to see to my horse, his stable needed to be done in case the horse sitter needed to bring him in for a night if the weather turned bad (little did I know).
10.45am – Quick check with Alex to see where he was up to and then I was off, the journey to Holyhead was very pleasant, it was raining when I set off and it was still raining when I got to Holyhead 2 ½ hours later. One set of road works just before I got onto the A55 but other than that it was a trouble free drive, although I had to reluctantly turn my car headlights on from time to time (I say reluctantly because the radio was recently rewired and now when ever I turn the lights on it spontaneously turns the radio off and looses all the programmed radio stations.)
At Holyhead I found a long stay car park and attempt to buy my parking ticket but the machine refused to take my foreign (English) pound coins, (it kept spitting them back out at me). The car park was completely empty other than my car so I wrote a little note to the parking warden explaining that the ticket machine did not want to take my money off me and stuck it in the car window.
My 1.55pm train back to Crewe was already in the Station, a Virgin Express too London stopping at Bangor, Llandudno Junction, Rhyl, Prestatyn, Chester, Crewe and so on…The train was almost empty and I got a table to myself, I settled down with some music and spent the time writing information down to give too parents at Crewe Station. Upon arriving back at Crewe (4.00pm) I relaxed in the travellers lounge before wandering up to the main entrance to meet the lads. (Never had I been so relaxed and looking forward too a camp)
BALOO SETS OUT
The day started with Baloo (me) rising from my bed at around 8.30am, I started to pack my rucksack. About 10 minutes later I placed it by the front door and put with it my sleeping bag, spare hike tent, spare pegs (these will become a valuable item of equipment as you will see), cool boxes and ice packs, day rucksack, maps and other odds and ends.
Time for some breakfast (this is actually a bit of a luxury) and time to wash, dry and put away a weeks worth of dishes.
9.45am – Drove to Crewe Railway Station and purchased all the tickets that we required, the ticket lady kindly allowed me to buy them in three lots so that I had three separate receipts, although she was curious as to what I was planning on doing with all the tickets;
1 Adult Holyhead to Crewe (Open Return)
1 Adult, 3 Kids Crewe to Holyhead (Open Return) - Me, Andy, Rob, Kay
8 Kids Crewe to Holyhead (Open Return) - The 8 Lads
10.15am - I set off to see to my horse, his stable needed to be done in case the horse sitter needed to bring him in for a night if the weather turned bad (little did I know).
10.45am – Quick check with Alex to see where he was up to and then I was off, the journey to Holyhead was very pleasant, it was raining when I set off and it was still raining when I got to Holyhead 2 ½ hours later. One set of road works just before I got onto the A55 but other than that it was a trouble free drive, although I had to reluctantly turn my car headlights on from time to time (I say reluctantly because the radio was recently rewired and now when ever I turn the lights on it spontaneously turns the radio off and looses all the programmed radio stations.)
At Holyhead I found a long stay car park and attempt to buy my parking ticket but the machine refused to take my foreign (English) pound coins, (it kept spitting them back out at me). The car park was completely empty other than my car so I wrote a little note to the parking warden explaining that the ticket machine did not want to take my money off me and stuck it in the car window.
My 1.55pm train back to Crewe was already in the Station, a Virgin Express too London stopping at Bangor, Llandudno Junction, Rhyl, Prestatyn, Chester, Crewe and so on…The train was almost empty and I got a table to myself, I settled down with some music and spent the time writing information down to give too parents at Crewe Station. Upon arriving back at Crewe (4.00pm) I relaxed in the travellers lounge before wandering up to the main entrance to meet the lads. (Never had I been so relaxed and looking forward too a camp)
Camp Diary - Page 2
Friday 2nd May 2003
THE TRAIN JOURNEY
I seem to remember that Oliver was the first to arrive followed not long after by Tom Bean, Luke, Leo and Chris. Rob was the first helper to arrive followed by Kay and finally Andy. The Last to arrive was David and Tom Bevan (having rushed straight from his school bus). Everyone was present and correct, everyone was happy (although I noticed some were a bit anxious, but trying not to show it, and that was just the parents).
5.25pm - We headed down to platform 9 ¾ (or should I say platform 9!) (There was a mutter that Andy was planning to try out this theory in the Harry Potter Books of a Platform 9 ¾, by running into the brick wall between platform’s 9 and 10 but he changed his mind when we pointed out that this particular wall was home to the entrance for the ladies toilets). Anyway, we found the train on platform 9 (a small two carriage train) and as we walked along its rather short length we quickly realised that it was FULL. Every seat was taken, not a bean of space (sorry tom), so after a quick second of horror we took residence in the entrance corridor at the front of the train. 8 kids, 3 leaders, 12 rucksacks and me; squashed in the front corridor of a train. With a bit of jigging we managed to seat 5 of the 8 kids on seats around the train, I looked outside the train door at the parents to see faces of amusement, bemusement and shear horror, fortunately the train doors were soon closed and we were on our way. Their was a minor panic when Kay (a frequent traveller to Chester, points out that the door we had stacked the rucksacks against was on the same side as the platform at the first stop, this was quickly sorted out by pilling them against the opposite door). At the first stop a few people sitting near our lads got off so we were able to get some of them together, at the next stop a few more of them got off and very soon we had every lad bar 1 sitting next to each other. (It must be noted that some of the passengers that were sitting near are lads, that had got off, were later caught sitting in the next carriage down. Not to sure why that would be). However the one final offending passenger who was taking the last seat we had our eyes on seemed to be revelling in the amusement he was getting from listening to our lads talking (as only a group of excited young lads can), he even managed to over look the occasional kick in the shins from Leo (who was sitting opposite him) every time he turned to talk to the other lads. Finally at Llandudno Junction we were able to sit the whole group together; after commenting to me about the good behaviour of our boys the offending passenger hobbled off the train and along the platform. We now had all the lads together and the rucksacks stacked on the language racks.
The rest of the journey was rather event free, the train was stopping at EVERY station between Crewe and Holyhead, the ticket officer never did ask too see our tickets and we amused ourselves by listening to Chris’s very unique jokes. The only other topic of conversation was that of Alex’s progress (he was driving to Holyhead and meeting us at the station), the whereabouts of Dave (he was also supposed to be driving to Holyhead and meeting us at the station), and the mounting beer cans that were appearing in the train’s toilet; put there by a group of football players seated further along our carriage.
We arrived at Holyhead on time (7.00pm) and were met by Alex. We took a car load of lads and kit to the campsite while Kay, Andy and the remaining lads played games on a ‘closed’ supermarket car park, the nature of these game has not yet been described to me but I know that both Andy and Kay were supporting bruises when they were delivered to the campsite by Alex 45 minutes later.
THE TRAIN JOURNEY
I seem to remember that Oliver was the first to arrive followed not long after by Tom Bean, Luke, Leo and Chris. Rob was the first helper to arrive followed by Kay and finally Andy. The Last to arrive was David and Tom Bevan (having rushed straight from his school bus). Everyone was present and correct, everyone was happy (although I noticed some were a bit anxious, but trying not to show it, and that was just the parents).
5.25pm - We headed down to platform 9 ¾ (or should I say platform 9!) (There was a mutter that Andy was planning to try out this theory in the Harry Potter Books of a Platform 9 ¾, by running into the brick wall between platform’s 9 and 10 but he changed his mind when we pointed out that this particular wall was home to the entrance for the ladies toilets). Anyway, we found the train on platform 9 (a small two carriage train) and as we walked along its rather short length we quickly realised that it was FULL. Every seat was taken, not a bean of space (sorry tom), so after a quick second of horror we took residence in the entrance corridor at the front of the train. 8 kids, 3 leaders, 12 rucksacks and me; squashed in the front corridor of a train. With a bit of jigging we managed to seat 5 of the 8 kids on seats around the train, I looked outside the train door at the parents to see faces of amusement, bemusement and shear horror, fortunately the train doors were soon closed and we were on our way. Their was a minor panic when Kay (a frequent traveller to Chester, points out that the door we had stacked the rucksacks against was on the same side as the platform at the first stop, this was quickly sorted out by pilling them against the opposite door). At the first stop a few people sitting near our lads got off so we were able to get some of them together, at the next stop a few more of them got off and very soon we had every lad bar 1 sitting next to each other. (It must be noted that some of the passengers that were sitting near are lads, that had got off, were later caught sitting in the next carriage down. Not to sure why that would be). However the one final offending passenger who was taking the last seat we had our eyes on seemed to be revelling in the amusement he was getting from listening to our lads talking (as only a group of excited young lads can), he even managed to over look the occasional kick in the shins from Leo (who was sitting opposite him) every time he turned to talk to the other lads. Finally at Llandudno Junction we were able to sit the whole group together; after commenting to me about the good behaviour of our boys the offending passenger hobbled off the train and along the platform. We now had all the lads together and the rucksacks stacked on the language racks.
The rest of the journey was rather event free, the train was stopping at EVERY station between Crewe and Holyhead, the ticket officer never did ask too see our tickets and we amused ourselves by listening to Chris’s very unique jokes. The only other topic of conversation was that of Alex’s progress (he was driving to Holyhead and meeting us at the station), the whereabouts of Dave (he was also supposed to be driving to Holyhead and meeting us at the station), and the mounting beer cans that were appearing in the train’s toilet; put there by a group of football players seated further along our carriage.
We arrived at Holyhead on time (7.00pm) and were met by Alex. We took a car load of lads and kit to the campsite while Kay, Andy and the remaining lads played games on a ‘closed’ supermarket car park, the nature of these game has not yet been described to me but I know that both Andy and Kay were supporting bruises when they were delivered to the campsite by Alex 45 minutes later.
Camp Diary - Page 3
Friday 2nd May 2003
THE CAMP SITE
The campsite is lovely; there is an onsite shop, poolroom, swimming pool, toilets, showers and a play area. But it’s best feature is its location, in a place called Llanfwrog, it is next too ‘Sandy Beach’; a beautiful cove which can only be accessed via the two campsites and one public access road. It is a popular place for sailors and jet skiers because you can drive straight onto the beach; I have spent many hours here sailing in the bay. The campsite is situated on the west point of the cove and is raised just enough to prevent it from being swamped by the sea but not enough to have high, dangerous cliffs. It is split up into three fields, one for static caravans and the other two for touring caravans and tents.
The site was actually really empty and apart from a few touring caravans and two other tents we were its only other occupants. (Very different from the previous weekend when I visited it to pay the deposit and to try the walk that we would be doing on the Saturday)
The rain had stopped and there was a lovely sunset over the sea, in the time it took Alex to get the remaining lads from the station myself, Rob, David, Leo, Luke, Tom and Tom manage to get the white frame tent up. This was to be the lad’s accommodation for the weekend and was by far the better of the two tents we had packed.
The light was starting to fade and once we had taken delivery if the remaining members of our party, plus the arrival of the elusive Dave and Louise we soon had the green frame tent up and all the kit inside. The patrol boxes (long wooden coffins with uncooperative slid on lids, used for packing kitchen equipment and kit in) very neatly rolled onto their sides and with the help of screw in legs they became work tops for cooking on and cupboards for storing food in, the temperamental lids when put on top of two cool boxes became very good tables.
9.00pm - Dave made everyone a warm drink and we sat around making plans for the next day. I was glad we all brought fold up seats as they were much more comfortable than sitting on ground sheets, although they did take up more room. The atmosphere in the green frame tent was cosy, but slightly cramped and there was an air of anticipation about the remainder of the weekend.
10.00pm - Everyone went on the last toilet run of the evening and then retired to their sleeping bags. The wind was picking up and the frame tents creaked most of the night as their box like sides tried to hold off the buffeting gusts. The leaders tried to compensate for a lack of pegging down points on the old green frame tent by using chairs and cool boxes to pin down the sides. They lay awake for most of the night listening to the clanging of the brass eyelets on the tent being blown against the cool boxes and chairs, trying not to imagine peg leg Jake wandering around the campsite looking for lost campers to gobble up. The lads on the other hand slept well.
(It must be noted at this point that Dave and Louise had spend the previous week on a college residential, this may sound very relaxing, but as they are both studying adventure sports at Reasheath College, you can image the sort of residential it must have been. Needless to say, they where both exhausted)
THE CAMP SITE
The campsite is lovely; there is an onsite shop, poolroom, swimming pool, toilets, showers and a play area. But it’s best feature is its location, in a place called Llanfwrog, it is next too ‘Sandy Beach’; a beautiful cove which can only be accessed via the two campsites and one public access road. It is a popular place for sailors and jet skiers because you can drive straight onto the beach; I have spent many hours here sailing in the bay. The campsite is situated on the west point of the cove and is raised just enough to prevent it from being swamped by the sea but not enough to have high, dangerous cliffs. It is split up into three fields, one for static caravans and the other two for touring caravans and tents.
The site was actually really empty and apart from a few touring caravans and two other tents we were its only other occupants. (Very different from the previous weekend when I visited it to pay the deposit and to try the walk that we would be doing on the Saturday)
The rain had stopped and there was a lovely sunset over the sea, in the time it took Alex to get the remaining lads from the station myself, Rob, David, Leo, Luke, Tom and Tom manage to get the white frame tent up. This was to be the lad’s accommodation for the weekend and was by far the better of the two tents we had packed.
The light was starting to fade and once we had taken delivery if the remaining members of our party, plus the arrival of the elusive Dave and Louise we soon had the green frame tent up and all the kit inside. The patrol boxes (long wooden coffins with uncooperative slid on lids, used for packing kitchen equipment and kit in) very neatly rolled onto their sides and with the help of screw in legs they became work tops for cooking on and cupboards for storing food in, the temperamental lids when put on top of two cool boxes became very good tables.
9.00pm - Dave made everyone a warm drink and we sat around making plans for the next day. I was glad we all brought fold up seats as they were much more comfortable than sitting on ground sheets, although they did take up more room. The atmosphere in the green frame tent was cosy, but slightly cramped and there was an air of anticipation about the remainder of the weekend.
10.00pm - Everyone went on the last toilet run of the evening and then retired to their sleeping bags. The wind was picking up and the frame tents creaked most of the night as their box like sides tried to hold off the buffeting gusts. The leaders tried to compensate for a lack of pegging down points on the old green frame tent by using chairs and cool boxes to pin down the sides. They lay awake for most of the night listening to the clanging of the brass eyelets on the tent being blown against the cool boxes and chairs, trying not to imagine peg leg Jake wandering around the campsite looking for lost campers to gobble up. The lads on the other hand slept well.
(It must be noted at this point that Dave and Louise had spend the previous week on a college residential, this may sound very relaxing, but as they are both studying adventure sports at Reasheath College, you can image the sort of residential it must have been. Needless to say, they where both exhausted)
Camp Diary - Page 4
Saturday 3rd May 2003
The Morning of THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM
(Shopping)
6.00am - It was planned the night before that we would go on a walk this morning so on a walk we went. It was an enjoyable stroll across the beach, playing on the rocks and looking in the rock pools. We found a small starfish and many long pieces of seaweed that looked so much like octopus legs that no one dared to touch them.
I tried to take a picture of the lads standing on a rock but slipped as I pressed the button, you would not believe the resulting picture, I managed to end up with a picture of the rock pool in front of the rock and in the water was the reflection of the lads standing on the rock above falling about laughing at me. I could not have planned that picture if I had tried all weekend. The only other events that should be recorded are George’s acrobatics when he slipped on a piece of seaweed and ended up upside down in a heap, supporting a big lump on his head, and also the fact that we where one lad short, Leo was so far gone when we got up that we had left him in the tent (the other leaders keeping an eye on him) to dream lots of Leo type dreams, he was still fast asleep when we returned 1 hour later.
7.45am - After a brief game of football we raised Leo from his pit. It had been decided that Leo, Chris and Luke would go shopping with Kay and me while David, George and Tom would cook the bacon and sausage I bought on my way up the previous day. They would have breakfast ready for our return at about 8.45pm. The remaining two lads could chill out.
8.15am - We arrive at Tesco Holyhead and worked through the food items that the lads had planned during the sleepover. Chris pushed the trolley around and managed to catch the back of Leo’s ankles several times, all other shoppers seemed to be keeping well clear of him. These three lads were obviously keen shoppers because they seemed to know which section of the supermarket was home to most items of food. There was one mystery that we were not able to ‘crack’ and that was the one about the ‘Missing Egg’. Upon arriving at the egg isle we had a brief discussion about how many eggs to buy, Luke took his usual leadership role and the figure of 30 eggs was decided upon. Chris and Leo then proceeded to inspect two boxes of eggs, one was a box of 18 and the other a box of 12, both unsuspecting, ordinary looking boxes, but upon opening the box of 12 their was a loud gasp from the lads, the box of 12 was not a box of 12 at all, but a box of 11 plus a space where the 12th one once lay. Has this egg flown its box, did the hen miscount, has the egg napper struck again, should we call on the NSME (the National Society for Missing Eggs), or ‘shell’ I simply stop ‘cracking’ these terrible ‘yokes’? Leo came up with a masterful plan, take an egg out of one of the other boxes of 12 and put it in our box, the operation was perform with excellent precision and we sneaked off to continue our shopping.
10.30am - We returned too the campsite to be met with the inviting smell of cooked Bacon and Sausage. We all ate well and the cooked breakfast was then followed by a bowl of chocolate frosties and a warm drink.
11.00am - Packed lunch orders where taken and while the lads got their day bags ready Louise, Kay, Rob and Andy expertly made the orders. (Sandwich, Crisps, Yoghurt and Chocolate Bar)
The Morning of THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM
(Shopping)
6.00am - It was planned the night before that we would go on a walk this morning so on a walk we went. It was an enjoyable stroll across the beach, playing on the rocks and looking in the rock pools. We found a small starfish and many long pieces of seaweed that looked so much like octopus legs that no one dared to touch them.
I tried to take a picture of the lads standing on a rock but slipped as I pressed the button, you would not believe the resulting picture, I managed to end up with a picture of the rock pool in front of the rock and in the water was the reflection of the lads standing on the rock above falling about laughing at me. I could not have planned that picture if I had tried all weekend. The only other events that should be recorded are George’s acrobatics when he slipped on a piece of seaweed and ended up upside down in a heap, supporting a big lump on his head, and also the fact that we where one lad short, Leo was so far gone when we got up that we had left him in the tent (the other leaders keeping an eye on him) to dream lots of Leo type dreams, he was still fast asleep when we returned 1 hour later.
7.45am - After a brief game of football we raised Leo from his pit. It had been decided that Leo, Chris and Luke would go shopping with Kay and me while David, George and Tom would cook the bacon and sausage I bought on my way up the previous day. They would have breakfast ready for our return at about 8.45pm. The remaining two lads could chill out.
8.15am - We arrive at Tesco Holyhead and worked through the food items that the lads had planned during the sleepover. Chris pushed the trolley around and managed to catch the back of Leo’s ankles several times, all other shoppers seemed to be keeping well clear of him. These three lads were obviously keen shoppers because they seemed to know which section of the supermarket was home to most items of food. There was one mystery that we were not able to ‘crack’ and that was the one about the ‘Missing Egg’. Upon arriving at the egg isle we had a brief discussion about how many eggs to buy, Luke took his usual leadership role and the figure of 30 eggs was decided upon. Chris and Leo then proceeded to inspect two boxes of eggs, one was a box of 18 and the other a box of 12, both unsuspecting, ordinary looking boxes, but upon opening the box of 12 their was a loud gasp from the lads, the box of 12 was not a box of 12 at all, but a box of 11 plus a space where the 12th one once lay. Has this egg flown its box, did the hen miscount, has the egg napper struck again, should we call on the NSME (the National Society for Missing Eggs), or ‘shell’ I simply stop ‘cracking’ these terrible ‘yokes’? Leo came up with a masterful plan, take an egg out of one of the other boxes of 12 and put it in our box, the operation was perform with excellent precision and we sneaked off to continue our shopping.
10.30am - We returned too the campsite to be met with the inviting smell of cooked Bacon and Sausage. We all ate well and the cooked breakfast was then followed by a bowl of chocolate frosties and a warm drink.
11.00am - Packed lunch orders where taken and while the lads got their day bags ready Louise, Kay, Rob and Andy expertly made the orders. (Sandwich, Crisps, Yoghurt and Chocolate Bar)
Camp Diary - Page 5
Saturday 3rd May 2003
The Afternoon of THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM
(Walking)
11.15am -We left the campsite, lads loaded into Alex and My cars and Rob, Andy, Kay and Louise in Dave’s car. Both Alex and me have CB Radios in our cars so were able to talk whenever we where travelling. We had the customary joke telling between the cars and a two-minute period where I was taking to Alex but getting no answer (the power plug had fallen out of my CB Radio). The journey was short and we soon arrived at the car park. The lads jumped out, rucksacks on and we were off.
Having walked this walk the previous week I knew it would no be easy but these where sixers and seconders in high spirits and it was well within the scouting limits for us to walk. Dave and Louise were walking zombies (not surprisingly) but Dave dutifully volunteered to run back after about 3 minutes when I realised I had left my camera and wallet in my car.
The walk started by going up a very defined track (very steep) and 10 minutes into the walk I thought they where joking then they said their was a Land rover around the corner coming down the track. We all moved over to one side and sure enough an older Defender came down being expertly driven by an old lady and disappeared round a bend below, Alex’s face had suddenly lit up, he could picture himself coming down here in his own Land rover Defender. This thought disappeared a bit further along the walk when we saw the tyre tracks in positions that even the most experienced driver in the world could not manage to get them. Oliver described an image of someone rolling a large tyre up the hill and having passed through this point it would explain the type tracks.
A quick rest and a drink, a photo opportunity and a look at the view (we could see our campsite from here), then we continued. The track finally turned onto a single gap through heather and eventually to a more taxing walk up small stone rocks. (Almost like steps)
When asked what they want me to include and exclude in this diary they all agreed that I should mention that we took a wrong turn, half way up the hill we turned right instead of left, after wading through VERY prickly heather onto the hillside I realised we had gone wrong so turned round and headed back through the VERY prickly heather and onto the correct path. This detour was most appreciated by Tom Bevan who was wearing his usual pairs of shorts. The phrase ‘We did not go the wrong way, just a different way’ was used several times while the lads hurled abuse, heather and anything else they could find at me. (Oh, to be a cub leader)
Tom Bean had a great way of motivating himself, he would look at the top of a ridge and walk too it as if it was the top of the hill, it did not seem to bother him that when he got too that ridge their was yet another ridge behind it, ridge after ridge he did this until finally the next ridge became the top. It was starting to drizzle but the walk from this point was much easier and I was extremely impressed so far with every one of the lads. They all walked together, Tom and Tom keeping one another going, Chris and Oliver using their unique sense of humour to keep everyone’s spirits up. For someone so small Leo has got endless amounts of grit and determination (not unlike his older brother), George and David finding any thing they could possibly do to turn the conversation back to my little detour through the VERY prickly heather and Luke by my side keeping me company. With Dave and Louise at the back, Rob and Andy at the front, Alex and me in the middle, we made a very effective walking team.
The route down to the lighthouse was on a very defined track between three radio masts. The wind was starting to get up and the drizzle was starting to be as hard a nails (as described by the lads). The weather was definitely turning. At times I was holding onto the top of Leo’s Day Rucksack so that he did not get blown over. The arrival at the lighthouse entrance was met with great happiness and while they sat and ate their packed lunches Rob and me walked over to the visitors centre and bought the lighthouse tickets (we got two adults free) and drinks for all the lads. After a quick rest and a conversion with the other leaders about the weather and the walk back to the cars we headed down to the lighthouse island. 401 winding steps, zig zagged down the cliff. In one direction we were fine, as the steps turn to the other direction you were hit with the full force of the wind, breathlessly I took my now automatic position holding onto Leo’s Rucksack. The bottom of the steps gave us another challenge, a very narrow open bridge over to the island, Tom bean and me where drawn to each other, both looking as frightened as each other, Leo positively sprinted over the bridge, Kay and Alex danced a merry dance across it, George and David tried to copy Kay and Alex’s dance. The others walked across it as if it was something they did every minute of every day.
Once all safely on the island we walked up to the lighthouse and waited to go on the tour to the top. While waiting I entered the group in the visitors book that was situated in the engine room (every lads and leaders name was written in).
Getting too the top of the Lighthouse was done by walking up a spiral staircase which seemed to have nothing at all attaching it to the walls and then finally 15 very steep steps. Once at the top it was a great view, the guide told us that it was once manned by three families; who lived in it and kept it working. It has now been automated. It is hard to imagine that a 100 watt bulb can be magnified so much through the glass that it can be seen over 10 miles out too sea. It is also equipped with an automatic spare bulb and a standby light which can be seen over 5 miles out too sea.
After carefully climbing back down the steps and having a one-minute breather our tight schedule forced us to head back. Stepping outside was a quick reminder of the weather, I new that we had about an hours walk back to the car and considered going to the visitors centre with the lads and driving the cars around but while walking back down and cross the narrow bridge the lads spontaneously burst into a chorus of ‘I’m singing in the rain’ followed by ‘Always look on the bright side of life’ (this moment was to reoccur several time over the next few days.)
With the lads positively brimming with enthusiasm and still full of energy I made the decision to walk back. It was a much easier route, taking us round the base of the hill, very easy walking. The wind was icy cold and cut through even the warmest clothing. We got back to the cars in record time (something to do with the fact that their where toilets at the car park). By the time we got back to the cars the wind had really picked up.
Walking with these lads is always a real experience; most of them have walked with me before. Tom Bevan and Oliver are both very determined, gritty walkers and when they move up to scouts will put even the best scout to the test in Cheshire Hike (a county hiking, camping competition), Tom’s map reading is excellent and even I struggle to keep up with him. If you are walking and Chris is in your group you cannot fail to be high spirited and cheerful. His sense of humour is unreal and is perfect for when things are getting tough. Luke struggled last time he walked with me, something to do with the footwear, this time however he had a great pair of walking boots, perfect for this type of activity, I often find myself walking next to Luke and he makes really good company, despite the strong winds he is also the only one who at some stage during the day did not get his hat blown off. George never fails to amaze me with his determination, know matter how hard things get he always has that cheeky grin on his face, he is slightly younger than most of the others and is developing into a really nice lad. David is not so keen on walking but has never let me down, his pleasant likable personality makes him good walking company. Tom Bean is also an extremely likeable person, you can be walking next to him and have a conversation about absolutely anything, he will offer his views openly and honestly and often has a refreshing new slant on something that you thought you had definite views on, before you know it you have walked several mile. Leo is by far the youngest of the group and is still finding his place, he has got great determination and will always keep going, he is well liked by the older ones and they always look after him (they, actually chose him as the replacement seconder for Jake when he move up to a senior), it must also be noted that during this walk David commented ‘I’ve heard Leo talking loads today, we won’t be able to shut him up by the end of the camp’.
The Afternoon of THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM
(Walking)
11.15am -We left the campsite, lads loaded into Alex and My cars and Rob, Andy, Kay and Louise in Dave’s car. Both Alex and me have CB Radios in our cars so were able to talk whenever we where travelling. We had the customary joke telling between the cars and a two-minute period where I was taking to Alex but getting no answer (the power plug had fallen out of my CB Radio). The journey was short and we soon arrived at the car park. The lads jumped out, rucksacks on and we were off.
Having walked this walk the previous week I knew it would no be easy but these where sixers and seconders in high spirits and it was well within the scouting limits for us to walk. Dave and Louise were walking zombies (not surprisingly) but Dave dutifully volunteered to run back after about 3 minutes when I realised I had left my camera and wallet in my car.
The walk started by going up a very defined track (very steep) and 10 minutes into the walk I thought they where joking then they said their was a Land rover around the corner coming down the track. We all moved over to one side and sure enough an older Defender came down being expertly driven by an old lady and disappeared round a bend below, Alex’s face had suddenly lit up, he could picture himself coming down here in his own Land rover Defender. This thought disappeared a bit further along the walk when we saw the tyre tracks in positions that even the most experienced driver in the world could not manage to get them. Oliver described an image of someone rolling a large tyre up the hill and having passed through this point it would explain the type tracks.
A quick rest and a drink, a photo opportunity and a look at the view (we could see our campsite from here), then we continued. The track finally turned onto a single gap through heather and eventually to a more taxing walk up small stone rocks. (Almost like steps)
When asked what they want me to include and exclude in this diary they all agreed that I should mention that we took a wrong turn, half way up the hill we turned right instead of left, after wading through VERY prickly heather onto the hillside I realised we had gone wrong so turned round and headed back through the VERY prickly heather and onto the correct path. This detour was most appreciated by Tom Bevan who was wearing his usual pairs of shorts. The phrase ‘We did not go the wrong way, just a different way’ was used several times while the lads hurled abuse, heather and anything else they could find at me. (Oh, to be a cub leader)
Tom Bean had a great way of motivating himself, he would look at the top of a ridge and walk too it as if it was the top of the hill, it did not seem to bother him that when he got too that ridge their was yet another ridge behind it, ridge after ridge he did this until finally the next ridge became the top. It was starting to drizzle but the walk from this point was much easier and I was extremely impressed so far with every one of the lads. They all walked together, Tom and Tom keeping one another going, Chris and Oliver using their unique sense of humour to keep everyone’s spirits up. For someone so small Leo has got endless amounts of grit and determination (not unlike his older brother), George and David finding any thing they could possibly do to turn the conversation back to my little detour through the VERY prickly heather and Luke by my side keeping me company. With Dave and Louise at the back, Rob and Andy at the front, Alex and me in the middle, we made a very effective walking team.
The route down to the lighthouse was on a very defined track between three radio masts. The wind was starting to get up and the drizzle was starting to be as hard a nails (as described by the lads). The weather was definitely turning. At times I was holding onto the top of Leo’s Day Rucksack so that he did not get blown over. The arrival at the lighthouse entrance was met with great happiness and while they sat and ate their packed lunches Rob and me walked over to the visitors centre and bought the lighthouse tickets (we got two adults free) and drinks for all the lads. After a quick rest and a conversion with the other leaders about the weather and the walk back to the cars we headed down to the lighthouse island. 401 winding steps, zig zagged down the cliff. In one direction we were fine, as the steps turn to the other direction you were hit with the full force of the wind, breathlessly I took my now automatic position holding onto Leo’s Rucksack. The bottom of the steps gave us another challenge, a very narrow open bridge over to the island, Tom bean and me where drawn to each other, both looking as frightened as each other, Leo positively sprinted over the bridge, Kay and Alex danced a merry dance across it, George and David tried to copy Kay and Alex’s dance. The others walked across it as if it was something they did every minute of every day.
Once all safely on the island we walked up to the lighthouse and waited to go on the tour to the top. While waiting I entered the group in the visitors book that was situated in the engine room (every lads and leaders name was written in).
Getting too the top of the Lighthouse was done by walking up a spiral staircase which seemed to have nothing at all attaching it to the walls and then finally 15 very steep steps. Once at the top it was a great view, the guide told us that it was once manned by three families; who lived in it and kept it working. It has now been automated. It is hard to imagine that a 100 watt bulb can be magnified so much through the glass that it can be seen over 10 miles out too sea. It is also equipped with an automatic spare bulb and a standby light which can be seen over 5 miles out too sea.
After carefully climbing back down the steps and having a one-minute breather our tight schedule forced us to head back. Stepping outside was a quick reminder of the weather, I new that we had about an hours walk back to the car and considered going to the visitors centre with the lads and driving the cars around but while walking back down and cross the narrow bridge the lads spontaneously burst into a chorus of ‘I’m singing in the rain’ followed by ‘Always look on the bright side of life’ (this moment was to reoccur several time over the next few days.)
With the lads positively brimming with enthusiasm and still full of energy I made the decision to walk back. It was a much easier route, taking us round the base of the hill, very easy walking. The wind was icy cold and cut through even the warmest clothing. We got back to the cars in record time (something to do with the fact that their where toilets at the car park). By the time we got back to the cars the wind had really picked up.
Walking with these lads is always a real experience; most of them have walked with me before. Tom Bevan and Oliver are both very determined, gritty walkers and when they move up to scouts will put even the best scout to the test in Cheshire Hike (a county hiking, camping competition), Tom’s map reading is excellent and even I struggle to keep up with him. If you are walking and Chris is in your group you cannot fail to be high spirited and cheerful. His sense of humour is unreal and is perfect for when things are getting tough. Luke struggled last time he walked with me, something to do with the footwear, this time however he had a great pair of walking boots, perfect for this type of activity, I often find myself walking next to Luke and he makes really good company, despite the strong winds he is also the only one who at some stage during the day did not get his hat blown off. George never fails to amaze me with his determination, know matter how hard things get he always has that cheeky grin on his face, he is slightly younger than most of the others and is developing into a really nice lad. David is not so keen on walking but has never let me down, his pleasant likable personality makes him good walking company. Tom Bean is also an extremely likeable person, you can be walking next to him and have a conversation about absolutely anything, he will offer his views openly and honestly and often has a refreshing new slant on something that you thought you had definite views on, before you know it you have walked several mile. Leo is by far the youngest of the group and is still finding his place, he has got great determination and will always keep going, he is well liked by the older ones and they always look after him (they, actually chose him as the replacement seconder for Jake when he move up to a senior), it must also be noted that during this walk David commented ‘I’ve heard Leo talking loads today, we won’t be able to shut him up by the end of the camp’.
Camp Diary - Page 6
Saturday 3rd May 2003
THE STORM
16.30pm - Our walk back had taken us around the base of the hill and away from the wind, thus I had decided to go ahead with it. On the way back to the campsite Dave had taken Louise, Kay and co to get a few things that had been forgotten during the morning shop. The plan was for Alex and me to return to the campsite and upon Dave’s arrival Alex would be able to leave for the evening (he had a very important engagement to go too). As we drown onto the campsite the heavens opened and as it did the wind went up another notch. As we pulled up to the tents we could see that the green frame tent was on the verge of taking flight. We all jumped out (the wind nearly ripped my car doors off). From this point on we had over 45 minutes of amazing activity. I got all the lads into the white frame tent; Rob and Alex made a dive for the green frame tent. I’m not too sure what was happening outside but in the lads tent there was water dripping along the middle ridge and the wind and rain was howling through from every single gap. Dave had now arrived and their were screams from outside ‘Baloo, we need some help, now’ Tom, Tom and Leo disappeared out of the side of the tent within seconds. The wind was very strong and the rain was lashing hard, each of the remaining lads where given others, either grab some mallets, pegs, move kit, refasten tent flaps or hold the tent sides down while they where treble pegged. These lads are used to receiving instructions and carrying them out but this time they were unbelievably. As I pegged one eyelet down another popped out, within a second George had grabbed hold of it and shouted ‘I’ve got it’, Chris was struggling to move the kit way from where the rain was lashing in and Luke spotted it even before I did and instantly gave a hand, Oliver as knocking pegs in with me and David was supplying us both with more pegs while also helping everyone else when they where struggling. After what seemed like only minutes but was actually over 45 minutes we had secured both tents, the lads kit and sleeping bags where damp but dry, we had also spend £10 and cleaned the site shop out of every single peg they possessed. Every eyelet was treble pegged and where we had run out of my spare pegs or bought pegs we bent knives, forks and spoons over to make pegs (oops, sorry parents) About 5 minutes earlier I had taken delivery of three very wet lads, first Tom and Tom, then Leo, they were absolutely soaked through, waterproofs, coats, two jumpers, t-shirts right down to their underwear. As quick as they walked into the tent they were stripped off into dry clothes.
Eventually, I left the lads and went to talk to the other leader, I was amazed to see Alex still here, I had assumed that he had gone, in fact I could even remember him popping his head in the lads tent and saying ‘I’m going, see you later’. They had performed miracles and with the help of large boulders from the cliffs, new pegs and bent over cutlery the green frame was no longer hovering above the ground. They were all soaked to the skin, and worried that the green frame tent may not last the night, for a few minutes their was discussion about abandoning camp, the wind was due to get stronger and they where all absolutely exhausted (performing miracles takes a lot out of you), then we started to here the sound of singing drifting over the noise of the wind and rain, the lads were singing ‘Always look on the bright side of life’. I have always taken my role as pack leader very seriously and although I spend most of my time with the lads the welfare and happiness of the other leaders is just as important. What they had been through in the last 45 minutes was very intense and they where all wet, cold and exhausted. Dave and Louise were despatched to the showers and returned later much more refreshed. Alex was struggling, he was cold, tired and had made a decision not to go to an engagement which was extremely important to both him and Dee because his conscience would not let him leave us.
This called for strong leadership so he was duly ordered to drop Rob and Andy off at the showers and then to keep driving, he would return with Dee and a patrol tent so that if need be it could be erected on a less windier part of the site just in case. During his time away he rang us 5 times to make sure everything was still ok (that sort of dedication to the lads is priceless).
Because the lads were still brimming with enthusiasm and they still had warm, dry clothes to wear and the other leaders needed a chance to warm up I decided that we would say for now but reassess the situation every hour. The rest of the evening worked like clockwork, the showers seemed to revive Dave and Louise. Dave instantly started to cook the burgers that we had bought for a barbeque and Louise and Kay made warm drinks for everyone.
We spent the evening playing cards in a tent that had a permanent 20-degree tilt, the rain was leaking through the windows and half the fold up seats were soaked.
Chocolates bars all around and a few jokes and stories and no one seemed to care.
We played chase the joker, followed by chase the ace, followed by George’s unique game ‘Chase the nothing’. George forgot to take a card out before we started so we were playing with 52 cards (an even number), we played right the way through the game chasing this nothing before we realised that no one could actually loose and be left with the remaining odd card ‘the nothing card’.
9.30pm - The last toilet run and then bed, the lads slept right through till 8.00am the next morning. I can probably give you the angle of tilt on their frame tent at any given time during that night; it was never in any danger of coming up routed but I will say that at exactly 11:56pm it spent 5 minutes taking a real battering as the wind peaked.
THE STORM
16.30pm - Our walk back had taken us around the base of the hill and away from the wind, thus I had decided to go ahead with it. On the way back to the campsite Dave had taken Louise, Kay and co to get a few things that had been forgotten during the morning shop. The plan was for Alex and me to return to the campsite and upon Dave’s arrival Alex would be able to leave for the evening (he had a very important engagement to go too). As we drown onto the campsite the heavens opened and as it did the wind went up another notch. As we pulled up to the tents we could see that the green frame tent was on the verge of taking flight. We all jumped out (the wind nearly ripped my car doors off). From this point on we had over 45 minutes of amazing activity. I got all the lads into the white frame tent; Rob and Alex made a dive for the green frame tent. I’m not too sure what was happening outside but in the lads tent there was water dripping along the middle ridge and the wind and rain was howling through from every single gap. Dave had now arrived and their were screams from outside ‘Baloo, we need some help, now’ Tom, Tom and Leo disappeared out of the side of the tent within seconds. The wind was very strong and the rain was lashing hard, each of the remaining lads where given others, either grab some mallets, pegs, move kit, refasten tent flaps or hold the tent sides down while they where treble pegged. These lads are used to receiving instructions and carrying them out but this time they were unbelievably. As I pegged one eyelet down another popped out, within a second George had grabbed hold of it and shouted ‘I’ve got it’, Chris was struggling to move the kit way from where the rain was lashing in and Luke spotted it even before I did and instantly gave a hand, Oliver as knocking pegs in with me and David was supplying us both with more pegs while also helping everyone else when they where struggling. After what seemed like only minutes but was actually over 45 minutes we had secured both tents, the lads kit and sleeping bags where damp but dry, we had also spend £10 and cleaned the site shop out of every single peg they possessed. Every eyelet was treble pegged and where we had run out of my spare pegs or bought pegs we bent knives, forks and spoons over to make pegs (oops, sorry parents) About 5 minutes earlier I had taken delivery of three very wet lads, first Tom and Tom, then Leo, they were absolutely soaked through, waterproofs, coats, two jumpers, t-shirts right down to their underwear. As quick as they walked into the tent they were stripped off into dry clothes.
Eventually, I left the lads and went to talk to the other leader, I was amazed to see Alex still here, I had assumed that he had gone, in fact I could even remember him popping his head in the lads tent and saying ‘I’m going, see you later’. They had performed miracles and with the help of large boulders from the cliffs, new pegs and bent over cutlery the green frame was no longer hovering above the ground. They were all soaked to the skin, and worried that the green frame tent may not last the night, for a few minutes their was discussion about abandoning camp, the wind was due to get stronger and they where all absolutely exhausted (performing miracles takes a lot out of you), then we started to here the sound of singing drifting over the noise of the wind and rain, the lads were singing ‘Always look on the bright side of life’. I have always taken my role as pack leader very seriously and although I spend most of my time with the lads the welfare and happiness of the other leaders is just as important. What they had been through in the last 45 minutes was very intense and they where all wet, cold and exhausted. Dave and Louise were despatched to the showers and returned later much more refreshed. Alex was struggling, he was cold, tired and had made a decision not to go to an engagement which was extremely important to both him and Dee because his conscience would not let him leave us.
This called for strong leadership so he was duly ordered to drop Rob and Andy off at the showers and then to keep driving, he would return with Dee and a patrol tent so that if need be it could be erected on a less windier part of the site just in case. During his time away he rang us 5 times to make sure everything was still ok (that sort of dedication to the lads is priceless).
Because the lads were still brimming with enthusiasm and they still had warm, dry clothes to wear and the other leaders needed a chance to warm up I decided that we would say for now but reassess the situation every hour. The rest of the evening worked like clockwork, the showers seemed to revive Dave and Louise. Dave instantly started to cook the burgers that we had bought for a barbeque and Louise and Kay made warm drinks for everyone.
We spent the evening playing cards in a tent that had a permanent 20-degree tilt, the rain was leaking through the windows and half the fold up seats were soaked.
Chocolates bars all around and a few jokes and stories and no one seemed to care.
We played chase the joker, followed by chase the ace, followed by George’s unique game ‘Chase the nothing’. George forgot to take a card out before we started so we were playing with 52 cards (an even number), we played right the way through the game chasing this nothing before we realised that no one could actually loose and be left with the remaining odd card ‘the nothing card’.
9.30pm - The last toilet run and then bed, the lads slept right through till 8.00am the next morning. I can probably give you the angle of tilt on their frame tent at any given time during that night; it was never in any danger of coming up routed but I will say that at exactly 11:56pm it spent 5 minutes taking a real battering as the wind peaked.
Camp Diary - Page 7
Sunday 4th May 2003
THE MORNING AFTER
8.00am - I am please to report that both frame tents were still firmly attached to the ground. It was still very windy with the occasional rain monsoon. It was decided that the visit to the Railway would not be very enjoyable so a new plan was hatched.
9.00am - Breakfast was cooked, another fry up, more chocolate frosties and a warm drink.
10.00am - Packed lunches are made and a game of football are organised by Rob and Andy. The wind had now dropping and the sun is in danger of showing its face.
10.30am - We drove through Anglesey and took up the Bangor to Betws-y-coed road. Alex and me had the lads once again and they were now singing to each other over the CB Radios. They start with ‘Their aren’t no fly on us’ and then move onto other camp songs. Once they had exhausted the camp songs they start singing Queen Hits, ‘We are the Champions’, ‘Radio Gaga’ and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, Alex’s car then tried a bad attempt at ‘Reach for the starts’ and my car hit back with ‘I believe I can fly’.
11.30am - We found our first lay-by where we could possibly have lunch. Dave reckoned there was a better one further up so we continue. Lay-by number two was next to a lake. Again there was a promise of a better venue so we drove yet further with Dave now taking the lead. After 15 minutes and the lads singing ‘I can see clearly now that Dave has gone’ we finally reach a lovely lunch spot, a very full lovely lunch spot but a lovely lunch spot all the same. I take the lead again and state that we will have lunch at Betws-y-coed, 5 minutes down the road I spot picnic tables next to a stream, perfect, we turn around and park up, the lads jump out. What could be better, other than the picnic area turns out to be a beer garden for the hotel across the road, this turns into a good reason for the leaders to become valid customers of the hotels bar and thus be aloud to use the beer garden, Cokes all round. During lunch Carl Shore rings up to see how we had got on the night before in the string winds, ‘fine I say, we aarrrrrrrrrr’ the other leaders at that exact second dropped a freezing cold ice cube down my back. After composing ourselves (this takes several minutes) I finish my sentence to Carl, the phone is then passed to Alex and I spot my chance, with two ice cubes in hand I sneaked up behind him and drop them down his back (revenge is sweet, it is even more sweeter when he stands up to get the ice cube out and it slips gracefully down his back and down the back of the trousers). The conversation with Carl never did progress any further, as we all fall about laughing. Everyone is now starting to release the stress of the previous evening.
THE MORNING AFTER
8.00am - I am please to report that both frame tents were still firmly attached to the ground. It was still very windy with the occasional rain monsoon. It was decided that the visit to the Railway would not be very enjoyable so a new plan was hatched.
9.00am - Breakfast was cooked, another fry up, more chocolate frosties and a warm drink.
10.00am - Packed lunches are made and a game of football are organised by Rob and Andy. The wind had now dropping and the sun is in danger of showing its face.
10.30am - We drove through Anglesey and took up the Bangor to Betws-y-coed road. Alex and me had the lads once again and they were now singing to each other over the CB Radios. They start with ‘Their aren’t no fly on us’ and then move onto other camp songs. Once they had exhausted the camp songs they start singing Queen Hits, ‘We are the Champions’, ‘Radio Gaga’ and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, Alex’s car then tried a bad attempt at ‘Reach for the starts’ and my car hit back with ‘I believe I can fly’.
11.30am - We found our first lay-by where we could possibly have lunch. Dave reckoned there was a better one further up so we continue. Lay-by number two was next to a lake. Again there was a promise of a better venue so we drove yet further with Dave now taking the lead. After 15 minutes and the lads singing ‘I can see clearly now that Dave has gone’ we finally reach a lovely lunch spot, a very full lovely lunch spot but a lovely lunch spot all the same. I take the lead again and state that we will have lunch at Betws-y-coed, 5 minutes down the road I spot picnic tables next to a stream, perfect, we turn around and park up, the lads jump out. What could be better, other than the picnic area turns out to be a beer garden for the hotel across the road, this turns into a good reason for the leaders to become valid customers of the hotels bar and thus be aloud to use the beer garden, Cokes all round. During lunch Carl Shore rings up to see how we had got on the night before in the string winds, ‘fine I say, we aarrrrrrrrrr’ the other leaders at that exact second dropped a freezing cold ice cube down my back. After composing ourselves (this takes several minutes) I finish my sentence to Carl, the phone is then passed to Alex and I spot my chance, with two ice cubes in hand I sneaked up behind him and drop them down his back (revenge is sweet, it is even more sweeter when he stands up to get the ice cube out and it slips gracefully down his back and down the back of the trousers). The conversation with Carl never did progress any further, as we all fall about laughing. Everyone is now starting to release the stress of the previous evening.
Camp Diary - Page 8
Sunday 4th May 2003
THE AFTERNOON AFTER THE MORNING AFTER
12.30am - An enjoyable lunch was had and we continued to Betws-y-Coed and parked up. The sun had now come out and it was t-shirt weather, the lads were given £2 each and were split up into 2 groups of 4, they had 1 hour of free time, Tom Bean borrowed my watch for his group and Luke borrowed my phone for his group. Within a minute they were gone. The leaders took the opportunity to wander towards the outdoor shops that this village is famous for but get no further than the village green when they spot a recognisable face ‘Chris Wood’ the son of the scout leader that Me, Chris, Tom, Luke and Oliver went walking with last weekend. It turns out that the Explorers that were camping that weekend got washed out and up rooted to a local hostel (That means that there is a Bunny about). Sure enough within a few minutes we spot, stalk him and then pounce. Bunny (our scout leader) was out with the Explorers, he, upon seeing us about turns a says ‘Follow me, I’ve got a surprise’, he led us to one of the large outdoor shops and upon entering it we discovered Andy (Baggy) and Helen (Somers Akela), they were on a day out.
Kay, Alex and Dee went off for a drink and Rob, Andy and me went in search of bargains in the shops, during the next 45 minutes we only actually got into 1 shop, the rest of the time is spend bumping into and talking to people we know.
2.45pm – After buying an ice cream we returning to the cars where the lads were waiting for us; they had been on a tram ride and had ice cream. Giving lads free time is something that we only do in sixers and seconders camps and they never fail to respond to the responsibility of being allowed to wander around without the leaders. It also helps to give them their spending money (in this case £2 pound each) as three-pound coins and a five-pound note; the whole group of 4 have to stay together if they want their share of the money.
After 5 minutes sunbathing we headed off again, this time to Beddgelet, this is the place where the main Gelet outdoor shop is (more bargain hunting). The journey was once again filled with fun and merryment on the CB Radios. When we arrived at Beddgelet we parked up and it starts to rain, this time it was here to stay for rest of the day. The lads were given £5 each and over an hour of bargain hunting took place, Baloo bought a camp chair, David and Chris bought head torches, Tom Bevan bought a pendant, the rest bought odds and ends. The best bargain hunters were Tom Bean and Luke, Tom bought a mug, plate and bowl, the mug costing only £1.99 for an insulated one with a lid that allowed you to drink the drink without taking the lid off, Luke spotted many bargains including a walking pole for an absolute give away price, in the end he settled for a compass that gave readings no matter how your held it (sideways, upside down or rolling from side to side). George was fascinated buy a video showing what you can do with a buff, he spent ages later in my car trying out his new found knowledge with my buff (bought as a present by Leo’s older brother).
After we had all spend up we drove on to Cricceth and had yet another Ice Cream before heading back up to Anglesey. The journey back was a lot quieter, and despite Alex’s car trying to entice us into another singing competition my car found it more fun to listen and pretend they were deaf by not replying.
THE AFTERNOON AFTER THE MORNING AFTER
12.30am - An enjoyable lunch was had and we continued to Betws-y-Coed and parked up. The sun had now come out and it was t-shirt weather, the lads were given £2 each and were split up into 2 groups of 4, they had 1 hour of free time, Tom Bean borrowed my watch for his group and Luke borrowed my phone for his group. Within a minute they were gone. The leaders took the opportunity to wander towards the outdoor shops that this village is famous for but get no further than the village green when they spot a recognisable face ‘Chris Wood’ the son of the scout leader that Me, Chris, Tom, Luke and Oliver went walking with last weekend. It turns out that the Explorers that were camping that weekend got washed out and up rooted to a local hostel (That means that there is a Bunny about). Sure enough within a few minutes we spot, stalk him and then pounce. Bunny (our scout leader) was out with the Explorers, he, upon seeing us about turns a says ‘Follow me, I’ve got a surprise’, he led us to one of the large outdoor shops and upon entering it we discovered Andy (Baggy) and Helen (Somers Akela), they were on a day out.
Kay, Alex and Dee went off for a drink and Rob, Andy and me went in search of bargains in the shops, during the next 45 minutes we only actually got into 1 shop, the rest of the time is spend bumping into and talking to people we know.
2.45pm – After buying an ice cream we returning to the cars where the lads were waiting for us; they had been on a tram ride and had ice cream. Giving lads free time is something that we only do in sixers and seconders camps and they never fail to respond to the responsibility of being allowed to wander around without the leaders. It also helps to give them their spending money (in this case £2 pound each) as three-pound coins and a five-pound note; the whole group of 4 have to stay together if they want their share of the money.
After 5 minutes sunbathing we headed off again, this time to Beddgelet, this is the place where the main Gelet outdoor shop is (more bargain hunting). The journey was once again filled with fun and merryment on the CB Radios. When we arrived at Beddgelet we parked up and it starts to rain, this time it was here to stay for rest of the day. The lads were given £5 each and over an hour of bargain hunting took place, Baloo bought a camp chair, David and Chris bought head torches, Tom Bevan bought a pendant, the rest bought odds and ends. The best bargain hunters were Tom Bean and Luke, Tom bought a mug, plate and bowl, the mug costing only £1.99 for an insulated one with a lid that allowed you to drink the drink without taking the lid off, Luke spotted many bargains including a walking pole for an absolute give away price, in the end he settled for a compass that gave readings no matter how your held it (sideways, upside down or rolling from side to side). George was fascinated buy a video showing what you can do with a buff, he spent ages later in my car trying out his new found knowledge with my buff (bought as a present by Leo’s older brother).
After we had all spend up we drove on to Cricceth and had yet another Ice Cream before heading back up to Anglesey. The journey back was a lot quieter, and despite Alex’s car trying to entice us into another singing competition my car found it more fun to listen and pretend they were deaf by not replying.
Camp Diary - Page 9
Sunday 4th May 2003
THE GREAT PUB HUNT
One of the items on the program was to eat out. We got back to north Anglesey at about 8.00pm and headed for a local pub that I knew served good food, it was full, we then headed to the next pub down the road but this was also full. What then followed was a 15 minute drive following a sign from the main road advertising a pub that sold food, the 15 minute drive took us to the most remote pub I have ever been too, but things were looking up, the car park was empty (no surprise there). Alex and me went in and checked that they could cater for us, and they said they could. We took the lads in, sat them down and bought them all a drink, Alex then appeared with some menus and he wrote down the order, 2 Tikka Masala’s, 3 Lasagne’s and 3 scampi plus leaders food. Alex and me headed off to the bar to place the order. We told the lady at the bar we wished to place the food order, she then informed us that their were a few things that they had run out of, they were ‘Tikka Masala, Lasagne and Scampi’ (How I managed to stay calm I don’t know but anyone who knows me will vouch that I did not use any bad language in my reply to her, maybe it was simply the icing on the cake of an unbelievable weekend or it was just that along with the lads I was now truly chilled out, because I simply replied ‘not to worry, I’ll pay you for the drinks we’ve had and we’ll try somewhere else’)
In fact we didn’t try anywhere else because I made the decision that we would get some food back at camp and go out for lunch tomorrow before we went home, we actually ended up buying chips, sausages and pies from a local chippy and eating them in the tent. (You probably can’t take any more mishaps, so I won’t tell you that the chippy messed up on our mass order and when we got back too the campsite we found that all the kids orders were there but Alex and Louise’s orders were missing).
By now so much had append on the camp that we found no trouble in sitting around, just talking and enjoying each others company before we went off to bed, we were now truly a group that were capable of handling absolutely anything that live could throw at it and still be smiling, laughing and joking at the end of it.
THE GREAT PUB HUNT
One of the items on the program was to eat out. We got back to north Anglesey at about 8.00pm and headed for a local pub that I knew served good food, it was full, we then headed to the next pub down the road but this was also full. What then followed was a 15 minute drive following a sign from the main road advertising a pub that sold food, the 15 minute drive took us to the most remote pub I have ever been too, but things were looking up, the car park was empty (no surprise there). Alex and me went in and checked that they could cater for us, and they said they could. We took the lads in, sat them down and bought them all a drink, Alex then appeared with some menus and he wrote down the order, 2 Tikka Masala’s, 3 Lasagne’s and 3 scampi plus leaders food. Alex and me headed off to the bar to place the order. We told the lady at the bar we wished to place the food order, she then informed us that their were a few things that they had run out of, they were ‘Tikka Masala, Lasagne and Scampi’ (How I managed to stay calm I don’t know but anyone who knows me will vouch that I did not use any bad language in my reply to her, maybe it was simply the icing on the cake of an unbelievable weekend or it was just that along with the lads I was now truly chilled out, because I simply replied ‘not to worry, I’ll pay you for the drinks we’ve had and we’ll try somewhere else’)
In fact we didn’t try anywhere else because I made the decision that we would get some food back at camp and go out for lunch tomorrow before we went home, we actually ended up buying chips, sausages and pies from a local chippy and eating them in the tent. (You probably can’t take any more mishaps, so I won’t tell you that the chippy messed up on our mass order and when we got back too the campsite we found that all the kids orders were there but Alex and Louise’s orders were missing).
By now so much had append on the camp that we found no trouble in sitting around, just talking and enjoying each others company before we went off to bed, we were now truly a group that were capable of handling absolutely anything that live could throw at it and still be smiling, laughing and joking at the end of it.
Camp Diary - Page 10
Monday 5th May 2003
A HAPPY ENDING
Every story should have a happy ending, and this one most definitely did. Monday morning was a bit windy but the sun was starting to shine through. After breakfast expertly cooked by David and Chris the lads packed their rucksacks and were despatched with Kay, Louis and Dee to the onsite indoor pool (I have been to this site many times before and did not until this weekend realise that it had an indoor pool, and a really nice one at that). While they were swimming Rob, Andy, Dave, Alex and I packed away the kit and tents and by 1.00pm we were ready to leave.
I had on optimistic feeling when we left the site with half the kids to find an eating-place, the other half of the kids were still swimming with Kay, and Rob. The first place we tried was a local village pub that we had not noticed the night before, they could fit us in but the choice of food was limited and it was a traditional Smokey pub, not really suitable for our lads. Next we went back to the pub ‘The Valley’ that had been full the night before. There was room inside but we would have had to site on different tables. Alex’s heart sank when I said I was not really happy with us being spread around the pub (he had visions of the previous nights run around). Just as we were getting into the cars he shouted ‘how about the beer garden’, it was at that point I realised that the sun was out and it was the most beautiful day. When we walked around the back and found a sunny garden with picnic tables and play area I nearly screamed with delight. The lads and leaders in the cars were ordered so save some benches and Alex and I went back for the rest of the group, they were waiting at the entrance of the campsite ready to jump in.
By 2.00pm we were buying everyone a drink, ordering the food and the lads were playing on the playground. The food menu was unbelievable; almost every dish had a lighter option (a smaller portion, a bit bigger than a kids meal but a bit smaller than a full meal)
Luke Steak, Chips and Salad
Leo Steak, Chips and Salad
Chris Steak, Chips and Salad
Tom Bean Steak, Chips and Salad
Tom Beavan Gammon, Chips and Salad
David Scampi, Chips and Salad
Oliver Scampi, Chips and Salad
George Lasagne, Chips and Salad
(I think the above is right!)
When the food came it was wonderful, we were all sat around in t-shirts laughing and joking while eating good food in a beautiful garden. It was worth going through everything that had happened on this camp just so that we could have these few hours. After we ate (almost every plate had been eaten clean) Kay and Dee decided it would be fun to play on the swing (if you can image and fibreglass tree all painted up with swings on its arms and a slide coming out of its trunk surrounded by wooden climbing frames and bridges and cargo nets). Alex warned them that it was probably not strong enough to hold their weight but would they listen (I think not). After about 5 pushes from Dee, Kay landed on her back with the swing underneath her and the chain that was holding it up across her chest, the lads fell of the benches with laughter. 10 minutes later I had fixed the swing and Luke kindly plucked up the courage to test it.
Lots of joke then followed about Kay and how much she must weigh, and then a football match with one of the climbing structures as the goals and Tom Bevan as the Goal Keeper.
3.40pm time to leave our little paradise garden and get the lads to the station. We managed to get seats together on the way back, although the train before ours had been cancelled so at every stop twice as many people were trying to get on as were getting off. After the third stop our train was officially announced full. The lads were not fazed but any of this and just sat playing cards and eating the crisps, fruit and biscuits we had packed for the journey. When we pulled up at Crewe every single one of the lads shouted aloud through the window to whom every was picking them up, one of the loudest being Tom Bean who was overcome that his dad had been able to get too the station to pick him up.
A HAPPY ENDING
Every story should have a happy ending, and this one most definitely did. Monday morning was a bit windy but the sun was starting to shine through. After breakfast expertly cooked by David and Chris the lads packed their rucksacks and were despatched with Kay, Louis and Dee to the onsite indoor pool (I have been to this site many times before and did not until this weekend realise that it had an indoor pool, and a really nice one at that). While they were swimming Rob, Andy, Dave, Alex and I packed away the kit and tents and by 1.00pm we were ready to leave.
I had on optimistic feeling when we left the site with half the kids to find an eating-place, the other half of the kids were still swimming with Kay, and Rob. The first place we tried was a local village pub that we had not noticed the night before, they could fit us in but the choice of food was limited and it was a traditional Smokey pub, not really suitable for our lads. Next we went back to the pub ‘The Valley’ that had been full the night before. There was room inside but we would have had to site on different tables. Alex’s heart sank when I said I was not really happy with us being spread around the pub (he had visions of the previous nights run around). Just as we were getting into the cars he shouted ‘how about the beer garden’, it was at that point I realised that the sun was out and it was the most beautiful day. When we walked around the back and found a sunny garden with picnic tables and play area I nearly screamed with delight. The lads and leaders in the cars were ordered so save some benches and Alex and I went back for the rest of the group, they were waiting at the entrance of the campsite ready to jump in.
By 2.00pm we were buying everyone a drink, ordering the food and the lads were playing on the playground. The food menu was unbelievable; almost every dish had a lighter option (a smaller portion, a bit bigger than a kids meal but a bit smaller than a full meal)
Luke Steak, Chips and Salad
Leo Steak, Chips and Salad
Chris Steak, Chips and Salad
Tom Bean Steak, Chips and Salad
Tom Beavan Gammon, Chips and Salad
David Scampi, Chips and Salad
Oliver Scampi, Chips and Salad
George Lasagne, Chips and Salad
(I think the above is right!)
When the food came it was wonderful, we were all sat around in t-shirts laughing and joking while eating good food in a beautiful garden. It was worth going through everything that had happened on this camp just so that we could have these few hours. After we ate (almost every plate had been eaten clean) Kay and Dee decided it would be fun to play on the swing (if you can image and fibreglass tree all painted up with swings on its arms and a slide coming out of its trunk surrounded by wooden climbing frames and bridges and cargo nets). Alex warned them that it was probably not strong enough to hold their weight but would they listen (I think not). After about 5 pushes from Dee, Kay landed on her back with the swing underneath her and the chain that was holding it up across her chest, the lads fell of the benches with laughter. 10 minutes later I had fixed the swing and Luke kindly plucked up the courage to test it.
Lots of joke then followed about Kay and how much she must weigh, and then a football match with one of the climbing structures as the goals and Tom Bevan as the Goal Keeper.
3.40pm time to leave our little paradise garden and get the lads to the station. We managed to get seats together on the way back, although the train before ours had been cancelled so at every stop twice as many people were trying to get on as were getting off. After the third stop our train was officially announced full. The lads were not fazed but any of this and just sat playing cards and eating the crisps, fruit and biscuits we had packed for the journey. When we pulled up at Crewe every single one of the lads shouted aloud through the window to whom every was picking them up, one of the loudest being Tom Bean who was overcome that his dad had been able to get too the station to pick him up.
Camp Diary - Page 11
The END
The lads on this weekend were absolutely great. This was a camp unlike any other we had done. The location (Anglesey) was further than we would normally go, we have only twice in the last 11 years had a group of sixers and seconders that we felt happy taking on a weekend like this. These lads were really good fun to be around but what came out the most during our time together was their shear grit and determination to enjoy themselves and have fun. The weather (just like at Sandiway, February) was not on our side for a lot of the time but the worse it got the higher their spirits went. This group of lads had managed in a very short space of time to bond together; they looked after themselves and each other.
On sixers and seconders camps the lads are asked to think and behave very differently than most 9/10 year olds. They need a lot more encouragement and support from each other and especially from the leaders. Because these camps are much smaller, it gives us a chance to work with every lad on developing both their scouting skills and their personal skills.
We often sit around for a few minutes between activities and just talking to each other (just talking to kids about everything and anything is something that should be done far more than it is), the lads talk about home and school, the leaders talk about what we were like as kids. During these camps you have to become a much closer group and as that happens the lads become more open and honest as they talk to you, we find it important to return that openness and honesty, showing that even we have strengths and weaknesses and that it is ok not to be good at everything but to realise that everybody is good at something.
We get asked all sorts of weird and wonderful things during their time with us. One evening on this camp David asked me to go around each one of them and say what I thought of them, what makes them a good sixer or seconder. The week after David was made a sixer he came to me during a pack night and asked why it had happened, he didn’t think he was good enough to be a sixer. I then sat with him and explained why I thought he would be a good sixer. This is what I think prompted his to ask the question, my reply was as follows;
David is very good-natured, if one of the other lads is struggling he will help them, he can be put with absolutely any group of lads and he will work with them, he looks after and supports the younger members of the pack and his six is the perfect home for new cubs to find their feet. He has a very polite but also firm way of gaining respect from other members of the pack. He is starting to gain in his confidence in himself. David has always been honest with me about how he feels and what he thinks and has never let me down in anything I have asked him to do, he is well like by all the leaders. David can always find someway of making me smile when I need cheering up and I can likewise to him. A good leader of younger people. There is also one other word that I use to describe him but it really embarrasses him. (Cute)
Tom Bevan is a newer member of the sixers and seconders team but has fitted in well. His knowledge if walking, map reading and general scouting is excellent. He is confident and quick to point out if I make a mistake (much to the other leaders amusement). He loves the outdoors and is willing to have a go at every activity we through at him. If looked after at scouts he will be a future Cheshire Hike Star. Tom is fun to talk too and be around.
Tom Bean is not as self confident as the others but is far stronger than them in other ways. He is the most honest cub we have ever had; I could sit and talk to Tom for hours. He is very trusting and this helps me to help him get through his worries, he often achieves things without realising until you point it out to him afterwards. He is a very likable person and makes great company. He works well with the other lads and is a very good sixer. If I need an opinion on something Tom is one of the lads I will turn too.
Chris is also a newer member of the sixers and seconders team, he is the moral booster. Whenever the others are struggling he is the one who with his wit and humour gets them going again. Behind the humour is someone who is very hard working with endless amounts of grit and determination, he never gives up. He is extremely keen and enthusiastic, always willing to take part in activities outside the normal pack night. Chris was an invaluable asset during this camp.
Oliver is another of the newer members of the sixers and seconders team, he is extremely hard working and has a great sense of humour. Having seen him walking with Tom Bevan he would make the perfect match for Cheshire Hike. Oliver is good fun to be around and no matter how hard things get he just keeps on going. Given the chance he will make an outstanding scout.
Luke has taken me by surprise over the last six months. He has always been a very likable person and on camps I often sit with him, talking and joking. He is keen and enthusiastic about everything we do and is always smiling. If I am flagging he is one of the ones that picks me up. However, since being made a sixer he has really started to grow in confidence, he is developing in to a very good leader of people. When a decision needs to be made between the older lads he will take charge and manage the discussion. He is always willing to listen to the opinions of the others in his group and tries to find an answer that will suit everyone, he is also willing if need be to make a decision that is unpopular but needs making. He is still developing his leader style with the younger lads in his six but has very high standards that he expects from them and will make sure that they achieve them.
George has been in the sixers and seconders team for sometime now. He has endless amounts of grit and determination. He is amongst the keenest in the pack and if I set him a task I know that it will be completed. If the lads go to collect fire wood George will bring back the biggest piece, if I ask for volunteers to wash or tidy up George’s hand will be up first. He is growing into a really nice lad who works hard and is fun to be around.
Leo is by far the youngest seconder we have ever had. This was his first sixers and seconders weekend and he started out very quiet but as the camp went on his confidence grew. This weekend has done him more good than any other cub event could every hope too. He is a really likable lad with lots of Leo personality. The older lads really like Leo and encourage him to give his opinions and thoughts. Leo has a good sense of humour and with the current sixers and seconders as role models will follow in his brothers footsteps as a great sixer of the future (all be it with a little Leo twist thrown in)
And finally, Alex – a helper for so long I’m frightened to count the years. During this weekend he showed complete dedication to the lads. He has now come full circle, as a cub he was looked after and kept safe by us and now he is a leader looking after and keeping safe the current lads. He has now developed the instinctive mind that is needed to look after groups of kids, to keep them safe and happy. This may be my last sixers and seconders camp as the organiser (although you would never keep me away as a helper). But I know that the future is in the best hands it could be.
The weekend could not have happened without many other people. Dave and Louise where invaluable, how they managed to last a weekend like this straight after a college residential is beyond me but it shows how dedicated and where their hearts really are. Dee and Kay bring their own sense of fun and humour to cub events and this camp was no exception (even if the lads looked at them from time to time with complete embarrassment). Kay was with us this weekend knowing that she had important exams the following week (yet another example of complete dedication to the lads). I hope she has done well in them. Rob and Andy were again old cubs of mine; they enjoyed it so much that they are now developing their skills as leaders. This weekend has done them both more good than any scout or explorer weekend could hope to do. They are very quickly learning about being around and looking after young people, how to get the most out of them and how to make sure they are safe and happy.
Rowallan is fortunate to be one of the best Cub Packs in the district and this is solely down to the efforts of the lads and the hard work of my helpers. I am once again grateful for all their help in making this yet another successful weekend. Long may it continue, the next camp is Group Camp!
P.S Just for Tom Bean, here is the long name that you have been asking me to say all weekend;
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwll-llantysiliogogogoch
Or
The church of saint mary in the hollow of white hazel near the rapid whirl pool and the church of saint tysilio near a red cave.
The lads on this weekend were absolutely great. This was a camp unlike any other we had done. The location (Anglesey) was further than we would normally go, we have only twice in the last 11 years had a group of sixers and seconders that we felt happy taking on a weekend like this. These lads were really good fun to be around but what came out the most during our time together was their shear grit and determination to enjoy themselves and have fun. The weather (just like at Sandiway, February) was not on our side for a lot of the time but the worse it got the higher their spirits went. This group of lads had managed in a very short space of time to bond together; they looked after themselves and each other.
On sixers and seconders camps the lads are asked to think and behave very differently than most 9/10 year olds. They need a lot more encouragement and support from each other and especially from the leaders. Because these camps are much smaller, it gives us a chance to work with every lad on developing both their scouting skills and their personal skills.
We often sit around for a few minutes between activities and just talking to each other (just talking to kids about everything and anything is something that should be done far more than it is), the lads talk about home and school, the leaders talk about what we were like as kids. During these camps you have to become a much closer group and as that happens the lads become more open and honest as they talk to you, we find it important to return that openness and honesty, showing that even we have strengths and weaknesses and that it is ok not to be good at everything but to realise that everybody is good at something.
We get asked all sorts of weird and wonderful things during their time with us. One evening on this camp David asked me to go around each one of them and say what I thought of them, what makes them a good sixer or seconder. The week after David was made a sixer he came to me during a pack night and asked why it had happened, he didn’t think he was good enough to be a sixer. I then sat with him and explained why I thought he would be a good sixer. This is what I think prompted his to ask the question, my reply was as follows;
David is very good-natured, if one of the other lads is struggling he will help them, he can be put with absolutely any group of lads and he will work with them, he looks after and supports the younger members of the pack and his six is the perfect home for new cubs to find their feet. He has a very polite but also firm way of gaining respect from other members of the pack. He is starting to gain in his confidence in himself. David has always been honest with me about how he feels and what he thinks and has never let me down in anything I have asked him to do, he is well like by all the leaders. David can always find someway of making me smile when I need cheering up and I can likewise to him. A good leader of younger people. There is also one other word that I use to describe him but it really embarrasses him. (Cute)
Tom Bevan is a newer member of the sixers and seconders team but has fitted in well. His knowledge if walking, map reading and general scouting is excellent. He is confident and quick to point out if I make a mistake (much to the other leaders amusement). He loves the outdoors and is willing to have a go at every activity we through at him. If looked after at scouts he will be a future Cheshire Hike Star. Tom is fun to talk too and be around.
Tom Bean is not as self confident as the others but is far stronger than them in other ways. He is the most honest cub we have ever had; I could sit and talk to Tom for hours. He is very trusting and this helps me to help him get through his worries, he often achieves things without realising until you point it out to him afterwards. He is a very likable person and makes great company. He works well with the other lads and is a very good sixer. If I need an opinion on something Tom is one of the lads I will turn too.
Chris is also a newer member of the sixers and seconders team, he is the moral booster. Whenever the others are struggling he is the one who with his wit and humour gets them going again. Behind the humour is someone who is very hard working with endless amounts of grit and determination, he never gives up. He is extremely keen and enthusiastic, always willing to take part in activities outside the normal pack night. Chris was an invaluable asset during this camp.
Oliver is another of the newer members of the sixers and seconders team, he is extremely hard working and has a great sense of humour. Having seen him walking with Tom Bevan he would make the perfect match for Cheshire Hike. Oliver is good fun to be around and no matter how hard things get he just keeps on going. Given the chance he will make an outstanding scout.
Luke has taken me by surprise over the last six months. He has always been a very likable person and on camps I often sit with him, talking and joking. He is keen and enthusiastic about everything we do and is always smiling. If I am flagging he is one of the ones that picks me up. However, since being made a sixer he has really started to grow in confidence, he is developing in to a very good leader of people. When a decision needs to be made between the older lads he will take charge and manage the discussion. He is always willing to listen to the opinions of the others in his group and tries to find an answer that will suit everyone, he is also willing if need be to make a decision that is unpopular but needs making. He is still developing his leader style with the younger lads in his six but has very high standards that he expects from them and will make sure that they achieve them.
George has been in the sixers and seconders team for sometime now. He has endless amounts of grit and determination. He is amongst the keenest in the pack and if I set him a task I know that it will be completed. If the lads go to collect fire wood George will bring back the biggest piece, if I ask for volunteers to wash or tidy up George’s hand will be up first. He is growing into a really nice lad who works hard and is fun to be around.
Leo is by far the youngest seconder we have ever had. This was his first sixers and seconders weekend and he started out very quiet but as the camp went on his confidence grew. This weekend has done him more good than any other cub event could every hope too. He is a really likable lad with lots of Leo personality. The older lads really like Leo and encourage him to give his opinions and thoughts. Leo has a good sense of humour and with the current sixers and seconders as role models will follow in his brothers footsteps as a great sixer of the future (all be it with a little Leo twist thrown in)
And finally, Alex – a helper for so long I’m frightened to count the years. During this weekend he showed complete dedication to the lads. He has now come full circle, as a cub he was looked after and kept safe by us and now he is a leader looking after and keeping safe the current lads. He has now developed the instinctive mind that is needed to look after groups of kids, to keep them safe and happy. This may be my last sixers and seconders camp as the organiser (although you would never keep me away as a helper). But I know that the future is in the best hands it could be.
The weekend could not have happened without many other people. Dave and Louise where invaluable, how they managed to last a weekend like this straight after a college residential is beyond me but it shows how dedicated and where their hearts really are. Dee and Kay bring their own sense of fun and humour to cub events and this camp was no exception (even if the lads looked at them from time to time with complete embarrassment). Kay was with us this weekend knowing that she had important exams the following week (yet another example of complete dedication to the lads). I hope she has done well in them. Rob and Andy were again old cubs of mine; they enjoyed it so much that they are now developing their skills as leaders. This weekend has done them both more good than any scout or explorer weekend could hope to do. They are very quickly learning about being around and looking after young people, how to get the most out of them and how to make sure they are safe and happy.
Rowallan is fortunate to be one of the best Cub Packs in the district and this is solely down to the efforts of the lads and the hard work of my helpers. I am once again grateful for all their help in making this yet another successful weekend. Long may it continue, the next camp is Group Camp!
P.S Just for Tom Bean, here is the long name that you have been asking me to say all weekend;
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwll-llantysiliogogogoch
Or
The church of saint mary in the hollow of white hazel near the rapid whirl pool and the church of saint tysilio near a red cave.
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