At the beginning of every New Year we all make resolutions for the year, mostly to do something better than last year. Some people want to lose weight others want to break a bad habit. How many of you have resolved that 1999 will be the year you do something really worthwhile and volunteer to be a Leader with the 1st Northwood?
If becoming a Leader is one of your resolutions for this year then don't be shy, pick up the phone and give me or one of our hard working section Leaders a call. If you would rather, you can call in to any of our Section meetings.
If you have yet to make your really important resolutions for this year then perhaps you should seriously consider making one to waste no further time and call us right now.
I have once again resolved that I will keep hammering away in every First News that we MUST find a Beaver Scout Leader and another Assistant Beaver Scout Leader and also another Assistant Cub Scout Leader. We are very grateful to the parents who give up time to help at section meetings but for the Group to continue on a firm footing we must have proper warranted leaders. This is especially important for the Beaver Scouts as we MUST have a warranted leader at EVERY meeting. If Avril is away for any reason, perhaps with the 'flu, we will have to cancel the Beaver meeting for that week.
Let us try to make 1999 a really special year so that we can go
into the next millennium with a full compliment of Leaders.
Trevor Alexander - Group Scout Leader - TrevorAlex@aol.com
Cub Scout Pack Holiday: | Fri. 5th to Sun.7th February. |
April First News Copy Date: | Monday 22nd March. |
Venture Scout Expedition: | Fri. 26th to Sun 28th March. |
Jumble Sale: | Saturday 15th May. |
Scout Camp: | Sat. 31st July to Sat. 7th August. |
Alleluia, Alleluia!! I am delighted to be able to tell you that our team of permanent helpers has been expanding in numbers over the last few months. No less than four new names now appear on our list of Committee Members. We are obviously very pleased to have this extra support and expertise.
This has already been demonstrated by the offer from one of the new members - Trevor Woodyatt. He works for the Army and during a discussion at a recent committee meeting about our plans to improve the kitchen and toilet facilities in our HQ, he immediately offered support in the form of experienced labour provided by the military. Apparently an established scheme enables his organisation to provide labour free of charge to the local community.
Another one of our new committee members who volunteered his help at the AGM is Charlie Manfredi. He is not a new face to the Group, having been involved in numerous activities and Jumble activities over many years.
Our third new face is Marion Patterson who may be known to some as she has helped run the sold goods compound at the Jumble Sale for the past two and hopefully for many more occasions in the future. Marion said she would come on committee for a year and if she liked it and had sufficient time she would come back for more. So far she has not missed a meeting!
Our fourth new member is Ray Eaton who has only recently been co-opted. Ray first became involved with the Group at last years Jumble Sale on our electrical stall. He proved very useful and we look forward to his involvement and ideas. It is, I feel, relevant just to mention that none of the four people have any children in any section of the Group. Need I say more???
We have regrettably decided that it is time to start looking for a replacement minibus. The current vehicle that we have used extensively for several years is beginning to show its age. We are making various enquiries with a view to a good buy like our last one. If anybody knows of a suitable vehicle on the market please do not hesitate to let us know. It needs to be a 15 seater capacity and be in good condition.
Last November we had the pleasure of being entertained at one of now rather well known Quiz evenings. The whole event was masterminded by Stephen Plume and Christine Bennett, both of whom are to be warmly congratulated on a first class production, everyone had a splendid evening. Thank you to all of those who gave their support by coming and also all those who gave prizes for the raffle. The evening made a healthy profit of £99.17 which was donated to our Scout County's Shooting Star, Children's Hospice, Appeal.
Another item of good news is to offer our congratulations to Mike and Barbara Logan upon becoming grandparents for the first time. Their daughter and son-in-law are the proud parents of a new arrival and all are, I understand, in fine fettle.
With the New Year and Christmas being so close I must take this opportunity to say that I hope you all had an enjoyable Christmas and that you enjoyed the break. I would also like to wish you all a very happy and prosperous New Year, particularly this year a we approach such a significant event in now less than 12 months time!
Finally we have one very important date for your diaries, namely that of our Jumble Sale which will take place on Saturday 15th May.
Paul Akers - Group Chairman.
We ended the year with our usual Christmas Party which was enjoyed by everyone. Sonnie and myself would like to thank Stephen and Mike for their help with the party and thank you to the Beavers for the many Christmas cards and gifts.
In January we say goodbye and good luck to Khushaal Ved and Curtis Wallond as they go up to Cubs and hello to three new boys who will be joining us. We will be going into 1999 with a full Beaver Colony once again and look forward to lots of games and activities.
Last term saw a very positive response to requests for parental help, let's hope this continues - the new list is up!
Avril Cruse - Asst. Beaver Scout Leader.
Our numbers are now down to 23, a manageable size, with 8 boys having gone up to Scouts and one moving to Norway.
The District Carol Service was held in St Johns Baptist Church in Pinner on Friday 11th December. We were disappointed that this was attended by only 3 boys and parents from our Pack. All those who were not there missed a very good service with all Groups taking part and an especially good rendition of "The Twelve Days of Scout Camp" by the 6th Northwood Scouts.
On Monday 14th December we held a Fancy Dress night as our last meeting of term and had a rather mixed array of characters. Trevor, our Group Scout Leader, and myself judged the boys and presented joint first prize to Charlie Chaplin, alias Charles Whalley and Scary Spice, alias Daniel Bartlett. A variety of Christmas games were played with a refreshment break for those that needed it. Needless to say, they all did. Not much was left for the Leaders, but that's life!
A winter indoor camp has been booked at Phasels Wood for the weekend 5th to 7th February. There is a very good building we will be using for the weekend so we will be warm even if the site Warden's promise of some snow comes true! Although our numbers are lass than expected, we can be sure that the boys will enjoy themselves, and as usual, wear out the Leaders. A report of the weekend will follow in the next issue of First News.
May I take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy New Year and trust that Scouting in 1999 will come more enjoyable as we approach the Millennium.
Gordon Cocks - Cub Scout Leader.
The troop weekend camp to Phasels Wood is one that I will remember for years to come. We set out from the hut in the rain, we travelled in the rain, we arrived in the rain and we set up camp in the rain. If you didn't step in a puddle you sank in the mud. Didn't we pick a good weekend to go away!
The rain continued all night so shelters had to be put up before breakfast could be started which seemed to take all morning. By the time the Scouts were up the rain had stopped and the sun came out; the rest of the weekend was great.
In the afternoon Alette (Assistant Cub Leader), Gordon (Cub Leader) and Christine (Venture Scout Leader) came along to help out while I skipped off to watch a football match. The boys spent time on the archery range where Gordon's assistance ensured that everyone managed to hit the targets and then it was time to go climbing where Alette and Jon managed to get nearly everyone to the top of the wall. When I returned from the match (which Wealdstone won) the boys were still hard at it on the wall and Alette was late for her evening out - they must have enjoyed themselves!
The rest of the day was spent cooking the evening meal of savoury mince and pasta. This was one of our better choices of meal as the boys all came back for more.
Sunday saw us walk to the local village at Apsley for the boys to stock up on emergency rations (sweets). An hour was spent on the abseiling wall where a number of the boys completed their first abseil. After lunch and packing up we returned to Northwood. All in all not a bad camp. Thanks to Jon Miller the other ASL for being on the camp as all the other leaders were unavailable.
The Friday night meetings have again been very successful. Lots of activities have taken place including hot air balloon making with tissue paper. The highlight for the boys was watching it climb into the night sky and then go up in flames. A trip to the local swimming pool was well attended as was the night hike.
The boys had a few difficulties this year with the hike. The main one was getting lost but they were soon on their way again in the right direction with some help from the ever present Leaders. The food stop was a success as normal but this was the first time a car stopped and bought burgers from us. As you would expect we obliged as this was our good deed for the day.
The hike finished in the early hours of the morning when we returned to the Scout HQ in Northwood. As you would expect sleep was not the order of the day as the boys kept Jon and myself up all night. Even a little friendly persuasion from us didn't help!
Thanks to all those who helped especially Gordon and Trevor for the food stop and Stephen and Deb for planning and walking the route before the boys attempted it. This was also the last activity that Jon was able to attend before starting work on a film set in Turkey for three months - he will be back with us in the Spring.
The Christmas carol service this year was held at St. John's Church, Pinner. Each of the Groups in the District took part in the service. Peter Smith read a short piece on behalf of 1st Northwood. Everyone then enjoyed mince pies and coffee in the Parish Hall afterwards thanks to the Scout Fellowship.
The term finished with the Christmas party which was enjoyed by all and we are now preparing for the year ahead.
Mike Bennett (ASL)
The Ventures have had a fairly quite term due to the low numbers both in our Unit and the District who we have been meeting with over recent months. We have plenty of space for new members over the age of 14 and if you know anyone who is interested, please do not hesitate to contact me.
So, what do we do at Ventures? This term we have been bowling at North Harrow where the Ventures were much better than the majority of leaders (I won't mention the scores!); we hosted a fire works evening in November at 5th Eastcote's Headquarters and invited their Scout troop to join us which was very popular and enjoyed a video evening.
The finale of the term was our annual tip to London. When this first started it was to see the Christmas lights but now tends to be an opportunity to do those last bits of Christmas shopping and visit Hamleys. We had a good turn out for the trip as some of our older members who are at University were home for the holidays and were able to join us. We made the night memorable by having a request announced on Hamleys in-store radio with the Ventures individually named!
We have a busy programme arranged for next term including the County Pancake Race, more bowling, an evening walk and an early Easter expedition.
Christine Bennett (AVSL)