new upper age Scout sections now that Venture Scouting will cease to exist in 2003. Scouts (1 1-14) will continue within each Group, Explorer Scouts (14-18) will be generally District based but can be also a Group section and then The Scout Network (18-25) will probably be organised at County Level. My information notes are attached and I will keep everyone in the picture as soon as I receive more

information. You should all be thinking about your new uniform.

Finally congratulations to all who went camping this Summer, I have had back a magnificent set of reports. I am very proud of Northwood Eastcote Scout District, its leaders, assistants and all our young people involved in every section.

CUB SCOUTS

The Autumn session sees us with seven Packs of very keen Cub Scouts and a very dedicated but decreasing team of leaders. We are fortunate with the depth of experience in some Packs but are becoming increasingly in need of new faces to assist with others. In this 85th birthday year — and we look forward to seeing you at the party on 19th November — we must face the challenge of finding new help for every one of our Packs. How about a “Bring a friend” evening — no, not the Cubs, but the leaders! We have reluctantly had to close the 2nd Eastcote Pack for the time being at least, due to a lack of both Cubs and leaders at that particular site and following Grahame Welch’s decision to stand down as CSL.

Cub Scouts from four Packs have collected a total of Ł55 in l0p. coins for the Richard House Children’s Hospice in East London, and while we thank all those involved in 1st 2nd and 5th Northwood and 5th Eastcote, very special thanks must go to Anthony Murphy of 1st Northwood for raising a magnificent Ł27.80 of this total himself. A true case of remembering his Cub Scout Promise to “help other people.”

LEGOLAND

Over 160 Beavers, Cubs and accompanying adults visited Legoland, Windsor, on 15th September to get the

Autumn off to a fun start. We were blessed with a warm, sunny day and everyone had an enjoyable time.

Originally planned to celebrate the 80th birthday of Cub Scouting, it was decided to include the Beavers as well — after all younger members of the family are included in birthday celebrations aren’t they? Let us always remember that we are a “family of Scouts”, not just individual sections. Several Packs and Colonies had also persuaded Scout Leaders and even Venture Scout Leaders to help make up the required number of adult helpers. Well done, and thank you everyone!

6th GO TO kANDERSTEG

Imagine if you wilL, a campsite at the head of a peaceful valley high in the Bernese Oberland of Switzerland. Listen carefully and you may hear the distant ringing of cowbells, the chatter of birdsong and the sigh of the glacial stream rushing along the valley floor.

Suddenly, with a screech of brakes a train pulls up short of the tunnel through the mountain and disgorges more than 500 travel weary but very excited passengers. Yes, the 2001 Middlesex Guide & Scout Expedition has arrived at Kandersteg International Scout Centre.

The 6th Northwood contingent, consisting