Summer camp 2012 has drawn to a close and what a wonderful occasion it has been. The boys may be wet, tired and dirty, but I hope they have had a good time - I think they have.
For my part, there is some clearing up to do but it has been an exceptional camp. The HQ (our leaders) have been both wonderful role models and exceptional colleagues. I have enjoyed the humour and banter enormously - many, many thanks.
Pete, Tim and Tom (my extraordinary deputy leaders) I can't thank you enough. Nick Bano (sorry - I know I promised not to mention your name) also deserves our huge thanks for his enormous efforts.
Catriona, as always, the camp wouldn't happen without you and thanks for consistently putting up with me.
Finally, the Scouts have been such a great pleasure and such a wonderful bunch of young men. There was the odd niggle here and there but nothing to write home about. I would like to thank them all for their huge effort and superb good humour.
As I sit with a very nice glass of red wine watching Jessica Ennis and Co achieving Olympic gold (Oh so wonderful) I cannot help but think that so many of our own young men have achieved so much in their own way over the last couple of weeks.
Thanks for reading. Thanks for your support for the Ninth.
And, as I say to the boys every night - good night and God bless.
Saturday 4 August 2012
Friday 3 August 2012
Friday 3rd August
In no time at all it seems to me, we have arrived at the penultimate day of camp. Quite where the last two weeks have gone I'm not sure, but here we are one sleep away from home and a reunion with out baths and our beds.
Without doubt, yesterday was the worse day weather wise we have had on camp. It rained and it rained and it rained a bit more! The prospect of getting anything down dry seemed unlikely. The camp itself carried on as usual. Boys seem to mind the rain far less than us older chaps and they simply got on with things. Various sports activities took place in the morning and then the PLs council took over to run lunch an afternoon activity whilst I entertained the HQ to lunch.
This is a great occasion on camp when I get to thank the HQ for giving up their time, working so hard and, indeed, paying for the privilege to do so! We started with mozzarella, tomatoe and pesto salad, followed by steak and ale pie, roast potatoes, braised red cabbage and other various sundries and finished off with a selection of chocolate cheesecake, New York cheesecake or banoffee pie. Most of this was delivered to site by the Lorna Doone Hotel. A scrumptious feast and a fitting reward for all they had done.
After lunch the much anticipated 'Operation Gunge' took place. It was the closest event for years and finished with a game of sudden death Russian Roulete. The Troop won and chose poor old Charles Connor to be gunged. Quite what he had done to deserve such treatment is difficult to work out, but he took like the gentleman he is.
Into the evening and the weather was still poor so we put on a quiz in the marquee. £20 was made available for the winning team which encouraged some keen participation.
Amazingly this morning arrived with the sun shining and only a few clouds in the sky. Things looked good for the day ahead. However, after getting through the first the few hours and half way through taking some tents down ominous black clouds started to gather and sure enough the heavens opened. 'That's it,' I thought, but miraculously the clouds dispersed, the sun came out and we managed to get down everything we had planned to for today. Quite a relief as the forecast is grim for tomorrow.
As I type, the finals of the Horner Shield are underway, which will be followed by a wash in the river and final preparations for this evening sketches for our end of camp party. Some boys and leaders have left to attend the Olympics but down here in Horner we are determined to have one last good night before returning to our homes.
Without doubt, yesterday was the worse day weather wise we have had on camp. It rained and it rained and it rained a bit more! The prospect of getting anything down dry seemed unlikely. The camp itself carried on as usual. Boys seem to mind the rain far less than us older chaps and they simply got on with things. Various sports activities took place in the morning and then the PLs council took over to run lunch an afternoon activity whilst I entertained the HQ to lunch.
This is a great occasion on camp when I get to thank the HQ for giving up their time, working so hard and, indeed, paying for the privilege to do so! We started with mozzarella, tomatoe and pesto salad, followed by steak and ale pie, roast potatoes, braised red cabbage and other various sundries and finished off with a selection of chocolate cheesecake, New York cheesecake or banoffee pie. Most of this was delivered to site by the Lorna Doone Hotel. A scrumptious feast and a fitting reward for all they had done.
After lunch the much anticipated 'Operation Gunge' took place. It was the closest event for years and finished with a game of sudden death Russian Roulete. The Troop won and chose poor old Charles Connor to be gunged. Quite what he had done to deserve such treatment is difficult to work out, but he took like the gentleman he is.
Into the evening and the weather was still poor so we put on a quiz in the marquee. £20 was made available for the winning team which encouraged some keen participation.
Amazingly this morning arrived with the sun shining and only a few clouds in the sky. Things looked good for the day ahead. However, after getting through the first the few hours and half way through taking some tents down ominous black clouds started to gather and sure enough the heavens opened. 'That's it,' I thought, but miraculously the clouds dispersed, the sun came out and we managed to get down everything we had planned to for today. Quite a relief as the forecast is grim for tomorrow.
As I type, the finals of the Horner Shield are underway, which will be followed by a wash in the river and final preparations for this evening sketches for our end of camp party. Some boys and leaders have left to attend the Olympics but down here in Horner we are determined to have one last good night before returning to our homes.
Wednesday 1 August 2012
Wednesday 1st July
Wow - it has been busy down here. The Pls completed their 'weekend off' and hiked the beautiful coastal pathway between Porlock and Lynmouth whilst James O'Sullivan and the Third Year took over running the Troop to prove what they could do. As always, they did remarkably well. The APLs competition was a draw between Andrew C-B's Ospreys and Ben Chamberlain's Hawks both patrols receiving 'clean sheets' on both days. I will be taking them for a cream tea this afternoon to congratulate them on their efforts!
On Tuesday, the PLs returned from their little break and Mrs Maher and I returned from a night away at the Lorna Doone Hotel. The talk on the camp site was all about rebellion. The junior HQ were in a particular state of frenzy. Older and calmer heads just sat and waited knowing that these things will happen and there is no point in getting anxious about it.
Last night I decided that it was high time that the PLs were taken on the 'walk of the dead'. So after packing the Troop off to bed, I asked Mr Orbell to tell them the legend of the desecrated graveyard in Horner Wood and then told them we were going to walk there. We set off at about 10.30. It's quite a walk right into the heart of the wood to get to the location and it is, of course, pitch black in the woods. Unknown to the boys, Michael had sneaked off down the path and just as I was explaining about the priest who threw himself off the hill, he jumped out with a blood curdling scream!! Some of the tougher boys didn't respond quite how they would like their peers to think they would! Still it was all good fun and we carried on along the path. We eventually arrived back at about 12.30, had some cocoa and went to bed. I did hear some mutterings about it not being that frightening. It's funny how brave you become when back in familiar surroundings.
So onto this morning and a bit more rain. The weather has been a little less clement this week. I had announced a lie in this morning and reveille was set for 09.00. Breakfast went as normal, added the HQ meeting. I sent the team off for inspection and slipped into Horner Hamlet to attend to a few bits and pieces. 10 minutes later I arrived back on site to see boys running around, water carriers all over the place and HQ getting 'decked'. It could only be rebellion. Any normal human being would have out his car into reverse and sat it out at the cream tea room, but I couldn't leave my colleagues to their fate. I ploughed into the chaos and immediately got dumped by Xavier for my valiant efforts and soaked by some grinning sprog! There's respect for you!
20 minutes later or so and everyone was puffing and panting so Olly and I called an honourable draw. Parade was called and the TL and ATLs were presented with a small token of our thanks for their efforts this year and camp life kicked off again with the unfinished inspection.
On Tuesday, the PLs returned from their little break and Mrs Maher and I returned from a night away at the Lorna Doone Hotel. The talk on the camp site was all about rebellion. The junior HQ were in a particular state of frenzy. Older and calmer heads just sat and waited knowing that these things will happen and there is no point in getting anxious about it.
Last night I decided that it was high time that the PLs were taken on the 'walk of the dead'. So after packing the Troop off to bed, I asked Mr Orbell to tell them the legend of the desecrated graveyard in Horner Wood and then told them we were going to walk there. We set off at about 10.30. It's quite a walk right into the heart of the wood to get to the location and it is, of course, pitch black in the woods. Unknown to the boys, Michael had sneaked off down the path and just as I was explaining about the priest who threw himself off the hill, he jumped out with a blood curdling scream!! Some of the tougher boys didn't respond quite how they would like their peers to think they would! Still it was all good fun and we carried on along the path. We eventually arrived back at about 12.30, had some cocoa and went to bed. I did hear some mutterings about it not being that frightening. It's funny how brave you become when back in familiar surroundings.
So onto this morning and a bit more rain. The weather has been a little less clement this week. I had announced a lie in this morning and reveille was set for 09.00. Breakfast went as normal, added the HQ meeting. I sent the team off for inspection and slipped into Horner Hamlet to attend to a few bits and pieces. 10 minutes later I arrived back on site to see boys running around, water carriers all over the place and HQ getting 'decked'. It could only be rebellion. Any normal human being would have out his car into reverse and sat it out at the cream tea room, but I couldn't leave my colleagues to their fate. I ploughed into the chaos and immediately got dumped by Xavier for my valiant efforts and soaked by some grinning sprog! There's respect for you!
20 minutes later or so and everyone was puffing and panting so Olly and I called an honourable draw. Parade was called and the TL and ATLs were presented with a small token of our thanks for their efforts this year and camp life kicked off again with the unfinished inspection.
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