1st CHORLEYWOOD SCOUT GROUP September 2007 Newsletter

Welcome back to everybody. 1st Chorleywood Scouts and Explorers had a very busy and exciting summer as they took part in their summer camps, the jamboree and the sunrise ceremony. I am grateful to Richard Veal and Paul Sutton for their reports below. I hope that many of you took or will take the opportunity to attend the feed backs presented by the leaders this month.

We look forward to our first fund raising events of the year. The Murder Mystery Evening takes place on 13th October. We have been extremely fortunate to obtain the services of the Rickmansworth Players and this promises to be a fantastic event. Please do not leave it to the last minute to get your tickets. This makes it very difficult for our catering team. Phone Sue Eltringham now on 01923 282612 to reserve a table.

Don’t forget the Scout Jumble Sale on Saturday 22nd September so turn out those cupboards and drawers. Please look out for leaflets coming home detailing arrangements for the collection of jumble. Elaine Pollecoff needs help all through the day with collection, sorting and selling and most importantly with clearing up at the end. Scouts and Explorers are especially useful at the end of the sale as are parents with large cars to assist with the disposal of unsold jumble. Please contact Elaine on 01923 283741 to offer help.

Scout section report – August 2007 (Richard Veal, Chess Scout Leader)

As we start this new scouting year, I can happily report that the end of the previous year concluded on a fabulous high. Twenty-five Scouts, three Explorers and seven leaders had a glorious week on and around Decoy Broad in Norfolk. Although the week started a little wet, we finished the week in sunshine and I, for one, was delighted to bring back dry tents. All 25 Scouts completed an overnight expedition and gained their Expedition Challenge Award. Several One Star Kayak certificates and four Dinghy Sailor badges were also well deserved. During the early part of the week we (under Nigel Hammond’s skilled project management) built a fantastic rope bridge that finally succumbed to the combined weight of the leaders while photos were being taken. The end of the week saw us enjoying a well-deserved break in Great Yarmouth. Our grateful thanks go to Morag for organising the week and for keeping the food store well stocked.

Whilst most of us were in Norfolk we also had, of course, four of our members attending the World Jamboree near Chelmsford. I understand that Emma, Tom, Olly, and Matthew all had a life-enhancing time.

To cap it all, we then enjoyed the Sunrise event and Promise renewal on Chorleywood Common at 5.30am on 1st August. How peaceful the Common is at that time in the morning!!! I understand that several others joined in local events where they were holidaying.

Finally a plea - IF anyone is INTERESTED in HELPING out on either Tuesday or Thursday evenings please contact one of the leaders for further information.

Explorers French Alps Report Summer 2007 (Paul Sutton Explorer Leader

Explorers were on a number of camps this summer with 4 at the jamboree and 3 joining the scouts at Decoy Broad. However, our main camp was in the Southern French Alps based on the River Durrance.Here they enjoyed four days exciting white water kayaking – good fast cold water and 30 degree heat when you got out. All seven members worked hard on their skills tackling a number of hard grade three rapids. Jamie Hext, Alex Szelewski and Miles Payling are to be congratulated on achieving their four star, while Geoffrey Ungar, Cameron Gardiner-Smith, Xavier Gilbey and William Innes all gained their three star. One of the highlights of the trip was seeing nervous paddlers edging onto moving water on the first day throwing themselves into a big wave on the last and confidently rolling up when capsized. We also had one of the most beautiful locations surrounded by high mountains for our sun rise ceremony on the 1st August and also walked up to a mountain hut at 2700m. A tired group returned from a very successful trip. Paul Sutton

Sat Oct 13th Murder MysteryEvening 7.30pm

Rickmansworth PlayersScout HQ Tickets £12.50

Price includes three course supper (veg option)

Please bring own cutlery and glasses

Tables of 8

There will be a pay bar and raffle

Tickets from Sue Eltringham on 01923 283612

DON’T FORGET SCOUT JUMBLE SALE SAT 22nd SEPTEMBER MEMORIAL HALL