Red Rose 2010
Yet another successful scout summer camp.
All 24 of us started out early on the Saturday morning all looking smart in scout uniform. The boat to Stranraer did not know what had hit it. A lengthy journey was had to the Lake District. We sang all the way (well actually the scouts were forced to sing by Catriona and Hannah!!).
West Lancashire scout centre awaited our arrival. Our Subcamp was Scafell, it seemed like a mountain we had to climb before we got there. Our scouts immediately found their camp site and within seconds knew were all the girl guides and Dutch boys were camped!! The Opening ceremony was excellent. Our scouts proudly paraded Irish flags and lots of Irish hats. Red Rose definitely knew the Irish had arrived.
The Sunday was international day. We ignored their Artic theme( Sorry) in favour of Irish potato bread so well fried by John and Colum. They fried for hrs!!! Our Irish Leprahaun ( Kevin) told many tales to passers by! Later that night with our shamrock t-shirts and Irish hats we entertained the subgroup with Irish dancing and Ceili swings to our well sung ‘ I,ll tell me Ma’.
Monday was Christmas!! However I think Red Rose had forgotten this. We had breakfast to Christmas carols, leaders with santa hats on. Monday was also Kevin’s 50th Birthday. Anne and John got up early and posted numerous pictures of Kevin all around the sub camp. However Kevin did not notice any!!! We had an extra special meal for Kevin’s Birthday and lots of cake. I think Kevin was secretly glad he was spending his 50th in scout camp ( don’t tell Prescilla).
Tuesday was 80’s .Yet again someone forgot to tell Red Rose this was the theme. Anne yet again forced upon us some awful music while we were having our coco pops. It was dry stone walling today which did not excite our scouts. However we forced on the lycra and aluminous hair bands and made our way to the Trough and Off. Food not as good as the Two Anne’s food but we managed to force a burger down us. Then off to prepare for our mafia night. We had difficulty recognising our scouts, the boys quite the gangsters and the girls looking gorgeous (well the Dutch Boys thought this!!) This was indeed a brilliant evening. I think the Kiss and Hate messages won the night.
Wednesday Splash day was excellent the scouts got to try out numerous water activities. They also managed to sink an unsinkable boat!! At least they all got washed. Our most worshipped leader Gary arrived straight into the water soaking all in sight!!. Gary’s chicken dinner will go down in history!!
Thursday took us to a maze. We had to send a search party in to find Kevin and the girls!! A shopping trip to Kendal found the leaders in Costa Coffee, the scouts either in the joke shop or buying outfits to impress the Dutch (think they had gone off the Dutch at this stage ANNA!!). Some one forgot to tell Anne that they had changed the Bollywood theme to World night. However the girls dressed up anyway and bollywooded to Mexican drums !!.
Last day!! The scouts luckily got to do activities while Gary and John took down all the tents in the rain. Kevin persuaded Ash to take him mountain biking. I don’t think Kevin was avoiding work!! The Belfast mugs were distributed in return for Girl Guides and Dutch boys !!!!! No sorry parents we mean scarves. The farewell ceremony saw a few tears. As our poor scouts walked through the rain with all their bags lots of farewells were heard. Adopted scout Conor managed to find his way down to bid us farewell. And one of our scouts managed to sneak out to say some farewells!!
We boarded the bus tried to leave a few in Gretna Green. Anna was told she was too young to marry. Kevin delivered a four page farewell on the boat. The scouts crying again and Kevin !! I don’t think the scouts believe that he will not be back. The Legend Kevin will live on in 29th Belfast scouts.
A big thank you to all the leaders and scouts who made this Red Rose camp so successful. A special thanks to John McKavanagh and Colum McGrady who stepped in at the last moment to help us. A huge thank you to Irwins bakery for the donation of lots of potato bread.