District Diary Dates July Fri 1st Concert George’s Trust Memorial Park, Rsy w/e 1-3rd Rifle Shooting leadership training Ferny Crofts w/e 1-3rd Trek Cart QE Country Park Sun 3rd Mayor’s Picnic 12.00… Memorial Park Tue 5th 15th AGM & BBQ 19.00…… 15th H.Q. Fri 8th District A.G.M. 19.30… O.S. Sat 9th Beggars Fair Romsey Thur 14th Exp. - Pushball 19.00—21.30 Lockerley Mon 18th 10th A.G.M. 20.15…. 10th H.Q. Sat 23rd Beaver Fun Day Lockerley H.Q.

August Sun 7th Seed Swap—5 /8 yr olds 10.00—15.00 Romsey Town Cntr Thur 11th District Exec 19.45—22.00 Bramshaw H.Q.

September Mon 5th GSLs meeting 19.30—22.00 tbc Sat 10th Romsey Show Broadlands Thur 15th Dostrict Man mtg 19.45—22.00 18 Cherville St

October Wed 5th All Leaders Meeting 19.30—22.00 tbc Sun 9th Walk the Test Way Sat 22nd District Quiz 19.15 ……. Crosfield Hall

November Sat 19th Dr Peter Centre Opening

21st Nursling & Rownhams—Bradley Hickman

Cub Scouts 4th Bramshaw—Siena Waller, Ella Roper, Edward Davis 10th Romsey (Sioux) - Rob Comer, Nick Comer, Joshua Hillier, Jimmy Coakley, Joe Madigan, Jack Warren, Carl Windebank, Thomas Fahay, Max Marshall, Jared Meade 10th Romsey (Mohican) - Jack Beale, Thomas Croft Baker, Matthew Dowling, Oliver Farrell, Henry Jelley, Oliver Jouan, Dylan Lewis, Alex Mills, Ben Nelson, Harry Richards 11th Kings Somborne—Darcy Eckett, Sophie McCloughan, Amy Ball, Robyn Grace, Callum MacBean 15th N Baddesley—David McFaull 21st Nursling & Rownhams—Colin McCann, Drew Hickman, Anna Haines

Well done to you all.

The Newsletter for Romsey District Scouting

Edition 494 http://www.romseyscouts.org/ July 2011

WOODSMOKE Articles for the next edition to Liz Holloway by 15th Aug 2011 please.

18 Cherville Street, Romsey, SO51 8FD Tel: 01794 514597 E Mail: liz@lizholloway.f2s.com

Further information on any aspect of Romsey Scouting from District Chairman: John Stevens 023 8077 2973

District Commissioner: Darren Reed 023 8042 8244

PIONEERING

For everyone

LEADERS DAY

11th June was just one of those days. We had things going on everywhere! Gillie Oldmeadow had kindly volunteered her garden for a cream tea event, there was a table-top sale at Kimbridge where we had a stand, and the District Leader Day was happening at Lockerley.

However I did not have to decide where I could be most use; I had already been booked for the Lockerley event. Surprisingly I was asked to get involved in some pioneering! Perhaps I should have learnt spinning so that I did not have to cart heavy spars about.

Pioneering tends to be a slow process to build anything large so I thought we should try something different. Aided, as so often, by Colin Knight, we got the leaders to build a chariot for which Colin had engineered some excellent wheels. This was tested energetically around the field using a suitably light passenger. I believe that Sue Edwards bruises disappeared after a few days!

We also wetted their interest for rope weave pioneering by building the gateway shown in the photograph on the front page. Much less of the effort in tightening up square lashings, but much more intricate weaving involved. It is a project that does not get fully appreciated until it is finally finished, but is then quite impressive. We hope it may get another showing at

CHIEF SCOUTS AWARD PRESENTATION There are different stages of this award—one for each section of the movement. The bronze award is for children in the Beaver section (aged 6 - 8) and the silver for Cub Scouts (8 - 10½). A mass presentation was held in Romsey Town Hall recently. The Scouts were very pleased to welcome Romsey Town Mayor, John Burgess to present the awards.

The Beaver Scouts have to have earned 6 badges, having accomplished at least 4 activities, which range from writing prayers, actions to take in an emergency, fair trade, healthy eating etc

The Cub Scouts have to have earned 7 badges, which are more difficult than those earned by the Beavers and cover faith, personal improvement in a sport, fund-raising, games, pioneering, fire lighting, knotting etc.

Assistant District Commissioner Janice Waterman praised all the children for having achieved their awards and also thanked all the parents for their support and the leaders who give up so much of their free time to enable the children to experience Scouting at its very best.

The young people gaining their awards were Beaver Scouts 1st Romsey—Joe Lindsey, Jack Jameson. Rafferty Bridges, Louis Blomberg-Smith, Jack Colewill 10th Romsey (Maple) - Harry Croft-Baker, Christopher Clothier, Archie Jenkins, George Duncan, Oliver Harper-Adams 10th Romsey (Sequoia) - Daniel May, Oliver Ingoe, Archie Peel, Jack Richards 11th Kings Somborne—Friso Grace, Matthew Beck, Matthew Younger

Thanks go to the Organisers of the camp who did a fabulous job keeping us leaders in check and ensuring we did the judging on time. Thanks to all the judges and also thanks to the 10th catering team for keeping the leaders fed and watered.

Another year done, see you all next year!

Adam Coulthard, Scout Leader, 15th Romsey

Pulborough Trophy Results Place Troop Score Ian Grainger

1st 6th Romsey (Stag Patrol) 916 30 2nd 4th Romsey (Stag Patrol) 895 73 3rd 21st Romsey (Pegasus) 826½ - 4th 6th Romsey (Panthers) 791 93 5th 3rd Romsey (Meerkats) 752 66 6th 9th Romsey (―Henry‖) 740 - 7th 21st Romsey (Elmos) 725 - 8th Romsey Guides (CCCarrots) 672 - 9th 15th Romsey (Kestrels) 669 33 10th Romsey Guides (Pineapples) 666 - 11th 9th Romsey (―Mims‖) 647 32 12th Romsey Guides (Bluebells) 645 - 12th 10th Romsey (Bubble) 645 - 14th 3rd Romsey (Ashanti) 634 35 15th 10th Romsey (Squeak) 611 -

The winning team, with their Scout Leader and ‘THE TROPHY’

Flanked by Mike Baxter and Sarah Beaman

Romsey Show.

I also became involved in a craft session when I taught leaders how to make a Moon Compass. This can be used at night (obviously!) to find north from the moon. An interesting session that led to much discussion and fun.

Those who couldn’t make it should ensure that they take part next year for a great session of Scouting, for once without any children in sight!

David Sutton Vice President

And from Claire Sutton, who organised the day:-

"Saturday 11th June saw leaders from almost every Group

in the District gather at Lockerley for our Leaders Camp

(although we didn't actually camp this year!). Now in it's

third year, the activity day tries to balance useful activities

with fun ones - often activities we would be organising for

our young people that the leaders don't get to try

themselves!

The 'useful' activity this year was provided by Mike and

Donna Kerrigan from the County training team, who kindly

gave up their Saturday morning to run a Scout

Safeguarding course, which about a dozen Romsey

leaders took advantage of. In spite of the serious subject

matter, the feedback was good and everyone felt they

had learned something.

The more light-hearted activities were: shooting with Tim

Waterman, spinning and lace-making with Janice

Waterman, how to make a moon compass with David

Sutton, archery with Howard Chandler and finally a

pioneering session with David Sutton and Colin Knight that

produced a very effective two-wheeled chariot as well as

a 'rope weaving' gateway.

The weather was kind to us all day and we even managed

to eat lunch together outside on the field. A long-

threatened shower finally broke as the final activity finished

and everyone came inside for one last cup of tea, ready

for the Golden Woggle Award ceremony.

A big thank you to Lockerley for the use of their HQ and

the Glebe field again; to all those who ran the activities for

us and to everyone who came along on the day to make

it such an enjoyable and sociable experience!

Next year's Leaders Camp dates will be announced shortly

so please contact Claire Sutton if there are any activities

you would like to have a go at!‖

Claire Sutton, DDC

Can anyone think of a suitable caption for this photograph taken at the Leaders Day—Janice Waterman, ADC Cub Scouts, with her three spinning leaders?

dinner are tantalizing. Two minutes until judging starts. Shame about the rain which came down heavily just as fires were getting started.

Its getting close to 7.30 nearing the end of the first day and everyone is in high spirits. Most of the teams have finished their three course meals on the open fires and the last judging of the day is almost complete. It’s been a busy few hours with the teams dodging the showers to get the fires lit. Thankfully looking at the forecast we are due no more rain. The sun is setting behind the trees (yep we have seen the sun today).

The last activity of the day is a giant camp fire with all the teams. Its almost time for bed, the youngsters have been to a fantastic sounding camp fire and were all in good spirits when they left. Just enough time to have some supper before lights out.

The end of the first full day and the judging starts bright and early for breakfast.

Sunday

After a long hard day yesterday, its still quiet with the birds singing. Not long before morning wake up and judging breakfast.

Breakfast has been judged and we have just had Scouts Own. This years Scouts Own asked what would you do better next year and what went well this year. The main running theme this year was looking after your matches when wet and ensuring your coats are accessible.

Site inspection and gadget judging this morning before an un-inspected lunch and the final site inspection of the day. So far Sun-day morning has been a lovely morning with the sun shining. The campers are just sorting out their kit layout for the final site inspection.

Its time for striking and having an easy unjudged lunch. The tents are going down quickly - not long now until the final site litter inspection.

Hot off the press!!!!!

Congratulations to 6th Lockerley - Stags that have won the Pulborough Trophy, narrowly beating 4th Bramshaw to the prize. 21st Romsey Pegasus came third.

5th Romsey Guides ―Cool Camping Carrots‖ took the Guide Trophy – well done – only the second year they have entered and took 8th place overall.

6th Romsey - Panthers took the Ian Grainger Trophy for their Weather Station.

PULBOROUGH 2011– The Blog Its the end of day one at Pulborough, which this year is being held at Lyons Copse, near Shedfield. All fifteen sites are up and getting organised and thankfully the rain held off from 8pm to allow all the tents to go up in the dry. Fingers crossed for the forecast tomorrow. The judging starts at 10.15 after breakfast. Good luck to everyone.

Saturday

Five minutes until flag break and then it’s the first judging session of the weekend. Just one small shower so far this morning, we all have our fingers crossed that the weather will hold for the rest of day. All the teams have had their breakfasts and are in high spirits. There is a gentle sound of malleting in the air. Thankfully no one this year was malleting at 5am but one patrol was awake at 4am thinking it was time to get up!!! Site inspection is the first judging of the weekend, checking their sleeping and storage tents. The sun has just come out for flag break.

Lunch is just being judged as I type, its the second judging of the day after the site inspection this morning. Just as we were finishing our inspections of site 1 and 2, we saw a dining shelter in the middle of falling down on the other site of the site. Its been heavy showers on and off but thankfully the showers are really short. In between the showers its lovely with the sun out.

All the lunch menus looking interesting and there are some good ideas for next year. Next judging is site layout and program implementation, after the washing up has been done following lunch, of course.

Its been a hard after-noon dodging the showers that keep coming across the site. Heavy rain for a few minutes and then the sun is back out. All the patrols have been hard at work chopping wood for their fires tonight to cook on. The gadgets are coming in thick and fast. Its almost time for dinner…. All the fires are crackling and the smells of

BADGESPLASH

More than sixty young people (Beavers, Cubs and Scouts)

were to be found in Totton Pool on a Saturday in May,

seeing how well they could perform at achieving their

scout swimming badges and also how wet they could

make the non-swimmers! Of the nine Scout groups, seven

were represented and the leaders from the other two were

heavily involved in organising Sixers Day. Even Scouters

can‘t be in two places at once!

There are five stages to the Scout swimming badge– each

stage completed warranting a badge earned. Nearly

everyone who took part received a badge. The results

were those achieving

Level 1 22

Level 2 20

Level 3 13

Level 4 6

Level 5 2

Rob Komorowski, who runs the Scout snorkelling, arranged

for a demonstration by recently trained snorkellers, which

was very well received and will hopefully encourage more

young people to take part in this activity too.

Put the dates in your diary now—the Badgesplash next

year will be on Saturday 24th March 2012.

< > < > < > < > < > < > < > < > < > < > NEWS FROM THE NEWEST CUB PACK

The 3rd Romsey (Braishfield) Cub Pack re-started in March, meeting weekly at the Jubillee Hall in Timsbury, with four Cubs. The Pack now has eleven Cubs ranging from those who have "swum-up" from Beavers, to some who are new to the Scouting movement.

After half-term the Cubs will be joining the well-established Scout Troop for the Groups AGM, Mottisfont and Timsbury Fun

Day, Romsey Carnival and a summer garden party, where local elderly folk will be entertained by the Cubs a n d S c o u t s a n d offered culinary delights prepared by the young people (if you would like to come along and haven't yet received an invitation, please contact Kate for more details).

They will also be doing map and compass reading so that they can find their way when they go on the planned bike ride and hike

before the summer holidays.

If you, or anyone you know, adult or child, is interested in joining the Group, please contact Kate on 01794 511527 or email kmkt@hotmail.co.uk.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - HOT NEWS—FROM THE BBC

Children are unable to join Scout Groups across the south

of England because of a shortage of adult volunteers,

figures have revealed. There are more than 6,500

youngsters waiting across England and Wales, and it is

thought over 2,000 in the South East. This would require in

excess of 500 new leaders.

Vanessa Slawson from Hampshire Scouts said, ―what we

want to get across is that it‘s not a big commitment. What

you can give we‘re happy to work with. If we can work

with adults to create new sections and groups, we can

Kate, with her newly invested Cubs

Tickets from:- David Sutton 01794 502817 Claire Sutton 023 8025 1887

Romsey District was pleased to hold its first annual 'Golden

Woggle Awards' ceremony on the afternoon of Saturday 11th

June at Lockerley. We know that, every year, a few lucky

people are put forward for national awards - Medal of Merit,

Silver Acorns and so on - and we congratulate those people for

their recognition. However, Romsey District believes it is

important to recognise hard work and dedication more often

and to say thank you. The Golden Woggle Awards are the

Group and Districts way to do this.

Nominations were received in four categories and we are

pleased to list all nominees:

The Best Supporting Role: Pam Hatt, Wendy Jarvis, Louise Forgan

The Best Young Leader: Carl Aris, Daniel Orgill

The Unsung Hero Award: Ian Logan, George Lazarus,

Ruth Evans, Claire McCann

The Lifetime Achievement (so far!) Award: Howard Chandler,

Eve White

And the winners were....

Pam Hatt, Ruth Evans and Eve White, with Carl and Daniel jointly

winning the Best Young Leader Award.

The winners received a voucher from 'Go Outdoors' as a token

of thanks - as well as an actual Golden Woggle to wear with

pride! All nominees received a Certificate to recognise their

nomination.

Romsey District is extremely grateful to everyone who was

nominated for their hardwork and support - and thanks to all

those who made the effort to make nominations in the first

place!

Nomination forms for the 2012 Golden Woggle Awards will be

circulated early next year so start thinking about who you will nominate!

Claire Sutton, DDC

solve the problem of the waiting lists and give everybody

this fantastic opportunity of becoming a Scout.

Chatting with Vanessa following her appearance on South

Today, she said the interview had generated several

enquiries from adults, which could well help the situation

and for those of you who saw the programme, the very

‗out of date‘ uniform, shown as part of the background,

generated a great number of comments to the BBC!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Cow Pat Splat

in aid of the Dr Peter Project

The Dr Peter team are delighted to announce that

Mrs Julie Foster has won the 'Cow Pat Splat'. For

those who missed the competition, the idea was

to sell

squares in

a field,

and the winning square would

be decided by letting loose a

friendly heifer to see where she

'splatted'! The winning square

on the day was number 061,

which had been purchased by

Julie, a Beaver Leader from

10th (Woodley & Crampmoor)

Scouts. The competition raised

over £300 towards the new Dr

Peter building in Romsey and

Julie was delighted to receive a

cheque for her winnings.

< > < > < > < > < >

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW

Were you watching BBC 1 on Sunday 1st May? If so, you’d have been lucky

enough to see our very own Anita Wolfe and Alec Elliott queuing for a

valuation. Who was considering selling whom, one wonders, and how much

were they worth! Priceless?

Julie with some of her Beavers

THE LATEST UPDATE

Thank you to all our readers who did their shopping in Waitrose during April, and put their little green tokens into their Community Fund charity bin to support our project. In June the District was represented by two very smart Explorers, Phil Sleath and Jack Finch, who joined me in a meeting with Waitrose manager and staff to receive a cheque for £437.

Steve Corbett, the Waitrose manager agreed to make the presentation in front of our new building, and he was joined by two other members of his staff, Anne Maclean who helps to run the Community Fund, and Ed Knight who also happens to be ASL at 1st Romsey as well as working for Waitrose.

The builders were very co-operative and even moved their vans so that the building could be seen in the photograph. As you can see the roofing is nearly complete now,

and much work is going on inside to i n s t a l l a l l t h e necessary services.

David Sutton Vice President

I have been informed by

the District Chairman,

John Stevens, that the

roof will be finished and topped out by the time you receive this edition.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

SEED SWAP

SUNDAY, AUGUST 7th

10am—3pm for 5—8 year olds

Throughout Romsey Town centre

Further information from Karen Harrison at

Romseyherbal@btinternet.com

Ed Knight, Steve Corbett, Phil Sleath

Jack Finch Anne Maclean, David Sutton