A sad day for Gt Eccleston Cubs

It was with great disappointment that we had to announce the suspension of our Cub Pack in November. Although we repeatable-and more recently, very urgently-advertised vacancies for Leaders in local press news letters and in Focus no-one came forward.

This now means that children leaving our thriving Beaver Colony will have to conceder going outside of the village, if they wish to continue with there Scouting in Cubs! would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank Mark (Baloo) for the tremendous job he did as Cub Leader, Mark joined Philip in June 1999, to help out. After 2 years Mark advised us (almost 18 months ago!) that he was ready to retire as Leader, despite this he continued to run the Cubs, not wonting them to "Disband" and waited for some-one to come forward to replace him thank you for your 31/2 years service 1st Great Eccleston Cub Pack. The cubs more than ever before need your HELP

Iit's been some time since the last newsletter as the Scouts have been very busy doing all sorts of things. We attended the County rally and got through to the finals in the over and under 13s volleyball, tug-of-war, and sedan chair race, and both of the assault course runoffs. We all had a fantastic time shooting, doing archery, assailing, apple bobbing, going on the Arial runway, learning computer, and radio skills, mountain biking, etc. Two of the Scouts had a go at the Ready Steady Cooking, and we all had a go at the twist making, and bake a cake, one of our team did well at the Chess comp, all this and two films to watch, a show put on by the Scouts, the usual Camp Fire, a chip shop each night and camping, not bad for a weekend.

The Lord Derby Competition

This year Merseyside hosted it, and we all went to their County campsite with the Patrol under the Leadership, of Joe. We all had a good day, and learnt some good Scout Skills by taking part, considering we were a young team we did very well and came eighth, out of sixteen, of the best teams in the North West of England. The best thing was by attending we now have an insight into what we will have to do next year, if we are good enough to get threw, remember you have to be the “best” in your County, just to enter.

District Camping Competition

We struggled to get a team together but with some last minuet stand-ins a Patrol was entered. The weather had been that bad at Waddecar, that the competitors, had to camp on the newly acquired field. All the Scouts concerned did a fantastic job and showed the rest of the district that we were still a force to be reckoned with. Winning the overall camping trophy, the backwoods, and the tent pitching, we also came second in the cook a meal for seven with ingredients provided, and second in the Scout skills.

Three of the Scouts have completed their Chief Scouts Award the highest Award for Scouts. WELL DONE.  Joe. Paul, and Andrew I look forward to seeing you at the presentation. In April 2003, but for now well done from us ALL.

A considerable amount of time was spent this year practising back woods skills and you may have seen us cooking on fires at the back of the Scout hut. With things like Trout, and rabbit, on the menu, with all sorts of vegetables and fruits, in fact Alan had to scour the countryside looking for coconuts. All this practising started early in the year, to make sure we were the Patrol to represent the County, in the Regional competition, that would be held in the Isle of Man this year. But first we had to get through to the County Competition by winning at district level, so we pulled all the stops out during the weekend of the competition camp, to ensure we would be representing the District come what may?  With the District Trophy safely back at the Scout Hut, came the task of winning back the County Trophy for the Third time, so this meant yet more practising. Winning something once is an achievement, successfully defending you’re title for a second time is something special, so you can imagine the task we had to finish second never mind win for the third time. This meant even more practising, sometimes on a Monday night, and also on Saturday mornings, leaving Friday nights, to continue with our normal Scouting. Alan keeps saying you only get out what you put in, so we kept putting in; the problem with the backwoods competition is you never know that you’ll have to cook, so we had to learn to cook, all sorts of things. But it dos not stop there, as points are awarded for Patrol Leadership, gadgets, Ingenuity, Teamwork, Preparation, Presentation, and the effectiveness/efficiency of your fire. On the day of the County, comp although we were a young team with all our training possibly we had more experience than the other teams competing? We got off to a good start and progressively got more confidant, so when it came to the presentation we knew that if nothing else we had done our best! We all gave a cheer when the team that had come second was announced, as we realised that once more 1^st Gt Eccleston were the winners of the County Backwoods.

The Regional competition Held in the Isle of Man

Once more we were through to the Regional Backwoods Competition. But this time we would be one of the youngest Patrols there so what did we have to do, yes more practising. But finally it was the day of the Competition and we were about to take on the best Scouts from, Merseyside, Cumbria, Cheshire, East Lancashire, Greater Manchester West, East, and North, also the Isle of Man.

But first we had to get there so at 7.15am on a cold, damp Saturday morning in October, we set off on our journey to the Isle of Man. The small coach picked us up in Gt Eccleston Square, and we made our way to Goosnargh, where we would pick up the other Patrol that were to represent West Lancashire. After a short wait we were off once more all looking forward to the trip on the Sea Cat, leaving Liverpool at 10.30am boarding 9.30am prompt, at Prince’s Landing Stage. All was going well until we got to the M58 roundabout when we came to an abrupt halt! The driver then explained the clutch had gone, and we were stuck in gear and the bus would not start.To cut a long story short as they say, after some frantic phone calls and with the help of two mini buses, we were the last to board the Sea Cat bang on 10.30. But that was not the end of it, half way through the crossing the captain explained, the reason we were going a bit slow was due to engine failure but, fortunately they had bean able to repair it and we would be arriving in Douglas a bit late. Finally we were there, and after loading everything onto a coach all 96 Scouts and 24 Leaders were on the move once more, on arrival and after a short briefing we all Got started with the Competition. With all that practising we knew exactly what to do, and before long we had our shelter up, and a good fire going. If you look at the photo you can see our fire burning on the left hand side of the site, but look at the difference in the smoke coming off our fire, to that of the others in the background, once more we did well, and were pleased with the cooking, and team work, all the food was used, fish, with an assortment of vegetables, and fruit, amongst other things, we think our food presentation was brilliant. The judges were from the Army and said they were impressed by all the teams present, but when it came down to the “last two” the judges opinion was for the third time 1st Gt Eccleston were The “Best “ on the Day.

The end to a perfect day, the trophy being awarded to 1st Great Eccleston Scouts after winning the Regional Backwoods Competition for the third time, in the Isle if Man of all places. Well don Mark, Adam, Ashley, Simon, William, and Christopher.

First great Eccleston Scouts go to the show

The scouts have displayed their scouting skills, on the Heritage field, at Great Eccleston Agricultural Show for the past six years, as a small rural community this is a fantastic opportunity to promote Scouting to the thousands of people visiting this two day event, but once more it fell on the same date as our district camp, this meant it was up to the patrol Leaders council to organise a vote, to Camp or do the Show. The decision was to continue with the displays as usual, and for a number of weeks before the Exhibition planning started, decisions are made on the displays, then the equipment is made ready. All Pioneering displays are made prior to the Show so all the Scouts know exactly what they are doing, with attention to safety; this also enables the younger Scouts the opportunity to see what we are going to-do. As the Scout leader most of the heritage items belonged to my privet collection, and I had been making the display equipment for some weeks prier to the show, the Show is held on Saturday, and Sunday, so the marquee is put up on the Wednesday or Thursday, but preparations are made on Troop night  (Friday) the week before. Unfortunately this year when we inspected the marquee prior to the Show, three of the panels had gone rotten, this we think was partly due to it not been used last year because of foot and mouth, and having to store it in a garage, (it was getting a bit thin when donated to us). Fortunately another Scout group came to our rescue, and lent us a marquee for the weekend, thank you 1^st Kirkham & Wesham Scouts. With the help of two older Scouts, three Ventures, and one parent, we put up the marquee on Thursday night, and I had all day Friday, to install and arrange the tables and display boards, etc in readiness for the following day, also all the pioneering equipment was transported. On the Friday night we arranged for the Scouts to meet at the Show field a bucking bronco was built with pioneering equipment, and later that night and early the next morning I sorted all the display items. the Saturday starts in earnest, with the moving of the Scouting Heritage displays Uniforms, Books, Photos, Magazines, Badges, Jamboree information, Camping and Orienteering items, transformer, TV & Video, etc. All items have to be set out before the public start to arrive at 9.00, and during the day the Scouts demonstrate the building of a tower, the use of square lashings, and block and tackle in pioneering, not forgetting how to ride the bucking bronco something that creates a lot of interest this year, normally we would build a monkey bridge, its surprising how many of the public think scouts no longer build things, this year we were able to show the new video Essentially Scouting, along with the videos of our Scouts on Television and also showing the things they do. Later the expensive items are removed for safe keeping at the end of the day, what went well is discussed for the next day there is a big sigh of relief as the last knot is tied in the tent and we all go home.

The next day another early start but not as early or hectic as Saturday, the Displays are re set etc, and the show is back on the road the Scouts build-rig up a bosons chair, and continue with there demonstrations of various knots and lashings, including the use of blocks and tackle, they also answer all sorts of questions about being a Scout, it’s a long day but very rewarding for both Scouts and Leader “this year there was a lot of concern regarding the new Explorer Scouts” and rural groups such as ours?

At five thirty the packing starts with the help of two loyal parents, the marquee is emptied and various items ferried back to the Scout Headquarters, unfortunately they had to leave at eight which left just two of us to drop the tent, I continue the unloading till well after ten! Then its back home for a well earned rest who said Scouting’s boring?

As stated before this is very rewarding for the Scouts, and its their opportunity to show the Scouting ‘doubters’ what they can do, and everything from preparing, to setting up, and packing away contributes to their Progressive Training Awards.

The scouts are always looking for helpers be it with Beavers, Cubs, or Scouts, also the executive committee are looking for help with the day to day things, also the building comity, could do with help with fundraising. Yes you may have gathered we need help young or old.

Fund raising

You can sill buy a brick for £10.00 for which you will receive a certificate and have your name recorded on a large plaque which will be on permanent display in the new headquarters. And if you fill in a simple “gift tax” form when you buy it, your donation will be increased to £12.80 at no extra cot to you, yes we can claim an extra £2.80 from the tax man it must be worth it just to do that.To buy a brick, contact Barbara, Tim, or any committee or Group member. The Next big production from the Players will be Saturday the 15^th of February don’t miss it! We have just had a Photographic Exhibition at Thornton Windmill, with some stunning photographs for sale. All donated by some of the country's best Photographers and some by International Photographers. Although the Exhibition was not a financial success it proved to be a good Public relations project. If you have been considering buying a Photographic “Work of Art” the photographs are still for sale, but be quick as we are hopeful of arranging the next exhibition  some time in the New Year in Cheshire.

In October some of the Scouts went to Radio Lancashire, and were interview by Sally and Ted. For over half an hour, they answered many questions about Scouting and explained that apart from camping, and doing all sorts of activities, they also met lots of interesting people.