Its official First Great Eccleston Scouts are the best in the North West
Yes the Scouts have won the Lord Derby for the second time, making them the best Scouts at Scout Skills in the North West of England once again. It started in the summer of 1999 when six of the Scouts entered a series of incident bases and several fun bases to test their skills and knowledge based on the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, First Aide, Emergency, Survival, Map reading, and Rescue, etc they came first and would represent there District at the County competition.
At County level the competition gets harder, there are eight bases, covering a number of challenges laid down by the County and manned by a member from each District the Scouts where also competing against fifteen of the best in West Lancashire, points are awarded for Leadership, Team Spirit, and Technical skills. they came first and were through to the Regional Finals.
Next an intensive training program started, with help in First Aid from St John Ambulance, also instruction in map reading, pioneering, survival, rescue and working hard on their team skills helped by camping together, sharing responsibilities, and overcoming challenges together all the things needed if they where to beat the remaining fifteen Patrols the best in the North West.
Almost a year had past from that first day the team was formed and the last challenge was about to start the "North West, Regional, Adventure Challenge," with teams representing Merseyside, East Lancashire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester. North, East and West, the Isle of Man and West Lancashire.
The Patrol from Great Eccleston came first by sixteen points a total of 229 out of 270 it started with six thousand teams at the beginning from all over the North West and ended with the Fox Patrol becoming the best in the North West well done Patrol Leader, Brett. Assistant Patrol Leader, Kevin. Patrol members, Darren, Paul, Daniel, Joe .
5minutes of fame.
First of all we all gathered at the scout hut and three taxis were sent from Granada TV. It took about an hour to get there, and once there we were taken to the ‘green room’. Whilst we were waiting we were given a cup of tea, after which we were led to studio 5, where we met the presenters, who were both very nice, and prepared ourselves for our performance. Then it was time for our moment of fame. Before this, we had built the ’Monkey Bridge’, a 6-foot high bridge constructed from pioneering poles and rope. Brett Welch (patrol leader) and Alan Cornforth (group Scout leader) were chosen to talk on live television. After the broadcast ended, we took down our bridge and packed away the ropes and poles. As we all had school in the morning, we had to get home, so after saying goodbye to the presenters, we got back into the taxis and returned to the Fylde.
What do we do at Scouts on a Friday night?
We start at 7.30, and all assemble in front of the Union flag, after this we sit down and the Scouts decide what to do in the coming weeks, they can arrange the weeks program, what competitions to attend, pick the teams themselves arrange camps, etc it is up to them! Then they may have a game of football, a wide game, or scout game, again its up to them. Usually there is some form of scouting; this is for their badge or Award work and most badges are gained elsewhere.
At the end of the of the night the arrangements are made for practising, and preparing for competitions, this may be Camping, pioneering, First Aid, Map work, Survival, Backwoodsman ship, and is usually done at weekends or one night during the week.
WHAT IS MISSING IN SCO TS! Could it be ‘U’
First Great Eccleston Scouts Go to the show
For the past four years, the Scouts have put on a display of scout skills, and Scouting heritage, at the Agricultural Show on their Heritage field. Unfortunately this year it fell on the same day as our District Millennium Camp the so Patrol Leaders Council organised a vote, and they decided to continue with the Display as usual. For a number of weeks before the Exhibition the planning starts, decisions are made on the displays, then the equipment is made ready, bridges, towers etc are made prier to the show so all the Scouts know what they are doing with attention to safety this also enables the younger Scouts to see what we are doing. The Show is held on Saturday and Sunday so the marquee is put up on the Wednesday or Thursday this year I had all day Friday to put up the display boards etc and during the evening the scouts arranged the tables and we moved all the pioneering equipment in readiness for the following day. Saturday morning starts early with the moving of the Scouting Heritage displays Uniforms, Books, Scout Magazines, Badges, Jamboree information, Scrap Books, Photos, Camping, Pioneering, Orienteering, equipment etc. even Baden-Powell, all this has to be set out before the public start to arrive, and as if this is not enough, the Scouts are also selling Programs and Schedules for the Show, and making cups of tea.
Later in the day the Scouts demonstrate the building of a tower and the use of square lashings and block and tackle in pioneering. 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 and the older Scouts prepare for staying the night.
The next day another early start but not as early or hectic as Saturday the Displays are re set etc, Programme sellers sorted, and the Show is back on the road. Today the Scouts build a Monkey Bridge and demonstrate the use of sheer lashings, square lashings, the roping of blocks and the use of various knots and hitches, also to answer questions. It is a long day but very rewarding for both Scouts and Leader. At five thirty the packing up starts with the help of two loyal parents and this goes on till 9.30 then home, a shower and well earned rest, who said Scouting is boring?
Scout news what’s on
September
County camping competition Scouts 29 to the 1st October.
Cub Competition day 30th.
October
County back woods competition the 1st
Beaver Scout football fun afternoon 7th.
Scout activity weekend 13/15.
Swimming Gala 28th.
Regional Back woods competition.
November
Beavers marbles competition 11th.
Remembrance Sunday 12th.
District Craft competition 18th.
Then in the new year its starts again with
Scout football and Super teams
First Great Eccleston Scout group
Have an end on Venture Unit, and is always looking for new members, Male or Female aged from 16 to 21. So if you have ever thought of becoming part of a team of young people, who enjoy walking, camping, climbing, sailing, canoeing, etc.
Are you looking for somewhere to do your Duke of Edinburgh Award?
First Great Eccleston Scouts just do it
Do you want to do something worth while with your time, are you10 to 15 years of age, then why not come to the Scout hut, off Hall lane in Gt Eccleston, on a Friday night at 7-30!
