The Programme

On-line resources to support the Programme in the Scout Section are available at .

ADCs (Scouts) Team Meeting

The dates for the forthcoming Team Meetings are:  tba

The venue will be Scout & Guide Headquarters, Northcourt Avenue, Reading.

Gold Chief Scout Award for Adam

Adam, a Scout with 1st Crowthorne was presented with the top award for Scouts by ADC(Scouts) Conan Fryer at a recent ceremony. Adam completed his award  last Saturday by organising a night hike for the Troop, which involved all planning and test walking the route, as well as running the event. He also carried out several months service helping with the Cub pack for his commitment and learned to scuba dive as part of the award. Praise goes to the Adult Leaders at 1st Crowthorne Rob, Steve and Graeme.

South Berkshire have started a drive to encourage progress towards Chief Scouts Gold Awards by holding fortnightly workshops to help with progress and supervision across the District. It is also hoped that by bringing together those working on the award from different Troops, that some challenges may be completed with other members not accessible normally. South Berkshire are also interested in those working on the award from neighbouring districts, so that more opportunities for group projects may be reviewed.

New Assistant County Commissioner (Scouts)

Mark Thornton has been appointed as ACC(Scouts), with immediate effect (1 September 2005).

Mark comes from a strong background as a Scout Leader and a District Scout Leader in Slough. Mark also has a lot of international experience, including the Berkshire Unit that went to Thailand, and as a staff member at Wings 2003 and EuroJam (pictured here in his WINGS shirt at Eurojam).

1st Hungerford Wild camp in the Black Mountains (2-3 July 2005)

The camp was great. We started off in the car park next to the river which was to be our water supply at the camp. There was the “Dragon” down-hill mountain bike race on the other side of the river so the car-park was full. We ate our lunch on the Saturday under the shade of the trees just before we set off. We began up the sloping pathway, I was heaving under the weight of my pack but that was only because I have much shorter legs than the rest of the Scouts!

We came out of the trees and walked up onto the top where we arrived at a Cairn. We then walked up the ridge and into the cloud. The only people we met were Army Cadets who were in tee shirts even though it was cold. At the end of the ridge we arrived at a Trig point, still in the mist, where we turned off the top and then down to our camp site beside the river – just a little bit of flat(ish) grass.

We put up the tents and cooked our dinner of noodles, hot-chocolate and cake. Next morning we had a quick breakfast and got the tents down and everything back into our packs. Setting off, back up the valley we then turned onto the Westerly ridge and climbed along the tops finally climbing up at “Pen y Gadair Fawr”. Then back down to the car for a late lunch and the trip back to Hungerford.

All in all, a great trip!!

By Annabelle C. (Aged 11)

Other Scout members: Alex G., Thomas C., Ryan W. and Thomas D. Leaders: Mark & Siu-Hung Croft

Kennet Scouts in Charity Raft Race

Congratulations to the dozen  Scout teams representing Kennet District from 1st Newbury Sea Scouts, 4th Newbury (St Johns), 1st Inkpen & Kintbury and 1st Wash Common Cromwell who all competed in the local Round Table charity raft race on Bank Holiday Monday between Kintbury lock and Newbury wharf on the Kennet and Avon Canal.  Scout Teams made up a third of the entry in the junior race. The rafts have to be paddled 6 miles along the canal and lifted in and out around 7 sets of locks along the route. However, the highlight for many of the scouts appeared to be the Burger vans and hot doughnuts available in the fete next to the finishing line ! The photo shows the 1st Inkpen and Kintbury with their "Superman" raft approaching the finishing line.  More pictures are available at  www.4thnewburyscouts.org.uk

186 on the Three Towers Hike

A total of 186 hikers plus 2 sweepers joined the Three Tower Hike this year and due to excellent walking conditions and extended daylight compared to previous years, the hike saw a very low retirement rate and some very fast times.

Congratulations to all who took part and to the organisation team from Reading Central and the sponsors Cotswold Outdoor who all provided another great event.

The winning junior team, walking 24km (15miles), team 119 from East Reading District, "Yor chattin' breeze" 99th Reading. David Withers, Daniel Lockwood and Henry Battey achieved an excellent time of 4hrs 21m.

The photo shows the Team from 1st Hurst Scouts who were awarded the Berkshire Scout Trophy for the fastest Junior Team from Berkshire excluding Reading.

For the full results and more photos visit the Three Towers Website.

 For a new Scouts in Action story click here

 

Regional Cooking Competition

Congratulations to the teams from 1st Wargrave and Pinkneys Green Scouts who represented the County at the  2005 Regional Cooking Competition. Both teams produced meals of high quality and had a great time. The Wargrave Scouts were only seven points (in 160!) behind the winning team from Cheltenham.  The photo shows the Wargrave Scouts enjoying their meal.

Photo courtesy of Shurdington Scouts for more pics click here.

County Cooking Competition

Congratulations to all the teams who took part in the County Cooking Competition last Saturday.

There was a very a good turn out with 9 teams from 7 Districts.

Our judges, both professionals in the food industry, had their work cut out as the standards were very high and the competition very close. They were very impressed at a standard of cuisine which in most cases was better than at the types of restaurants that I normally go to - the scouts really did work very hard and very well together and yet, as always, they enjoyed themselves and behaved impeccably.

This time it will be the 1st Wargrave and the Pinkneys Green, teams who, as our winners & runners up, will go on to represent the County at the joint Region South and Region SW competition near Stroud in Gloucestershire on the 13th. Good luck to them.  9th Maidenhead Scouts were in third spot.

A special thanks to everyone who helped, especially the judges and Jeremy Burden of Emmbrook School, who organised the school's domestic science facilities for the competition.

Bob Meldrum

The photo from Simon Wheeler shows the table for the team from Pinkneys Green Scouts.