Diary Dates

Leader Training

A reminder to all the District team and GSL's that the current programme of Module 25 training is under way. If you need to get on a course please contact Brian Beckley or Joan Condon.

Well done, 5th Morden!

In October, at the National Scout Shooting Championships. Andrew Dobson won a Gold medal for under 14s 6yds Air Rifle, and the Ken White Trophy, plus a gold medal for the under 14s 'highest scorer'. Andrew has now been given a place in the National Scout Air Rifle Squad.

John Bennett, ASL, also won a silver medal for the over 18's Archery.

Cable Drums

The 1st Morden are after cable drums up to 36" in diameter.  Can you help?  If so, please contact Dave Bixby.

Thank you

From Linda, David, Graham and Robert Vaudrey

"We would like to thank all friends in Scouting for their kindness over the past few weeks after our very sad loss.  We have been overwhelmed by all the cards, letters and telephone calls we have received.  We would like to thank everyone who came to Bill's funeral.  Many of you came to the church only and we were not able to get to speak to you at the time to thank you.  It was wonderful to see so many people there.  It was gratifying to know just how much Bill was respected in the District.  He enjoyed his years in Scouting, especially as Chairman of the Fellowship, where he made a lot of friends.

Thank you also for the donations made in Bill's name for the Macmillan Cancer Relief fund., and will let you know the final amount when the total is known.

We thank you for your continued support, it is very much appreciated by us all."   

I'm sure you all had exciting and safe, bonfire or firework parties back in  November, and have plenty of fun packed, Christmas themed, activities for the coming weeks.  Perhaps you've even got tickets to see a panto - Oh no you haven't ???   but would like to ??  then it's not too late: 

New Stagers Theatre Company (www.newstagers.co.uk) are producing "Robin Hood & Babes In The Wood" and currently have some 100 places available for the Matinee on Sunday 30th January commencing 1:30pm for Beaver Scouts!!!! - but hurry, places are  selling fast. The cost is £3 per child and please remember your 1:4 ratios!!  The show will be held at St Annes Church Hall, St Ann's Hill, Wandsworth.  Please call Sharron Stubbs on 07795 670136 or email sharron@newstagers.co.uk for more details and to make a booking.  Very good reports have been received from those Colonies who attended last year.

Also, here are some important forthcoming dates for your diaries:

Wednesday 19th January - Beaver Leaders Annual Dinner and Social evening - Park Place, The Cannons, Mitcham 7:30pm for 7:45pm.  Please reply using the invitations which will be sent out in due course.

Wednesday 26th January - All Leaders Meeting at DHQ Worple Road for 8pm  (NB: This is a uniformed meeting)

Sunday 20th March - Beaver Activity Afternoon - 4th Morden HQ, Bow Lane, Morden

And finally, I hope you all have a enjoyable Christmas and wish you all a Happy New Year for 2005.

On Sunday 7th November, 9 teams from the District met at the 22nd Wimbledon HQ for the District Cub Handicraft Competition which was based on an Olympic Theme and consisted of both individual and team events.   After the Cubs had made medals, their own Olympic Torch and a junk model, which saw many variations on the Olympic Stadium! - the overall winners were the 7th Morden - congratulations to them.  Many thanks to all those who were involved in making the day such a success.

On Saturday 20th November, 7 Cubs represented the District in the County Swimming Gala held at Trinity School, Croydon.   Despite some tough competition and a problem with the certificates!, the team managed to gain 2 1st Places and a 2nd Place in the 3x1 medley.   Overall we managed to gain 3rd place - Well done to all those who entered and thank you to Alison Edwards and Will Smith for being the team managers.

Don't forget that the next District activity is the Badge Day - which will be based on the Scientist Badge.   All Cubs attending the day should be eligible to receive the badge.   The event will be held on Sunday 30th January 2005 at County Base (4th Morden HQ, Bow Lane).   Put the date in your diaries NOW, and more importantly, let the young people in your Section know!

It would be great to see a few more Packs from the 'Wimbledon' side of the District there - why not give it a try?!

Finally, the Cub Section are holding a Leaders' Christmas (well . .  New Year) meal on Friday 14th January in Morden.   Further details will be published in the Minutes from the last meeting or contact Brian Beckley for more information and to book your place for the Leaders' Meal  - hope to see you there.

Date of next CSLs' meeting is Wednesday 12th January.

The District Cub Leaders would like to wish all Leaders a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

It has been a busy month with two Section events taking place with the extra unknowns of knowing how many teams will be entering from the new, larger District. We still have problems getting commitment from the Scouts to attend events and this has a knock-on affect on the planning of activities if we don't know how many we will be catering for. This lack of willingness to commit from the Scouts appears to be affecting a fair number of our Troops at the moment so it is a shared problem, hopefully there can be a shared solution as well.

The Incident Hike was based around Boidier Hurst camp site and 5 bases posing various challenges were located along a 5 mile hike. The standard of entry varied widely but the event was run in a good atmosphere and everybody enjoyed it. Ten teams took part from 7 Troops and the prestigious Boot-on-a-Plinth trophy was taken home by the 14th Wimbledon who demonstrated a very high standard of team leadership and co-operation. Second and third places were taken by the 11th Mitcham and 22nd Wimbledon. Full results are on the web site.

Thanks to everybody who ran a base, especially Andy Edmonds who put many hours in re-jigging the event as the number of teams fluctuated.

The Troop Quiz was a long-standing Wandle event and this year it attracted 13 Teams from 11 Troops across the District. The 9th Wimbledon hosted the event and we are very grateful for the generosity of their hospitality. There were some problems with technology for the Movie and Music rounds but intellectual battle was waged over 80 questions across a wide range of subjects and the winners were the 19th Wimbledon making their debut at a District Scout Section event. Congratulations to them. Results are available on the web site.

The date of our next event, the Handball Competition, is now confirmed as Sunday 30th January. Details are available on the web site.

The revised date for the January Scouters' meeting is Monday 17th at the Morden Hall Park DHQ.

Fellowship Christmas Party Saturday 4th December

If you would like to attend, even if you have given your name already, could you please contact Jean Gould as a computer crash meant some lost information.

New Years Meal menu's and information of venue will be posted or e.mailed to all members, we have booked for 30 and, if you would like to attend, please contact David or Jean Gould.

Brian Whalebone is still seeking help for the Morden Park Choral Society's Carol Concert at St John the Devine, South Wimbledon on Saturday 11 December at 1.45pm and 6.45pm.  Please phone him if you can be there.

District Store - Christmas closure

The store will not be open on 16th, 23rd, 30th December or 6th January.  Brian hopes to have a really good stock by the time he reopens on 13th January as he has put in a mega-order of uniforms.  It is going to become much more difficult to buy uniforms anywhere other than the District store with the closure of all Outdoors branches.  Blacks and Milletts tell us that they will not be carrying stocks and Hewitts in Croydon will not have the 'Scout Shops' version.

Message from Ron Crabb

"This month I am hanging up my Scouting hat at the 8th Wimbledon after 26 years of being in the Group. I wanted to use Links to extend a warm thank you and best wishes to everyone I have met and worked with during my time with the Group, as A.D.C. (L.T.), D.C.S.L. and the many people I have enjoyed spending time with on the County Training Courses. I shall always have fond memories of Scouting in the area and wish that everyone who leaves Scouting does so with similar or better memories. For those wishing to keep in touch my new e-mail is
"

Activities Newsletter

The Activities Team at Gilwell want to advertise their latest newsletter far and wide.  Please find it on ScoutBase at
http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/ps/activities/news/index.htm