Diary Dates

Badges - Lesley Bixby

Join in Centenary Badges:  We have quite a number of these still available and are now selling them at 25p each or £1 for a set of 4.

I have a few of the new Promise Challenge badges in stock.  Other new badges can be obtained to order - please call at the store or email on

A big thank you to Mia for doing the badges in my absence.

Store - Brian Whalebone

The store will be closed for half term on Thursday 21st February.

New Publications:  these will be available in the next week or so and you can order yours now - please quote the order number as given in the supplement to Scouting magazine.

There are still a number of the air beds that were used in the summer for the Home Hospitality left.  We are selling them at £10.

Training Dates February to April 2008

Cost: Single Module £5, All day Module  £10, Residential Module  £65

For further details contact 
Joan Condon, County Adult Training Administrator
or your District Training Manager, Alison Edwards

District Sports

Sports Day has been booked for Saturday 12th July at the Wimbledon Park arena.  Please put this date in your diaries.

Dan Harrop

Has anyone any news of Dan Harrop?  He was DC of Morden & St Helier from 1949 to 1967 and has not responded to Christmas greetings.  If you are in touch with his family could you let Jack Atkins know.

Leader Training - Alison Edwards

I would just like to say a big thank you to all the GSLs, ADCs and Explorer Leaders for their help and patience in clearing up several training queries for me. I inherited fantastic records from Brian Beckley but have needed to clear up a few 'mysteries' trainingwise since taking over on 1st January. I am slowly trying to resolve any problems with the help of the Training Advisers and District/County. May I also ask you to encourage any Leaders who are waiting to do Module 16 on nights away to book their places for the course in April! There are a lot of you needing to do the module and only a certain number of places available.

Thank you

Walton Firs Camp Site

The Walton Firs Foundation is the charity established to raise the money to purchase Walton Firs and preserve it as a training ground for young people.  To date they have raised £625,000 of the £800,000 needed and have notified the Scout Association that they intend to exercise their option to buy the site.  The site will be used for all young people, not just Scouts, and many of the sponsors have come from outside the Movement.  The Foundation has asked us to thank everyone who has contributed to ensure that Walton Firs will continue to be of benefit to the young people of Surrey and the surrounding areas.

Sports Relief 14-16 March 2008

Rise to the challenge and run a mile (or three . . . or six.)  Do it in Scout uniform or T-shirts to raise awareness of the Movement as well as money for a worthwhile cause.

Details of the nearest events to us can be found at www.sportsrelief.com or by calling 0871 200 1515.

A Christmas to remember . . .

Beep beep beep beep!!!!!!!!! It's a Tuesday morning, 6am and I'm aware that I was out the night before. My mind is wondering through the possible reason for such a combination and the realisation that brings a chill down my spine. Although nothing compared to that hitting my body in a couple of hours, it's Christmas day and the Merton Park Explorer Scouts are going swimming ---- in the sea!

I dress and grab my stuff for the swim, this years outfit is an easy one to prepare! We meet, making just enough noise with our nervous jokes about the effects of the cold to lighten the mood waiting for the full clan to arrive.

Delay will only cause more grief so we clamber into the cars and hit the horrid wet roads on the way to Brighton. Statements of "if we're wet when going in will not seem as bad" and the physics of speed entertain the four of us until the banter becomes mere mumbles when the first sign for 'sea front' is passed.

Congregating by the pier the reality sinks in for the greener members as the wind bites at our bared flesh and the standard Bob and Clive humour cuts through our skin. It is announced that some members of the unit will be getting invested, needless to say the sponsors will be getting their pence per second time in the sea out of us.

Doing the pebble shuffle we make our way to the water's edge, the only sound is the wind before the combined gut curdling war cry of two Leaders and 7 Explorers as we break into a run and attack the surf with commitment and an almost air of grace. Well, until a wave causes shortbread and Rich to become foam while providing Luke with a well earned wash! Clive and Vikki true to the experience of these, splash around maintaining a beautiful dignity while Andrew, Martin and myself look on, a quiet acceptance surrounding us of what we are about to do.

We are called to order as the newest recruits are invested into the unit and their moment is marginally ruined due to an unwelcome wave on the formally dry flesh of the young leaders.

The time has come for us to keep our word to those who have dug deep and bring out the costumes of desire, or in our case, get naked and get swimming! I'm not going to ruin the illusion for you at this point, it was a beautiful sight! I can't speak for the others but the moment the water hit was a feeling I will never forget. Pain, loss of breath, exhilaration all come close but the question of ones sanity was definitely in the equation.

The pictures of this event (see the District website) speak for themselves in many respects but the one thing they can't show is the sheer pleasure on the faces of the members who swam for what they achieved. The piece d' resistance of the day occurred while three naked bodies were walking up the beach to get changed and a German Tourist stopped us to ask for a photo&ldots;&ldots; of himself, by the pier. Obviously it is quite a normal sight to have a shivering, semi naked gent take your picture on Christmas day!

The day brought its usual magical start to the festivities and is looking to raise well over £1000 for the Kenya Project.

Thanks to everyone for their support!

National Pedal Car Championships  11-13 January

It had rained most of the week before the championships and it was still rather damp as we pitched our tents Friday night but Saturday dawned bright and sunny.  The 1st Morden had two teams entered for the championships and they had an absolutely brilliant weekend.

Ten pedal car events took place over two days - sprint, individual track, endurance, blind driving pairs, pursuit, sled pull, driving skills and team relays.  Some were on the track but many were through the woods and on the paths around the site. Thriftwood also opened most of their normal activities so the Scouts could do archery, climbing, shooting, ice climbing, trampolining etc in between their races.  We could even buy all our meals from Doris and Dave's Café.

On Saturday evening there were a number of big inflatables and a disco to entertain everyone.  These were on the County Training ground, which ended up a sea of mud.

Our teams came 24th and 40th out of a total of 83 junior teams so we did quite well for first timers.

Calling all Beaver Leaders: a meal is planned for everyone at Frankie and Benny's at the Tandem Centre Colliers Wood on Wednesday 20th February 7.45 pm. If you would like to come please contact Clare Tweedley by 10th February so we can confirm numbers.

Beavers cycle ride is planned for either Sunday 6th April or Sunday 11th May 2-4pm at District HQ and Morden Hall Park. More details and the confirmed date to follow.

I hope all the Leaders who attended the meal at Park Place in January had a good time.

On Sunday 27th January nearly 200 Cubs attended a badge day at Bow Lane where they had the opportunity to earn their science badge. Thanks to all the Leaders who helped run bases.

Please note that "Now get out of that" will not be running in February it has been postponed for the time being, hopefully we will run it later on in the year.

The next cub event will be Adventure day. We need volunteers to run the bases, so if you are able to do so, can you please speak to Mia who is co-ordinating this event. Information on the event will be sent out during February.

Finally skills day - we have been asked by the County to run some bases at this event, an appeal was sent out by e-mail but to date we have not been flooded with offers! If there is a skill you can pass on to other Leaders and you are available on March 15th can you please once again let Mia know?

I shall be away from Jan 31st - February 16th so if you need any help or information during that period, please contact one of the DCSLs.

I hope everyone had a good Christmas and that you are all ready for what will, I think, be a big year for the Scout Section.  We have some different activities on the calendar and it would be nice to see every Troop try at least one that is new to them.

Module 1:  I have acquired a copy of the DVD that covers Module 1 so if someone new is working with a Troop and would like to borrow it, please let me know.

Survival Skills:  We are putting together a team to run the Skills weekend.  A few Leaders have already expressed an interest and if you would like to join in we would be pleased to hear from you.

Scout Football:  don't forget that entries must be with Gary Baker, SL 23rd Mitcham, by 6th February.

Nights Away Permits;  there are lots of bits to getting a Nights Away permit - experience, training and assessment.  Please talk to me if you if you would like to discuss possible ways of going about getting your permit.

Minute Secretary:  we are looking for a minute secretary for Troop Scouters' meetings - there are four meetings a year, two on Mondays and two on Wednesdays all at the DHQ starting at 8pm.  Please contact me if you can help.

Thanks for all the work that has gone into producing your accounts & members lists earlier this month.

I will be going to the County Conference in a few weeks & also to the D of E day in early March & I will report back my findings. Don't forget the Red Flare night hike on 1st March. I have already circulated the details but please contact me if you need any further information.

Thank you for your assistance!  I now have some names and things are beginning to move!

Croydon District have invited us to their next Young Leader training session on Saturday 8th March from 9am to 12noon - venue to be announced but somewhere in South Croydon!  Please put this in your diaries now and contact me if you can attend.  I need to let them know numbers for the catering of breakfast.  They will be running Modules A, C, F and J.  Jenny and her team are very experienced and these sessions are fun.

I will confirm the venue as soon as I know.

I would just like to remind you all that ESU members working with younger sections for the service part of their Scout Award need to complete Module A within the first 3 months.  If there is a problem completing this within the time limit please contact me. 

Also if the ES intends to use this service to achieve the Duke of Edinburgh equivalent they have to have Module A and 3 other modules validated. 

YLs can have their experience and completed Modules validated against the Adult Leader Training Modules when they take out a warrant - recognising their previous training. 

A few of us spent a very enjoyable evening at Atlasta Hall, at the beginning of December, for one of Laurence's brainteaser quizzes.  We did very well, until the last round, when we were beaten by the 5th Morden.  The round was about Scottish football teams/ grounds - where were you Muriel?  Well done to the 5th and thanks to Laurence and Kay.

Saturday, 12th January saw our New Year Meal at the Prince of Wales, Cheam, when 25 members attended.  Everyone enjoyed themselves, and the food and venue was fine. Thanks to David for organising.

We have a fairly quiet time coming up but please remember our Annual General Meeting, which will be held on Tuesday 18th March 2008, at the Wandle District Headquarters, 7.30 for 8.00 p.m.  It would be lovely to see all members there.