Diary Dates

District Commissioner

I am delighted to announce that Jack Atkins has accepted my invitation on behalf of the District Executive to become a Vice President of the District. Jack will begin this role with immediate effect and it will be ratified at the AGM in May next year.

Jack has given a huge amount to Scouting especially in Morden and St Helier District and we are very honoured to have him as a Vice President. Jack tells me he was invested as a Wolf Cub 72 years ago, into the then 3rd Morden, and is delighted to be able to serve us again in this new capacity.

Many congratulations to Martin Conrad, President of 22nd Wimbledon, who has been awarded the Chief Scouts 50 year Long Service Decoration, and to Mary White, District Badge Secretary, who has been awarded the Chief Scouts 40 year Long Service Decoration.

We are approximately 60 days from the beginning of what will be a momentous year for Scouting as we celebrate our Centenary. The District's programme is already established and we are busy putting all the detail together.
Has your Group got its own plans together? If it has please pass it on to Allan Woolsey so we can add to the co-ordinated programme.
The date for the Centenary Dinner is now fixed as Saturday 24th February 2007 at the Wayfairer Hotel in Wimbledon at a cost of £28.00 a ticket. Tickets available from me by post on a first come first served basis. There is a maximum of 140 tickets.
Application forms are available from GSLs or by request to me online.

The District Swimming Gala was fantastic this year especially with so many Groups and so many young people involved. The parents almost filled the gallery. Well done to the winners and to all those who swam. My thanks to Michèle McNamara and her team for all their hard work in making this event such a success.

The meeting of all Chairmen/Secretaries/Treasurers will be on Thursday 16th November 7.30 for 8.00pm at Bow Lane. I would encourage every Group to be represented and it promises to be a informative and interesting evening. GSLs are very welcome to join their Group Executive members.

Please make a note of Wednesday 31st January, which is our annual "All Leaders" meeting at Kenneth Black DHQ. This is year we have Martyn Milner our Field Development Officer speaking. For many this will be the first event of the District Centenary programme and your usual full support would be appreciated.

The census figures and membership fees must be submitted by the next GSLs' meeting which is on Monday 22nd January 2007. The cost is £24.00 per head, which is the same as last year. It will be £24.50 per head for any Group submitting their census or the payment after that date.

As we approach 2007 I would like a concerted effort to be made on getting the correct badges on our uniforms and indeed the correct uniform. This ranges from old District Badges through to awards. We will have more than enough to put onto our shirts for 2007 without cluttering them with out of date badges.

Would all Leaders please note that, unless you have a bravery award, you should only have two knotted badges on your uniform. One long service award, either a 15, 25,40, 50 or 60yr, and one good service award, either a Commendation, Medal of Merit, Bar to MM, Silver Acorn, Bar to Silver Acorn or Silver Wolf. Please do not accumulate them:  you wear the most recent only with the good service knot on the inside of the two.

Please have a good look at your uniform and take action.

Bob Prescott

District Store

Please note that the District Store will be closed on 21st and 28th December and 4th January.

New Badges

The following new badges will be available from the District Store:

Emergency aid 1, 2 and 3

Hikes Away 1, 5 and 10

Nights Away 35

Beavers: Health and Fitness, Healthy Eating, Hobbies & Safety
If you want any of the other new badges, they can be ordered. Badges are normally delivered within a week.

We are sorry to report that Mary White's health is not good and we wish her well with her treatment.  She is in hospital in Austria where her family live.

Swimming Gala - Michèle McNamara

Thank you to all those that helped on the night and congratulations to the winners. I have a few items of lost property: some swimmers badges, 1 hat (blue) and one white t shirt (children's size small). If anyone wants to claim any of these items, please give me a call. May I also remind everyone for the next Gala in October 2007 that the number of adults allowed poolside is restricted, some Groups had far too many adults and space is at a premium.

Results: -

Cubs

Scouts

Group

1st

19th Oakwood

23rd Mitcham

14th Wimbledon

2nd

1st Lower Morden

14th Wimbledon

1st Lower Morden

3rd

14th Wimbledon

1st Lower Morden

23rd Mitcham

Full results are available by clicking here.
Remember those of you with trophies should return these to Cliff Condon who will arrange to have them engraved on behalf of the District and then return them to you.

County Training for 2006/2007 - Brian Beckley

All at Bow Lane Centre, Bow Lane, Morden.  

First module on date is morning; last module on date is afternoon. Please check middle modules with your Local Training Manager. 

First Aid Training:
Ring Janet Drinkall for information 

Janet may be able to come to your Group HQ if you have 16+ needing a first aid course.

Gilwell Park are running various training sessions - full information on website.
Applications can be made as follows:

Please contact either Joan Condon or Brian Beckley if you have any queries.

Cubs - Michèle McNamara (ADC Cubs)

Next CSLs' meeting 8th November - remember we need to plan for the January badge day at this meeting, so please come armed with plenty of ideas. The badge will be the Entertainer's badge. 

We've still had very few completed questionnaires regarding camp, can I assume that you all those of you who haven't bothered to fill out one, thought everything was wonderful?

Hopefully all those planning on entering the Handicraft Competition on November 19th  have remembered to get their entries in by November 1st. 

Congratulations to the 19th Wimbledon Oakwood Pack for winning the Cub Scout swimming trophy and to all the cubs who entered. 

Network - Chris Dean

Firstly, congratulations to Tim Falkner (Romans Network) and Phil Price (Merlins Network), who have achieved the Queen's Scout Award. Tim and five others will be in the Guard of Honour at The Cenotaph in Whitehall on Remembrance Sunday.

October is the month when we say farewell to droves of Network members as they head off to university, many for the first time. It can be a quiet month for Network activities, time to consolidate, and this year to prepare for the Centenary year. However, we also stepped up to do some hike marshalling, firstly at the Downsman Hike in Sussex on October 7, then the County Explorer Night Hike on October 14, and finally the Jamboree Contingents' Sponsored Walk on October 21 ! We shall be out again in force at NITEX on December 2. Anyone who would like to help with this event should contact me.

On Sunday November 26 the Explorer/Network team of Newbery and Dean will attempt to defend their over 18 (by some margin!) County Orienteering title for the second time at Happy Valley, Caterham. The gauntlet has been well and truly thrown down, but it remains to be seen if the opposition turns up !

Later that day (at 2.30pm to be precise) the GLSW International Scout Network meets to discuss shipments of medical aid to Belarus. Details of the venue will appear on www.glswscouts.org.uk/network

A large number of Network members have signed up for the World Jamboree IST, which is most encouraging. Chris Stone from the Saxons Network is acting as Co-ordinator.

Looking beyond 2007 the GLSW Scout Network is planning an expedition to Nepal in either 2008 or 2009. If you would like to know more be at Bow Lane on December 13 at 8pm - see you there !

On a date towards the end of 2007 the County will hold a Reception, including an Act of Re-dedication, to which all Queen's Scouts and King's Scouts will be invited.
Further information will be available in due course, but in the meantime if you are a Queen's Scout or know someone who is, perhaps a relative, friend, or former Scout, please register your interest in this event by contacting Hannah Watts, the County Queen's Scout Registrar. Her email address is on the GLSW web site here http://www.glswscouts.org.uk/network/#glsw-network-team

Fellowship - Linda Vaudrey

The few hardy walkers who turned out on Sunday 8th October, had a very enjoyable walk around the Horsell Common area.  The weather was kind, but it was a pity there were so few of us.  Thanks to Rob for organising.  We are hoping for a better number at the Beetle Drive.

Later in November, on the 19th, there is ten pin bowling at the David Lloyd Centre.  Any one who is interested should contact David Gould.

The Christmas Party is due to be held on Saturday, 2nd December.  As we need to think about the preparation for this, could you please let Rob know if you would be interested in attending.  Numbers have been low over the past few years so we would like to see as many of you as possible this year.

Saturday, 9th December - Help is required at the annual Carol Concert, back at St John's High Path, this year.  Please ring Brian Whalebone if you can spare a couple of hours in either the afternoon or evening.

Remember Me?

We have been contacted by Ted Gulliver who belonged to the 2nd Morden from 1940 - 1947. Ted is living in Australia now and would be interested to hear from anybody who remembers him and the activities in Arras Avenue and camping at Burgh Heath.
Ted can be contacted at   egulliver@smartchat.net.au

 

Bow Lane.   all ages 13+
Wednesdays 6.30 - 8pm            Ring Norman 07714 957409

The peace of God, the peace of men,

Be upon each window, each door,

Upon each hole that lets in light,

Upon the four corners of my house,

Upon the four corners of my bed.

Gaelic blessing