VSU Archives
1975 to 1976

STREB, Bonnie Prince Bill & the Midges of Gometra

Island Venture - an intrepid band of 44th Highlanders make their stronghold fast on Gometra's west coast isle by Ulva, re-enacting the pursuit of Bonnie Prince Charlie, defending their Bonnie Prince Bill against hordes of loyalist Gloucestershire Scouts during their Jamboree Week. The Venturers may justly claim to have set up the first privately owned wind generator whilst on the island; its output was not great, powering a few low voltage torch bulbs but it gave the local midges something to ride on when not sucking their island guests dry!

Having secured winners trophies for the fourth year running now in the Cotswold Marathon, a number of the unit felt it was time to travel abroad to seek similar success at higher levels.  Thus it was that a team found itself one weekend at Crickhowell Army Camp ready(?) and willing(??!) to take on a series of camping, initiative, navigation & hiking challenges.  The team accruing the most points over the weekend are declared Champions of the Black Mountains!  To the surprise of some (not least themselves!) the team of Steve Allen, Mark Bennett, Mark Evans and Wally Champion literally ran out overall winners, over 100 points ahead of their nearest rivals, a unit from Swansea.  Read Steve's article in Edition 21 for the full (horrifying) story.

Always willing to try out something new, the unit introduced Orienteering to itself and the school, thanks to Rob Pragnell's enthusisam and organisation.  Many members also took on the Robinswood artificial ski slope, finding out that the images of flashing downhillers on Ski Sunday weren't quite so easy to emulate!  Falling off the ski lift and catapulting through fences however were!

Venture 44 Edition 21  (published August 1976,  Editor: Steve Davies) - Coming of Age (J A Stocks), VSL Notes, Alternative Technology (Steve Preston), The French Connection (John Price), Black Mountain Madness (Steve Allen), Orienteering (Rob Pragnell), Skiing - Artificial (Pete Bright) & Skiing - The Real Thing (Chris Pashley)