Following a very different summer expedition experience to Iceland, the unit got back into the swing of its yearly round of activities, adventure, service projects and training. Much 'wood work' was taken on during the first term to complete the conversion of the remains of the old Bowls Hut into kindling, which was distributed to households around the locality, often alongside the Christmas food parcels donated to the elderly and not so well off. We organised the District 5-a-side Soccer Tournament - unfortunately losing out in the final to our close neighbours and rivals the 38th. Still, we had been holders for the previous three years. A snowy and frosty New Year brought arctic conditions to our winter hike along the Cotswold Way - flying karrimats, thawing out frozen solid boots over the breakfast primus, pig muck skating attempts and some fantastic winter wonderland views across the hills will linger long in the memory! We also re-opened the Tuck Shop which has proved to be a successful and regular income source.
Edition 32 of Venture 44 gives a good insight into what the 44th VSU does in its summary of the unit activities 1978-1979.
Venture 44 Edition 32 (published April 1979, Editor: Rob Dalton) - Editor's Notes, Winter Hike (Pete Green), Annual Report, From All Points
Venture 44 Edition 31 (published December 1978, Editor: Rob Dalton) - Editor's Notes, Impressions from the New World - Part Two (Kevin Neely), 2500ft - Going Down (John Barnes), Knebworth (Ian Fletcher), Wargaming (Iain Weir), From All Points, Letter from India (Steve Chalkley)
Venture 44 Edition 30 (published November 1978, Editor: Rob Dalton) - Iceland 78 - A Venture 44 Special
Venture 44 Edition 29 (published September 1978, Editor: Rob Dalton) - Notes & News, Manors Maketh Man (Steve Ball), Bodesi Revisited (Mark Simmons), Black Mountains 1978 (Phil Champion), Impressions from the New World (Kevin Neely), From All Points
Queen's Scout Award - Phil Champion
Venture Award - Chris Collins, Rob Dalton, Jon May, Paul Jennings