This could well be the last annual report I pen as leader of the 44th Venture Scout Unit. Following some very concerned discussion on the matter, we look set now to relinquish the title "Venture" in favour for the new "Explorer" designation some time early in the New Year. The DESC continues to "woe" us with visions of a far more golden future as Explorer Scouts although all I can see are mountains of paperwork and the potential of rampant bureaucracy stifling our modus operandi.
So what's in a name? The DESC refutes our suggestion that as far we were concerned this was only just a "name change" exercise. Sure the age range now runs from 14 to 18 yrs - we've always run 15 to 18yrs; the uniform has changed to be 'more functional' - we've always had our own totally functional activities uniform; the 44th Explorers will ".. have to be more involved in District events .." - we've always supported and regularly taken part in, often organising, usually winning, nearly all District events. So what's new?
The imminent future will reveal all! (Come back Julian Swattridge – all is forgiven!!)
As for the year just past, it was all in all quite a successful one – certainly it rushed by just like all its predecessors. Membership has remained steady with a few more year 10 (now year 11) members being added to our strength. Although this gives us a core membership which can grow together for another 3 years, it leaves me a little worried about enticing in new members from the lower years.
The hut (HQ) bears its battle scars well – in fact the unit has done rather well in keeping up with its cleaning duties – let’s hope that good habit continues as they get older! The internal suspended ceiling is however looking its age and I don’t think will last much more than 2-3 years. Coupled with reparations to the canoe shelter (which doesn’t actually house any canoes!), these will form 2 major refurbishment projects for the coming year.
New chairman Jon Ellison has brought a different style of leadership to the unit which is helping to maintain a more disciplined approach to activities. The programme reflected the tried and tested mix of activities and training. Cotswold Marathon & Dragon Boat events have brought their now accustomed portions of success. Charity fund raising for our 2 charities (Crack Cancer Campaign & National Meningitis Trust) has been good. Unit fund raising also went on in earnest as everyone had the goal of the Norway summer expedition. We held a series of basic Norwegian lessons – thanks to the support of the school’s new status as Language College which met the tutor’s fees. Some interesting navigation challenges were organised. Our now traditional February half term trip to Padstow and Dartmoor was well attended and we were rewarded with some fine weather. Good experience and training was gained in wilderness camping and hiking on the moor (including an excellent night navigation exercise), while the more luxurious element of Penrest cottage near Padstow was fully appreciated. Thanks again to Lee & Jason!
Peter Lloyd received his leader warrant and Adam Griffiths joined us on the Norway trip as an unofficial assistant leader. Both Pete and Adam joined Mountain Leadership courses during the summer and now embark on the task of building up experience and log book hours towards their assessments. Pete passed his PCV driving test (just in time for Norway!)
In April Adam, alongside Matt Key and Rachael Brown, were awarded their Queen Scout Awards and attended the Gloucestershire County Reception held at the new Gloucestershire University Park Campus in the presence of HWG Elwes JP HM Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire. Matt and Adam later proudly represented the unit and Gloucestershire at Windsor on the St George’s Day parade where they were presented to Her Majesty The Queen.
Although overlooked in favour of the Duke of Edinburgh awards, several members qualified for their Venture Awards – Jon Ellison, Alasdair Burchill, Richard Ellison, Michael Joyce.
We replenished quite a large amount of equipment (tents, etc) although I questioned the Exec’s preference for the expensive, named brands of tent – you could buy 3 or 4 Litchfield/Coleman hike tents for the price we paid for the Northface! A touch of equipment snobbery I suspect! This did mean that we spent over £900 on new kit – and with the cancellation of the summer disco, our reserves were called upon somewhat! On an even more worrying note, the payment from the school’s catering suppliers for the Tuckshop "contract" is still overdue. (Payment ‘promised’ but not yet delivered). Again this must be watched carefully in the future – although the school bursar (also one of our trustees) is ideally placed to ensure that they do not wriggle out of their commitment. Payment during rather than at the end of their financial accounting period would be better for us too.
So to the highlight of the year – Norway Summer Expedition 2002. I’ll close my annual report with a extract from the Log Book Introduction ………
The 44th this year returned to the land of fjords, peaks and pines. Armed with a rudimentary grasp of Norsk (enough to ask "Snakke Du Engelsk?" and "En øl takk") and a minibus crammed with enough equipment to meet most eventualities, the unit initially took up residence in the forests of Nord Odal at a place called Gjeddevasskoia - 'the settlement of the pike'.
There we were set to work on and around some old foresters' huts - repairing things, making wooden bridges, painting floors and stoves, clearing water courses, deepening a water collecting pool, shifting boulders, installing our own Norwegian variant of a shadoof, planning and marking out a nature trail, felling trees, clearing undergrowth, cutting and stacking winter wood, ..... the list goes on!
Interspersed with all this purposeful activity we found time to swim in the local lakes, threaten the resident fish with a fishing pole, take on the local football team in an exciting contest, eat large quantities of Geitost, Sunda and tomato mackerel as well as visit the capital city Oslo, for Fram and the Thong of Norway, and Elverum, for its famous Jagt - og Fiskedager and knife festival.
A week of our hard labours left Ernst Davies, our 82 year old "works convenor" much impressed - he even loaned out the leaders to a neighbouring farmer to put up a ".. few (hundred) metres .. " of fencing!
Thus shattered but feeling proud of our collective efforts we journeyed to the mountains and some spectacular scenery for the remaining week or so of our visit. Impressive blue glaciers, high mountain views, icy morning plunges, the Pilgrim's Way through Vinstradalen, the Gaupne squeeze-box festival and a girl called Tonje - all made up a kaleidoscope of experiences and memories for each individual in the party. And finally it was all over - too quickly as such trips always are!
Phil Brown
VSL