Someries News April 2002

We reported in January that future editions of the County Digest will not be sent out on general distribution and that the next and all other editions will be available on the County Scout web site: (www.bedfordshirescouts.org.uk). Well folks! This has now happened. To those of our readers who have access to the internet they will have noticed that the County Digest has been renamed and is now "Countywide Outlook." To access this Newsletter for the computer literate I'm sure was easy, but to me it proved a nightmare! Once into the new County web site, to read the County Newsletter, you are told that you require "Adobe Acrobat Reader" It takes about an hour to download this file, but once there, you do have access to the February edition of the "Bedfordshire Countywide Outlook." It should be noted that the County Leader Training dates can be found on the County web page.

The annual St. George's Day parade by some 800 scouts in the Bishopston area of Bristol has been cancelled because police cannot gaurantee the safety of the children. Reported in the Daily Telegraph 22nd March. Stevenage Scouts cancel their parade, due to the cost of policing road closures. It was reported on Three Counties Radio that a sum of £500 is required to pay for police supervision of this event, which Stevenage Scout District cannot afford. In Luton, the Town Scout Public Relations Team (Someries District are represented by the DC and the District Chairman) have for many months been negotiating with the Police and the Town Council over the route and supervision of the annual Luton Scout parade. At a recent meeting with Bill McKenzie at the Town Hall, discussions were completed with Luton Council agreeing to pay additional policing costs this year for supervising the three Luton Scout Districts parade through the town.

On Sunday I attended the Anglia Region Programme Review in Cambridge. "Good News" Headquarters seem to have made the new programme for each Section really enjoyable for everyone, with lots of ideas to help you run even more interesting programmes for your young people.

Your launch dates have now been arranged for you to get your hands on the changes. The launches for the three Luton Districts will take place at William Austin School, Austin Road, Luton. 7.30 to 9.30pm on Tuesday evenings as follows:

For each Section launch it is hoped that all Leaders and Helpers from that Section will be able to attend so that everybody gets the same information at the same time.

Rehearsal for colour parties and readers will take place on Friday 19th April from 6.30 to 7.30pm at Our Lady Help of Christians. The parade itself is on Sunday April 21st. Details for each Group's arrangements are available from your G.S.L.

Luton Scouts have again been asked to take part in this year's event, each Section being involved in events at various times during the day.

Scouts 12 till 2.00 Making catapult machines to fire wet sponges at each other.

District Beaver Scout draughts competition took place on Friday 15th February at Ross Park. Twenty Beaver Scouts took part with two leagues of ten players. All the Beavers played each boy in their league once. The winner was awarded 3 Points and the runner up got one point. The two boys with the most points in the two leagues went into the semi finals. The two winners of these were Joshua Smith and Peter Gurney both from the 19th Someries. It was a very exciting and hard fought final with Joshua Smith the eventual winner.

District Camp fire was a great success. About eighty children attended despite the weather. We started singing songs in the District hut and we left Mick Jones outside attempting to light the campfire. He made a great job of lighting the fire and we all dashed outside to enjoy it. We sang a few more songs and then had our drinks and crisps. We went back into the hut to finish off the singing. We sang about thirty different songs during the evening. Our thanks go to Mick Jones for turning up on a miserable evening and building a great camp fire and also our thanks are extended to Brian and Janet Goodchild who made cups of tea for all the Leaders.

The District Beaver Scout Fun day will take place at Haverings on 19th May 2002 from 10am until 4.00pm

Cub Scouts six aside football competition was won by 1st Someries Tiger Pack. Cub Scout cooking competition to be held in April, will be judged by Mrs Iris Hughes.

Football competition. Having had the District football competition with all Troops entering teams. (one coming in the week after the event) all teams played very well and the teams seemed to be evenly matched. My thanks go to the referees and to Brian and Helper for doing most things for me. Thanks to all. The winning order is as follows:-

Cooking competition We have also had this years cooking competition, again run by last years winner the 1st, who ran the competition on the lines of "Ready Steady Cook." We had nine teams from six troops; all who took part did very well and hopefully all learnt what Mums have to do every day, trying to make dinner from what's in the cupboards. Some very good meals seemed to come from very few ingredients. The judges didn't look too ill after tasting and said again this year that the standard just gets better. They enjoyed themselves and thought that all the scouts did very well. The winning Troop was the 2nd Someries, who have the pleasure of running next years competition.

It was interesting to note that Mick Jones was given a mention in Scouting Magazine on his interesting selection of menu for Someries District Scouts Cooking Competition.

The New Scout Programme. We are all awaiting the launch of the new programme and looking forward to starting it. We have decided that the Scout Section will start in September so that all the Leaders have a chance to look at the programme and start to set up their own troop programmes. However the Explorer Scouts will be starting as soon as possible after the launch. We have arranged a meeting for all Scouts who are thirteen and a half and over, to see about joining the new section, on 2nd May at Ross Park. All Scout Leaders will be notified and any Leaders who may be interested can also come along. I have had to cancel this years District Challenge, because only four teams entered. I don't know if it's because it's the Easter holiday but I wll see what the troops want to do after we know what's happening with the new Scout Sections.

The Scout Shop will be closed until April 16th. This is due to the Easter holiday and the redecoration of the Ross Park Headquarters.

The small Scout shirts ( the most popular size) are out of stock at the moment. We have been waiting for these for nearly two months.

Someries District Scout and Badge Shop

Address: Applecroft Road, Luton

Opening Times:-

Tuesday evenings 7.00pm to 9.00 pm
Saturday mornings 9.30am to 11.30am

Badges are not available on Saturdays

On Saturday 6th April the Service Team has been asked to provide lunch and refreshments at the District competition to be held at Haverings Guide Centre, Lancing Road, Luton. Numbers permitting we will assist with the event. District Camp; to be held at Boyd camp site, Henlow the week end June 28th. The District Scout Service Team are invited to take part. Spring weekend away- Amsterdam May 10-13th Sander Hotel- jacob Obrechtstraat 69, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Meet at Luton airport May 10th 08.30.

District Headquarters Bookings. Please contact HQ booking secretary 01582 720435

SOMERIES DISTRICT SCOUT HEADQUARTERS

A SUPER VENUE FOR YOUR PARTY OR CELEBRATION

To book Ross Park please contact the

Booking Secretary 01582 720435

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Send contributions for inclusion in this Newsletter to Don Lowe, e-mail:- djlowe@ntlworld.com