Snippets Newsletter - Sept 2010

Dear All,

Hopefully you all had a relaxing and rejuvenating summer and are settling into the Autumn term. Here are some brief descriptions of recent activities as well as what is coming up and hope you enjoy reading about the various events.

Beavers; The Beavers enjoyed a 20 birthday celebration on  12th July with fine weather contributing to the event.  Beavers, past and present leaders and guests turned up to the village hall and were driven by John Knight on his final journey as driver for the bus.  John has been driving the bus for forty years and was Scout Leader when the Beavers started, so a poignant trip for him.  He can sit back, relax and let others drive him for a change!  The bus completed a short tour of the adjacent villages and parked up at Betchworth School.  A short foray into the graveyard to pay homage to "Skipper West" first Scout leader of the Brockham Scouts and then to the picnic area.  Food was provided, including a beautiful cake with icing to match the Beaver blue which was as delicious as well as stunningly decorated.  A sing song ended a delightful celebration which was enjoyed by all who attended.

Cubs:  The Cubs ended the summer term with a traditional Sausage cook out at the Bonfire Field.

Both Cubs and Beavers have been invited to the Harvest Festival at Betchworth Church on 17 October, 2010.

Scouts:  The big summer event for the Scouts was the summer camp in July in Normandy.  An early start (4.45am) on Thursday 22 July saw 10 Scouts, and 12 helpers set off to the ferry and travel to Swiss Normandy for ten days, an area so named due to its mountains and beautiful scenery. Trips included: a visit to the war cemetery at Bayeux (where a Brockham resident, lost at sea during the war, but with a grave at the cemetery, had a wreath laid in his honour); sandcastle building at Arramanches beach; visit to an old railway in the area where railway bicycles provided an interesting way of exploring the area; day visit to Pegasus Bridge and the Visitors Centre. Pegasus Bridge was apparently taken one day before D Day and there is still a café which has been in the same ownership since the World War.

The host of the campsite is soon to be 80 and what better thank you present than a model of the 007 presented by the Scouts!

The group caught the ferry back at 10.30pm and arrived at 6.30am back in Brockham.  All agreed that it was a great camp. Next year's venue is Little Bredy in Dorset .

A fuller recapture of the Camp can be seen on 8 December, 2010 at the Village Hall where the slideshow will be presented.

At the end of September there will be a backwards camp at Broadstone Warren where the Scouts will go back to basics, build their own sleeping quarters and cook their own game!

The Village Weekend was a great way to show off the bus and for visitors to enjoy a cream tea. The sale of teas and scones together with the raffle raised £200.  Lucky Chris Trodd enjoyed a prize of a bottle of Cider and Calvados presented to the Group by the French host

Our Highlights evening is coming up at 7pm on 29 September, 2010. The boys are preparing hard for their performances and refreshments will be served.  This promises to be a fun evening and a chance to meet other parents.

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