16th Reigate Scout Group

Number 194

March 2004

A Fifty-Year Celebration

On Saturday 28th February 2004 a group of aging scouts (“once a Scout, always a Scout”) and various spouses, partners etc. gathered at the Reigate Grammar School to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the 16th Reigate Scout Group. A Re-union it certainly was but a re-union with a rather unique character; many of those present did not know many of the others attending! I may be speaking here more for myself since my close involvement ended in 1957 and I never really got to know the later generations. Some, perhaps, may have been more diligent than I in attending earlier re-unions and thereby widened their knowledge of Scouts of other generations. It did not matter; we were all there with a common purpose.

Nevertheless, by its nature one normally only remains an active member of a Scout Group for a few short years, with some exceptions of course. The most notable exception in this case, and the only one who stayed the course from beginning to end, was of course Robin Bligh, without whom none of this would have been possible. To the best of my knowledge Robin knew everyone present. He was, after all, the founder and leader throughout the Group’s long history, although Aubrey Scrase runs him a close second in the longevity stakes. The other early leader was Mike Holmes, but only founder members and other early arrivals would have known him in that capacity and although he has attended other re-unions, I was meeting him for the first time in 47 years. (One of many highlights of the evening for me).

It was in many ways a celebration of the great contribution made by Robin and his fellow leaders down the years, to many generations of boys and young men who could re-unite up to fifty years later, bound not only by their friendships with each other but also by a common bond, that of belonging to the 16th Reigate Scout Group. We were reminded of the high standards that the Group sought to maintain and the honesty and integrity implicit in the Scout Promise, which is central to the ethos of the Scouting Movement. Many of us have benefited from being a Scout and, consciously or not, the Scout Promise and the accompanying Scout Law would have served us well in our later lives. (Interestingly I heard on the radio on the day of the re-union that “Scouting for Boys” is to be re-printed and, I believe, updated where appropriate).

Proceedings began at about 5.00pm in the Peter Masefield Hall (the new Dining Hall) and gradually around sixty attendees arrived, some anxiously looking round initially for a recognisable face but soon striking up a conversation with old friends and remembering those names and faces they thought they had forgotten. The faces had changed somewhat and grey hair was much in evidence, although in some cases even this was absent. Inevitably one sought out one’s own generation and as a founder member from 1954, I was delighted to meet again a number of my contemporaries, some of whom I had not seen since 1957. Nearly fifty years is long enough to test any friendship but it was amazing how those qualities and attributes, which we knew in our youth, were still recognisable so many years later. We had come to reminisce and to renew old friendships and judging by the lively atmosphere in the hall, we did justice to our intentions.

Not all, of course, could go back over the full fifty years since it all began. After all, the Group was active until 1996 but I’m sure that the occasion was just as joyful and meaningful for the last generation as it was for the first, and for all the generations in between. It was about meeting old friends who once had shared a part of one’s life and a reminder of the part the 16th Reigate had played in all our lives. To help us with this there were lots of memorabilia on show; old log books and photographs of summer camps and various expeditions, names of boys long since forgotten and events which were simply fun, old programmes of concerts which were such a feature of the Group and reminders from various individuals of what Scouting had meant to them There could be no doubt that it had meant a great deal to all of us.

In the corners of the hall were some televisions and videos, carefully grouped into years, so that we could all see again the living proof of what we once looked like and what we got up to in those summer camps and expeditions. The old films and videos, faithfully taken and preserved by Robin, were inevitably brief but they conjured up so much more from the memory and all around the hall shouts of delight were heard as another triumph or disaster was recalled.

The evening finished with the traditional “camp fire” sing-song with the chairs arranged in a half-circle and Robin once again taking centre stage to conduct proceedings, ably assisted by Roger Pickard, Ashlin Harrington and Aubs. Many of the old favourites were enthusiastically sung including “Ging Gang Gooly”, “We’re on the Scouting Trail”, “Music Alone Shall Live”, “The ‘Ping-Pong’ Song”, “Ac Ac Maniac - Tic Tic Lunatic” with a number of others, and the evening ended with a prayer from Aubs and a final rendering of “In My Father’s House”. Some had travelled from as far as Staffordshire and Norfolk, Somerset and Northumberland, and even the U.S.A., but all left with the feeling that another successful re-union had been well worth attending. We look forward to the fifty-fifth !
Tom Lockett .

There were about sixty at the Reunion, five of whom managed not to sign the Visitors’ Book, - and about the same number said they were coming, but did not appear. A good many others sent apologies and good wishes, but amazingly, there were a few apparently keen Old Scouts who did not respond to the invitations. Perhaps their postal or e-mail addresses have changed.
Judging by the number of copies left, it would seem that quite a few at the Reunion did not take the latest booklet on “What Scouting has Meant to Me”. But nearly all the available copies of the 1999 version were taken, so perhaps some took the wrong one. We will post the 2004 booklet to all who told us they were unable to attend the Reunion. If others want it, perhaps they would send a stamped, addressed envelope (23cm x 16cm) or a stamped addressed label. The booklets are well worth reading, and keeping as a memento, and we are very grateful to all those who contributed to either edition.

Christmas letters, and others since, have brought in a lot of news, so we pass on much of it here.

Riccy Green e-mailed in December :
Many thanks for the newsletter. I was interested to read about Stuart Watkin and I must try to catch up with him some time in Aberdeen.
I am very sorry that I will not be able to attend the reunion on 28th February. Some time ago, we arranged to fly out from Glasgow early in the morning of 29th February, and did not realise that it clashed with the reunion. We are also animal-sitting for Clare right up until the evening of the 27th. I do hope that the reunion goes well and I look forward to reading accounts of it.
I am going to leave Robert Gordon University at the end of January, - my PhD students will have completed their studies by then. After that we will be able to spend most of our time based in Coylumbridge and look forward to some more travelling around the UK and abroad.

Paul Mundy, while apologising for absence from the Reunion, wrote :
Elaine and I both retired in 2002 and after many years of talking about it, we are off to Australia next week for two months. Elaine lived there for three years when she was a teenager and has three brothers who stayed out there. One is in Perth (last seen 45 years ago!) and the other two in Adelaide. We have other friends and relatives living in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane and no doubt we will have time for some sightseeing between visits. After Brisbane we go north to Cairns (maybe by train) and then fly back to Perth via Ayers Rock. I think it's going to be hard to avoid mentioning the World Cup from time to time while we are there!

Ross Letten reminded us that he was enjoying the freedom of retirement.
My regular pastimes include cycling (in the cool of the morning), sailing a laser on Saturday afternoons on the Brisbane River, sailing our 38-foot sloop ‘Galadriel’, and restoring old MGs.
We managed to get tickets for two of England’s RWC matches, and all were exciting and tense. We didn’t see it, but the TV camera apparently caught Shez and me in the crowd at the Perth match against South Africa. We were holding hands, with Shez in Springbok gear and me with the cross of St George emblazoned on my face. The commentator quipped: I wonder if they will still be together after the game ? We also saw the England vs Wales match in which England were trailing at half-time. Too much for the nerves.
We are presently preparing for a 10-day sailing cruise on board ‘Galadriel’ to Lord Howe Island in company with three other yachts from the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, leaving on Boxing Day.
Lord Howe Island is about 400 nautical miles from Brisbane, in the direction of New Zealand, and apparently is stunningly beautiful and unspoilt.

Dickie Chapman e-mailed from Thailand :
Thanks for the newsletter, always very interesting.
Of particular personal note for me this time is the item from Mike Pearman about the Girl Guide he met on the way to Porthmadog. That was my first Summer Camp, and Mike was my PL. I only vaguely recollect his talking to the Guides, but as clearly as daylight remember him saying on the station at Porthmadog after we got off the train, with his eyes visibly watering (doubtless due to the soot from the steam engine), "Do you realise, we may never see those girls again".
No, it wasn't the steamer, he was so obviously in love.
And, ah yes!, I remember the dead sheep, including those in or near our own field - I dreamt about them in my adolescence (true)!
Sadly I cannot see my being able to attend the Golden Jubilee Reunion in February. Working on the other side of the World presents some limitations, particularly when pressure for completion of contract comes into play.
One more thing, er, what is, or was, a Dorset Knob factory please?

Dorset Knobs are difficult to describe. A sort of spherical biscuit, about the size of a walnut, but made without fat, a bit like a white rusk, eaten with butter they are very ‘more-ish’. They were made in a bakery in Morcambelake, very near our camp-site.

Dave Boys said :
Thanks for contacting me and sorry for the late reply.
I was triggered into action by the recent ORA newsletter from John Buchanan.

I am living in Rottingdean, just outside Brighton, with my wife and family, ( two boys aged 12 and 9 ). My youngest has been in Beavers and is now a Cub.
After University I was sponsored by British Airways to train as an Airline
Pilot. Due to the economic situation when I finished my licence, BA were unable to take me on and so I instructed for a while before joining Monarch Airlines where I have worked, very happily for the last 23 years.
You might remember me being quite 'mouthy' at school and I have continued to channel this personality trait through work for the Pilots union BALPA where I am currently Vice-Chairman.
I enjoyed my Scouting, though I think it finished prematurely for me when I took up rifle shooting in the Club under the castle. My best memory was the 1966 trip to North Wales (Borth-y-Gest?) where, amongst other things, we watched England winning the world cup on the television through a farmer’s open window.
Good to hear from you and I hope you are keeping well. You did a great job getting me through my Maths 'A level' and I am sure I never thanked you enough.

Nick Pizzey sent an e-mail apologising for not being able to come to the Reunion, from an address endng '.gr' , which suggests he is in Greece, - but we have no details.

Malcolm Green gave us a lot of mechanical and electrical help in the days when we ran a double-decker bus. He e-mailed ;
Unfortunately Elaine and I will not be coming to the Reunion as I have to go to Philadelphia to repair some buses. I work for myself, providing an electrical and repair service for heavy vehicles. We live in Weybridge, and have a small cruiser moored nearby, which occupies my ‘spare time’.

Peter Cowl followed up a theme from the last two News-sheets :
The summer camp of 1965 at Neuchatel, Switzerland stands out for me. The scenery was breathtaking, especially the view from the chair-lift up the mountainside.
I too was a member of the Mariella Appreciation Society. I think meeting her inspired me to look for a girlfriend when I got home, although I seem to remember it taking an awful long time to get one.
I remember most of the things that Tim and Steve mentioned in their
contributions. One of the funniest things was our PL, Jop, (not intoxicated as far as I know) running round the kitchen area in the rain declaring it to be Christmas and emptying buckets of water over his head.

Phillip Griffin was unable to come to the Reunion, but would be glad to communicate with any who knew him; we can give you his e-mail address.
His older brother, John, is in Uganda running an Internet business.

Peter Vaughan wrote : Just to let you know that I am still working for Cardiff County Council as a manager in the development control service. It is a job which I enjoy, as it is always interesting and challenging. My wife Vicky (a district nurse) and I have become grandparents for the third time.
I still have very happy memories of my years in the 16th Reigate Group, including trips to Arran – when I missed the first week due to chickenpox, and made my way alone from London by train and ferry to join you for the second week (at age 12 or so), - to Echternach, and to various spots in north and south Wales. I cannot believe it is more than 36 years since I left.

Tony Yeats’ Christmas letter included :
For Family Yeats, 2003 has been a period of growing old gracefully. Happily, all our family has been in good health, something for which we are more than grateful. Linda continues to carry the education system on her shoulders; Tony is still retired, but working more and more. Tony’s company has suddenly changed its normal mode of working, and is starting to make significant profits. He is working in the US, Russia, Libya, as well as having interests in Botswana, Tanzania, and Nigeria.
As Tony’s boss is away at school most of the time, he has had the opportunity to continue to develop other activities, ranging from bell-ringing (better than ever), a course on the history of the countryside, and a whole spectrum of environmental activities.

Richard Jopling says : I do think that the 16th was a great asset to the school and that it is a great pity that it no longer able to operate. I now work in the sphere of educational marketing and know only too well the value that can come from being able to offer a particular (certainly rare, if not unique) opportunity. In this case the 16th gave the School an additional bonus and might well have inclined a number of parents to choose Reigate over other similar independent schools.

Gerwyn Hughes was at the Reunion, but earlier had e-mailed :
I was pushed into early retirement from my job as a Sales Director for Gillette in October 2002. As I was over 50 at the time they had to offer me an enhanced pension, which meant that I no longer needed to work for a living. Luckily, both my children had finished their education - RGS and university - and were no longer dependent on me. Four holidays and two cars later I find myself bored with being at home and have become involved in buying a share in an electronics distribution company where I should take over as Sales Director at the start of March.

Rick Craft keeps flying off (the handle, Gill would say). Life in the airlines is hard at present, so it has been a gruelling year. At present, ( Dec ’03 ) he is half way through a training Captain’s course, perhaps the hardest course of the lot, . . . and at his age, no brain cells. Apart from that, there is the attempt to lose weight and go to the gym a bit more, - partially successful.
The year did have some good stuff: In April we spent three weeks cruising in Hawaii and San Diego. This was amazing, snorkelling, sight-seeing, visiting the lava outflow, and not a little good food and wine. In October we had a good week in Hua Hin in Thailand, although, true to form, we arrived there to two days of the worst storms in three decades. It was, however, very peaceful, and once the rain had left, sunny and warm.

Jim Potter was not with our Group for very long, but has continued Scouting elsewhere, including helping lead the Nutfield Troop. He has now moved to Edington, Somerset;
My wife, Valerie, and our children, Daniel (15), Emma (12), James (8), Alexander (6), and Adam (3), decided to opt for a slower pace of life.   Unfortunately, my work is even busier.
I haven’t yet managed to get involved in Scouting, but it shouldn’t be too long. We can supply his home and e-mail address.

Colin Harriden thought long and hard about it, but finally decided that the journey to the Reunion was too much. Sorry to miss it. I shall keep my happy memories of everyone as they were all those years ago!
- But I should be really pleased to hear from anyone who cares to get in touch on this e-mail address, < harriden@btinternet.com >, or at 26,Clough Lane, Werrington, Stoke-on-Trent. There are lots of people I should like to call on for a coffee and catch-up when passing with the family sometime. And the reciprocal invitation is open to anyone travelling north up the M6. Just call 01782-302914 to make your order.
My latest news is that I have recently started a part-time secondment with the NHS Workforce Confederation developing workforce planning in social care across Shropshire and Staffordshire ( statutory and independent sector). So, I claim to be the only person with an e-mail address at both the Strategic Health Authority and the Social Services Department - joined up thinking personified.
Please pass on my very best wishes to everyone I know on Saturday. Congratulations on the celebration of an excellent institution.
All the very best for another 30 years.

‘Harry’ Morris who came to help at our 1970 Lake Bala camp, celebrated his 84th birthday over the week-end of our Reunion. ( I remarked that, if he had been born on February 29th, 1920, he would have emulated Fred’ric in the ‘Pirates of Penzance’, and have just reached his 21st ! ). So congratulations, Harry !
So Peter and Michael were celebrating elsewhere, but Shirley e-mailed to say:   We have happy memories of 16th camps and concerts, jumble sales and other events, and send thanks and greetings.  Peter’s son Marc has been a keen Scout, especially enjoying such things as overnight bivouacs.
Congratulations on your 50th, and best wishes from the family.

Michael Chapman had dropped one of his e-mail addresses, so we were too late telling him about the Reunion. Anyway, he was in the last-minute rush of getting together a report for the National (French) Competition organised by the French Minister of Research. ‘Maybe I might win something.’
He offers his e-mail and postal addresses to anyone who is passing by Montpellier.  We are not allowed to put them on the web-site without his specific permission; anyway,his e-mail address seems to have changed again.

Stephen Hasler e-mailed a few memories just before the Reunion.
Like many people, I remember the summer camps: Sweden, the River Dart, the Lake District, and the French Alps. I can visualise the sites quite clearly after all these years. I remember the venture courses and the hikes, especially the one up Sca Fell; and hiking to a lake in Sweden and swimming out to an island. The highlight of the River Dart camp was seeing Fluff getting his nose electrocuted as he tried to do the limbo under an electric fence. And Friday evenings: making mini hot-air balloons, learning first-aid, and capsize drill in splintery canoes in the pool. I remember singing at Parents’ Evening, and going on a night hike, and building an assault course for the School Fete.
I have spent the last twenty years living all over the country, but have finally ended up in a small house by the sea.

Robert Cole e-mailed from his address on 'The Times':
Just to up date you on what I have been doing:- after school I took a year off, travelling to India, the Med and North America. I then went to Hull Univ to study English and then the City University to study journalism. I was a financial reporter on the Independent and moved to be a personal finance columnist on the London Evening Standard in 1995. Since 1998 I have been working on the Business section of The Times. I write and edit the Tempus investment column. I am also currently the deputy business editor. For the last ten years I have also taught financial journalism at City University. I have published one book, entitled "Getting Started in Unit and Investment Trusts." Don't yawn.
I lived in Stoke Newington after leaving university, bought my first house in Hertford and moved to Brockley in SE London in 1999. I married Emma in 1996. Beth was born in 1998, Joanna in 1999 and Maurice in 2002.

James Leeson sent the following news
I married Emma in 2000, who brought her family with her - a cat and a horse(!), which she enjoys riding in Windsor Great Park, close to our house. I am still working at BP, collecting air-miles at present, as an Engineering Project Manager, licensing BP polystyrene plants around the world ! I play hockey for Windsor Hockey Club and try to fit in as much sailing as possible, both dinghies and big boats, on which I am trying to increase my mileage to work towards my Coastal Skipper ticket.

Stephen Fisher sent an e-mail in January :
I am currently a Major in the Royal Logistic Corps specialising in EOD, much like Des Skinner. In fact we were in the same Regiment for a while. I am currently commanding a Logistic Squadron in the Falkland Islands which has been a blast. The opportunities for hill walking, sailing and horse riding are many and the wildlife around the coastline is awesome. We have about ten species of penguin, dolphins, seals, sea lions and killer whales. It is a wonderful place and the locals are exceptionally friendly and accommodating.
I finish in three weeks and fly straight to Chile. I will meet up with my
girlfriend Katie in Santiago and we plan to spend 2 weeks each in Chile, Peru and Argentina. On the itinerary is snorkelling off Robinson Crusoe Island with sea lions, hiking, horse riding and white water rafting in Patagonia and riding on the Pampas in Argentina. We will also take in the hot spots of Santiago, Buenos Aires and Montevideo.
When I return I have about a week to ship my clobber from my house near Oxford to my new posting to Brunnssum in Southern Holland. I am starting a new job in a regional NATO HQ for two years. This is going to be a challenging but very interesting job and I am really looking forward to it. It may mean a spell in Afghanistan too. It will let me explore Europe and my Skiing will improve too !

Richard Cantrill is another khaki Captain :
Unfortunately I am deployed with my Unit in Norway at present and not due to return until the end of March. I wish you a good reunion and ask you to pass on my regards to any of my peers that might be there.
A quick update is that I am still a Capt in the Royal Marines and presently command the Brigade Patrol Troop. I am an RM Mountain Leader by trade and spent last spring on Everest, with a Royal Navy team. I was lucky enough to be selected for the summit team and got up to 300m below the summit, on the NE Ridge, before turning back with a touch of frostbite. My partner continued to the summit, so a successful trip! Also, got married last year and live with an annoying little terrier dog in Ashburton, Devon, on the
edge of Dartmoor.

James Mitchell, in February, seems to have been on a ‘venturers’ scheme in Chile. His e-mail to Aubs said :
We’ve been on our pre-project visit, so we’ve seen the area, that we are going to. The weather is insanely unpredictable, - it will rain for five minutes, then you have to put on sunblock ! I also now understand why they call this area the ‘Roaring Forties’, - it is generally VERY windy.
The scenery is stunning, - it is amazing the difference in the colour of rivers before and after it rains. Afterwards, it is muddy brown from the sediment, but when the water is just glacial meltwater, it is deep blue in colour.
At the moment there are lectures and practical training sessions right up to 8pm, and then social stuff afterwards. Whenever there is a clear night it is easy to spot the Southern Cross and the Milky Way. The only recognisable northern constellation is Orion, which is upside-down ! The staff are all going white-water rafting tomorrow, - it is only grade 3, which is wild enough to be exciting, but not bad enough to actually scare you. Good for team-building.

Mrs Greenhill sent news of Andrew and Chris :
The other day I found some wonderful photographs of both Andrew and Chris on camp and I know they have fun memories of all their experiences.
Chris is now second year at Warwick University studying Economics and enjoying university life.
Andrew (now Andy to his friends) achieved a 2.1 in Economics and Management at Brunel University and is currently studying for an MSc in 'Organisational Psychology’ at the University of Hertfordshire. He has a passionate interest in martial arts and was President of the Karate Club at Brunel. He can be seen on the university website: http://www.brunelkarate.com in the photo options. He teaches several classes near where he is living in Uxbridge.
Well done for keeping everything going. I hope you have a good Reunion.

                 *                *                *                *                *                *

Those who have only recently joined the mailing list for this News-Sheet may not know about the distribution of Group property and funds after we ceased practical Scouting in 1996.

All the usable camping equipment was given to other groups, - chiefly to Peter Wheatley’s group in Urchfont, Wiltshire, - but also to local Reigate groups. After selling our boats, canoes, and trailers, to other Scout groups or Youth groups, plus accumulated interest, our funds reached nearly £9000.

We decided we wanted to give this to charities for capital projects rather than just to general funds. We hoped it could go to organisations having some connection with our Group or Scouting activities. At the time, there was no local group with any particular plans, so we looked wider. We never had to call on the services of Mountain Rescue or the Lifeboats, but they are clearly worthy causes, relying on public subscriptions.

Enquiries showed that the Brecon Mountain Rescue team needed some new radio equipment, costing £650. So we gave this sum to them and to two MR teams in the Lake District. That at Kendal wanted new waterproof clothing, and the one in Windermere was rebuilding its headquarters.
Some years ago, the Scout Association funded a replacement lifeboat at Hartlepool. We gave the RNLI £2000 for its GPS navigation equipment.
Mark Patchett (16th, mid 1970s) was chairman of a committee funding a children’s nursery in Lima, Peru. They needed 300 new chairs, so we gave them £1000 to pay for these.
Scout Enterprises Uganda, with which Scouts from Surrey and other counties work, were building a school in that African country, and we gave £2000 to help with this.
More recently, we heard that the Burstow Scout Group (which has had members at our School) lost their HQ in a fire. They are now rebuilding it, and we have contributed £1000 towards equipping their new kitchen.
Reasoning that the bulk of our money had been raised by the Old Scouts and their parents, we thought it right that it could fund the recent Reunion. The catering costs were £325, and an unsolicited collection by those there bought presents for the kitchen staff, and paid other small expenses.
Even after this, we still had over £500 left. A whisper told us that the Scout Group with which Tim Formoy (also 16th in the 70s) now helps, needed money to repair its building. So we shall give them this residue, also for refurbishing their kitchen.

We hope all Old Scouts are happy with this distribution.

                 *                *                *                *                *               *