16th Reigate Scout Group

Number 201

November 2006

It seems to be nearly five months since our last News-Sheet, during which time several bits of news have drifted in.

We had not heard from Andrew Vivian for several years, but he wrote in August: "Thank you for sending me the June News-Sheet. I was so sorry to learn of Mike Holmes's death. Reading your notes and comments brought back such happy memories of our Luxembourg camp and at Black Cap (?) at Whitchurch Canonicorum in Dorset. Great fun, good companionship, and skills learnt to last a life-time. I was also delighted to learn that David Mundy and John Mowlam both joined you at the Service of Thanksgiving, - two school friends whom I had lost touch with. Do hope all is well with you."
Andrew's question-mark was appropriate; our 1957 camp was by Golden Cap, near the village of Morecambelake. Whitchurch was a couple of miles inland, and no doubt visited on various hikes.

Mike Pearman also wrote: "Thank you very much, as always, for the News-Sheet. I too was sad to hear of Mike Holmes's death. It all seems a long time ago, but very vivid. We were very lucky to have the two of you, and later the splendid Aubs. It is, after all, the thick end of fifty years ago, but I never cease to be amazed how many things that I do quite automatically in the great outdoors I learned from you. When I am canoeing and camping with friends who did not have the benefit of Scouts or Guides, it is quite a jolt to see what strange things they can do ! You may recall that both my sons were Scouts, and I was highly tickled when, some long time ago now, my oldest son took his new love (now, of course, my daughter-in-law) camping, only to discover he did not have the tent poles. Evidently he simply disappeared into some trees, whittled a couple of poles, and everything was okay.
I hope all goes well with yourself, and you are enjoying your travels."

Readers may remember that at the beginning of the year we reported that Ross Letten competed in a South Atlantic yacht race. In July, he sent "A quick up-date. After the Cape to Salvador race, I stayed aboard 'Blithe Spirit' as we sailed north to Fernando de Noronha (mentioned in Robinson Crusoe) and then into the Caribbean to Panama. We did have one frightening incident. We had just passed between Trinidad and Tobago, and were cruising at about eight knots 25 miles off the coast of Venezuela. Out of the blue a large open boat appeared, with eleven men aboard, all with stony faces. Half were wearing military fatigues and the helmsman had a bandanna. They gestured that they wanted to come aboard. We feared the worst, of course. Neville vociferously waved them away, and I grabbed my Satphone and started gabbling away, giving a comprehensive description of our whereabouts and our predicament . . . to nobody (!) because I hadn't had time to dial ! The bluff appeared to work because after a bit of muttering among themselves, they said 'No trouble' in English, and then asked for something to drink. We threw a water flask into the sea, and they picked it up and disappeared without a wave. I guess we will never know whether they were pirates. They might have been legitimate, - a shift change from an off-shore oil platform, perhaps, - but it transpired there was none in that area.
Anyway, I am now in Kupang, East Timor, aboard my own boat 'Trillium'. My two sons, Peter ( RGS 1988 - 90 ) and Andrew are with me. Together with my wife, Shez, we towed 'Trillium' the 3500 Kms from Brisbane to Darwin behind our Landcruiser, and then took part in the Darwin to Kupang rally, in company with 90-something other yachts. There is a not-very-good photo of 'Trillium' on the www.sailindonesia net website. Both Peter and Andrew are into surfing, so we are planning to trickle along the islands for a couple of months, visiting some of the surf spots, probably as far west as Bali and Java before returning to Darwin.

Colin Cook came to our notice twice within a week.
Bernard Hawkins had met him in connection with bell ringing. Then the OR Rugby Club gave us an address, and he e-mailed : "I still have scars from camping near Porthmadog, where it rained every day, - but according to Aubs it was just heavy dew. Then there was the Black Forest the next year, where a tornado tore down all the tents. - Those were the days !"

Nick Fahidy's address has also come to hand, and he too sent an e-mail: "I have just come back to the office for a rest after the trials of being a new father again. All is well, apart from being knee-deep in nappies and empty feeding bottles. I had seen the Scouts' section on the RGS site and will keep checking for up-dates. I am still working for HSBC Investment Bank in London; but we have upped sticks and have moved as far away as the speed of a commuter train will allow. Hence we are in Lincolnshire where we are really enjoying the countryside and fresh air. I travel to Canary Wharf, but work only four days a week, so it is manageable. I am married to Kim, and have two sons, Joe (4/5/04) and Ben (11/10/06). I haven't quite got them into camping, sailing or canoeing yet, but they have not long to wait."

His brother, Peter Roulston, a doctor in the Army, returned from a spell in Iraq a few weeks ago.

Peter Manfield, we learn, is now in Java working under the auspices of the United Nations, doing relief work for victims of the recent earthquake.

The only reader to send a response to the 'Wordsearch' in our last issue was Frank Kroger who listed 79 words found, including a couple of dozen relative to our Scouting. He missed five more of the latter, as well as at least six other common words. He'd hoped to find SPECKS and WIBON which were not there.

Peter Wheatley is still teaching at Dauntsey's School, in Wiltshire, but asked us to publish his new address:
12, Park Road, Market Lavington, Devizes, Wilts, SN10 4ED. 01380 - 812465.

Aubrey Scrase joined the School just fifty years ago. When asked whether he might like to help with the Scout Troop, he said "Yes, any mad thing like that." He is still in School very regularly, keeping up-to-date the Old Reigatian database of news and addresses.

Please remember that we may not publish addresses or phone numbers on the web-site version of this News-Sheet, unless the owners give us permission. If you want to know that of one of your friends, ask, and we can pass it on individually.

Very best wishes for a

Joyous Christmas

and a

Peaceful New Year.

Robin H. Bligh, 39, Monks Walk, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 0SS.

robin @ reigategrammar. org 01737 - 248135.