16th Reigate Scout Group
N E W S - S H E E T Number 203, July 2007.
I have had a letter from Mark, son of Michael Holmes, our first ASL.:
"On 19th July this year, my father, Michael, would have been 80. It was
always his desire to do a parachute jump on his 80th birthday. To this end I
have boldly stepped in and will be doing a tandem parachute jump in his memory,
to raise funds for the Sue Ryder Home in Leckhampton. Pops spent his last weeks
being cared for at Leckhampton Court, which did a marvellous job, for which
we the family will be eternally grateful.
So I am writing to ask if you will kindly sponsor me for jumping out of a plane
many thousands of feet from terra firma. The jump takes place at South Cerney
military base just outside Cirencester, and I will obtain plenty of evidence
for those of you who would like to see it.
If you would like to sponsor me, please send your donations to :
1 Waterton Close, Hucclecote, Gloucester, GL3 3UD; making cheques payable to
Mark Holmes. Thank you in advance for your generosity."
The jump was due to take place the day before heavy rains flooded Gloucestershire. I have not yet heard whether it happened, but anyway, those who were in the Group between 1954 and 1957 may like to contribute to this worthy cause.
Peter Wheatley sent an e-mail in April: "Good to hear from you
and to read the latest news letter. I was sorry I could not get to the OR's
dinner, but as long as they keep doing them on a Friday during term time, I
rarely will be, as I have to work on Saturday mornings. Besides which, I had
1st form parents' evening on that Friday.
I have spent most of the Easter break working on the garden at my 'new' house,
and have got about half of it in order. It will be a long process, as the previous
owners did nothing but mow the lawns. If you have any spare time, feel free
to drop down to visit.
I took the Scouts down to Dorset, to their newly acquired County camp-site,
over Easter week-end, - brilliant weather, and some great hiking, raft-building,
wide-games, etc. It is an impressive site, and will be even better when the
newly planted trees mature. We hope to go to North Wales to do some mountains
over the Spring half-term, and then the Lake District for summer camp. I am
thinking of doing the 100th Anniversary 'Promise Renewal' on the summit of Scafell
Pike at 8am on 1st August, - weather permitting."
Peter ('Dennis') has modestly failed to tell us that he was awarded the Silver Acorn last year, after more than thirty years as a devoted and energetic Scout Leader. Congratulations, Peter !
I was able to spend three or four days with Peter in mid-July, and did give some gentle help with the garden. It is beginning to look quite pleasant, and the results from the vegetable patch look encouraging.
That same week-end, I spent a day with Ashlin Harrington and Joyce, in Bradford-on-Avon, visited an interesting Railway Exhibition, and went to a concert by the City of Bath Bach Choir.
I presume all our readers have realized that 2007 sees the centenary of the Brownsea Island camp, which was effectively the birth of Scouting. Apart from the World Jamboree to be held in Essex this summer, Scouts throughout the world will renew their Promise at eight o'clock in the morning of 1st August. According to two of my atlases, 8am will come first in Tonga, and last in Samoa. I wonder how many groups ( like Peter's at Urchfont, mentioned above ) will try to find a memorable place for renewing their Promise. At our last reunion, we reminded ourselves that "once a Scout, always a Scout". Perhaps, on 1st August, we might all give some thought to the Scout Promise we first made many years ago.
Dicky Chapman e-mailed from Bangkok, ( which is probably about seven hours ahead of Greenwich ) : " I have received and read the Newsletter, thank you. As usual it has brought back many memories. In particular the recollections of Colin Cook at Portmadog. I also suffered heavy dews and such inconveniences, but these and associated things led to learning self-sufficiency. Remember also the Welsh sheep carcasses ? and the Pimple ? Names also still familiar in the degenerating grey matter . . . Celfyn Sutton, Bernie Hawkins, Tant, the studious and even then astronomical John Barrow, the Joplings, the Jacksons and Bannisters ( remember the 'Mirror Sketch' ? ), Riccy Green who I think was a motor-bike enthusiast, and where is Malcolm, my contemporary ? And a few other names in the background . . ."
Frank Kroger, and his mother, keep in touch from the far side of America. Frank still lives in Seattle, and ( if I understand correctly ) is working up the hierarchy of the port organisation.
The Fahidy brothers have both been in touch :
'Taff', now Peter Roulston, is a doctor in the Army. " As always,
it is good to read news of members of the 16th Reigate. I regret I was not able
to attend the ORA Dinner, due to what we are assured is NOT overstretch of the
Armed Forces ! Tina and I are still in Cyprus (23/04/07); I am off to Afghanistan
on Tuesday, and on my return will move to the other end of the island to assume
the post of Senior Medical Officer in the Eastern Sovereign Base. This is a
relief to Boris our rescued dog, who didn't appear too impressed with the previous
planned posting back to Germany, - he is clearly Cypriot, and likes lying in
the sun; I fear the North German Plain in winter might have seriously annoyed
him. We have celebrated another two years here by buying a second-hand boat,
- power I'm afraid, but it will be a better dive platform. Regards to all former
Group members.
And from Nicholas Fahidy :
"Thanks for the News Sheet. Glad to hear it's not just on my computer that
technical hiccups occur !
My boys ( Joe @ 3years and Ben @ 6months ) gave me a new tent for my birthday,
so I'll be getting them hooked on the camping bug early. We are also looking
at boats; there is a 10' dinghy called 'Walker Bay' that claims to be a useful
sailor, but is also designed with rowing in mind, and can take an outboard without
modification should the need arise. It looks reasonably heavy duty, and has
a wheel built into the keel, so should be quite forgiving if dragged over rough
ground. I think a couple of kayaks may be on the cards soon, as well. Some friends
of mine have recently kayaked down the first half of the Danube, from Germany
to Budapest, and we are invited to accompany them on their next expedition.
My wife has some crazy notion of waiting till the boys can swim before we embark
on said quest, but I have a feeling we shall be testing the ''blueness'' of
the Danube before long. I hope all is well with you. - Taff (Jr).
Simon Tring sent a very brief e-mail, saying they have moved. Their email will be off-line until further notice.
Graham Richardson says: "I hope you are keeping well. My brother
( Gordon ) was over from Houston this week-end for my daughter Ingeborg's
first birthday. He seems to be doing well, still working in the software industry,
and planning to go hiking in the Grand Canyon this summer.
As for myself and Ellen Sofie, the arrival of Ingeborg has put a temporary halt
to anything too adventurous, but Ellen Sofie is determined we will go cross-country
skiing next year around her home town in the Lofoten Islands.
We are also moving house, to Berkshire.
Thank you for keeping us up with the news.
Stuart Watkin sent " a short note to update you ! Am currently
Hospital Engineering Manager at North Tees Hospital, and very busy ! Have been
here two years and enjoy the variety of the work, - never knowing what is going
to hit you next. Came here after three years working in the Oil Industry based
out of Aberdeen, Singapore, Argentina and Great Yarmouth. ( No wonder we had
an out-of-date address ! - R. ) Met Clare, my second wife(!) in March '03 while
away in Andorra snowboarding, went to NZ on a 4-week campervan trip, and haven't
looked back since. Got married in August '05 and became parents in October '06,
and it seems baby Adam is growing so quickly ! Will get him his first tent this
week-end. Hiking boots next !
Hope all who remember me are doing well."
James Leeson says : "As I am about to move jobs, I thought I would drop a line to up-date you on my contact details. No doubt as soon as I leave what is now INEOS ( formerly BP Chemicals ) my account will be closed. I have had a good summer despite the weather as I managed to achieve about two months 'gardening leave' before starting my new job in August. Not only has this been full of DIY, but also sailing and having fun with the kids. My address remains the same, in Old Windsor.
Simon Lomas-Clarke emailed " Just to let you know that I do read the News Sheet, and I do appreciate you sending it. I have become a Dad. My wife Sarah and I had a baby boy, Finlay James, born on New Year's Eve 2006 ( great birthday parties in years to come ! ) He's doing very well, and took his first trip abroad to Whistler in Canada over Easter, to see his aunty (my sister), and for his parents to get some skiing in. Hope all is well with you.
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You see, others DO like to hear your news; and we MUST know of address changes.
None of the above has yet said we may put his address on the web-site version.
Please tell us if your friends may know it.
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Robin H. Bligh, 39 Monks Walk, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 0SS.
< robin@reigategrammar.org > 01737 - 248135