16th Reigate Scout Group

Number 208

December 2008

Interestingly, we have recently had two cases of friends being reunited through our News-Sheet.

Malcolm Avery wrote: " Just back from a holiday in Greece, to find the latest newsletter on my return. It prompted me to tell you that, after your 'ad' on my behalf in the previous one, about me wishing to contact Jim Tame, he has been in touch. A good demonstration of the power of the Internet ! Although it's a bit of a mystery, a colleague of his, - with nothing whatever to do with RGS or the 16th, - came across the plea for information and made him aware. I am guessing that he was checking Jim out on Google or another search engine, and they always spot recent updates first. Jim and I plan to meet up in October. So a happy ending, and my thanks for your help."

After an unknown Jonathan e-mailed me asking for his address,
Nick Fahidy wrote : " Thanks, Robin; I am now in touch with Jonathan, having not seen him for ten years." ( It seems that they were on a training course together; Jonathan wanted to organise a reunion, and found Nick mentioned on our web-site. ) " I've just got back from a week-end in Wales, taking my boys Joe (4) and Ben (2) to see some friends, and my parents' grave. Joe particularly wanted to 'climb a mountain', so we found a very small one to tackle, but for Ben's little legs it was more than big enough. We have also had our first camping expedition since last I wrote. It all went very well, if a little damp, but such was the English weather this summer ! Next Easter, we hope to be off to see Pete in Cyprus, which I expect will be decidedly warmer. Hope you are keeping well."

Richard English is one of very few who have so far responded to the Reunion invitation. " I have read the newsletter, many thanks. The Reunion date is in my diary, and I shall be there. So far as news is concerned, like all my year I am now an OAP; but as I am self-employed it has made very little difference to the way I work. I don't need to go for every bit of work around, because my pension takes care of the basics. The extra cash does help when we want to do such things as going to Canada to see our elder son, Andrew, who now lives there. Plus we can also get out in our camper and see bits of this country which we have not previously visited. We always seem to be travelling overseas rather than in the UK. I am now working more as a facilitator than a trainer, and when I can get the work, as a speaker, which I enjoy a great deal. I still regret never entering the School's speech competitions, - I always thought about it but never did it, - procrastination, as ever, being the thief of time."

We mentioned in our May issue that Ross Letten was helping a friend sail his boat from Grenada, through the Panama Canal, and across the Pacific to Australia. They were in Tahiti in late July. " We then spent a few days moored off Moorea, in the same place as Captain Cook anchored in 1769. For me this is the most beautiful of the islands in the Society group, or indeed anywhere in the world. Then on to Bora Bora, where the rich and famous vacation, - predictably fiercely expensive, so we didn't stay long ! Then on to Vava'u in the Tonga group, and subsequently to Fiji, where Shez, my wife, joined the boat. Conditions on the 600 mile passage from Fiji to Vanuatu and the subsequent 1,300 mile passage to Townsville were pretty average, with boisterous 25 knot trade winds, and 3-metre seas. Shez was great, and kept her sense of humour throughout. We arrived back safe and sound on 5th September, after four superb months away.

Peter Dobson has now moved to Northleach, still in Gloucestershire. He will be at the Reunion, and hopes to meet many of the most recent members of the Group.

Peter Wheatley also hopes to be here next February. He writes that
" Scouts (in Urchfont, Wilts)are running well. We had a very good summer camp at a small site near Machynlleth, and the weather was kind to us. We got a lot of kayaking done on the Dovey estuary, though the tides were challenging, and also did some good hill walks. We watched a red-kite feeding programme, did some orienteering, and the usual camp activities, venture courses and patrol challenges."

Reunion Invitations are going out now, - by e-mail or snail-mail. Do please answer yours. Please tell us, if we don't know your e-mail address.

-- Robin H. Bligh,
39, Monks Walk, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 0SS. 01737-248135.
robin@reigategrammar.org

Now may we all have

A Joyful Christmas

and

A Peaceful New Year.