St Georges day 2023
District
District Cub Badge Day 2022
District Cubs Badge Day
On the 15th October we held the District Cub Badge Day at Thriftwood with 157 Cubs attending. The Cubs worked round the bases and gained 4 badges. Backwoods cooking, Air Activities 1, World Faiths, and DIY. If the Cub already held the badge, we gave them Activity Plus badges instead.
Air activities incorporated making and colouring paper aeroplanes then a competition to see how far they went. The Cubs also enjoyed the Bottle Rockets that flew up into the sky.
World faith badge was like a giant discussion on religion, Cubs drew pictures and had a quiz. We also had 2 leaders talking about their religion Hindu and Muslin. It was surprising how much you could pick up listening to these Leaders. Each Cub was also given a copy of a New Testament Gideons Bible with a Scout logo on it. (These were supplied free from Gideons).
Backwoods cooking, cooking dampers over a barbeque was very popular once cooked a dob of jam on them kept the cubs very interested in eating them. They also cooked eggs in a plastic bag. Lighting fires with spark sticks was also enjoyed.
DIY base the Cubs made Pin Pong ball guns. This involved drilling with a bench drill. Drilling with a battery drill. Screwing in 3 screws with a screwdriver. Hammering cable clips in to hold the elastic band. Once done they then had to colour their guns with wood dye. I would like to thank Barton Timber who supplied the timber for the guns free of charge.
By the number of what’s App messages I have received all the Cubs had a super, enjoyable day.
Thank You to all the Leaders and Parents who helped run this day and to make it such a success.
Bob Wallace
ADC CUBS (Events)
Hornchurch District – New District Commissioner
It is with great pleasure that I can announce that David Wright has been appointed as District Commissioner for Hornchurch. David’s appointment will formally commence from the District AGM on 19th September 2022 (this is change of date for the Hornchurch AGM), however he will be District Commissioner designate from 25th July 2022, when he will meet with Group Scout Leaders and the District Team at their summer social meeting. David will use the time between the two events to meet with members of the team and potential new appointments, so that he is a position to prepare for his nominations to the District Executive at the AGM.
David brings with him a wealth of experience from both his professional management & legal experience and voluntary background. David has been a key member of 1st Squirrels Heath Scout Group for the last 20 years. He has led both the Scout Troop and the Viking Explorer Scout Unit and has been a driving force behind ensuring young people get to shape their own programme and leading countless outdoor adventures.
David said about his appointment “I am honoured to have been selected for the role of District Commissioner for Hornchurch. My family have lived in Hornchurch for over 60 years, and I have been an active Scout since joining Beavers in the late 80’s. My plan for Hornchurch District is to build on the great successes and to continue to grow, become more inclusive, be shaped by young people and to make a bigger impact in our community.”
Louisa Golder, District Chair, said “On behalf of the District I would like to congratulate David on his appointment. We as a District look forward to working with him and hearing his vision for how he would like to move the District forward.”
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dean Jefferys for holding the fort and overseeing the running of the District during this time. Dean has kindly agreed to continue with this current arrangement until David formally starts at the AGM on 19th September.
I hope that you will all give David your full support as he takes on the role of District Commissioner for Hornchurch and continues to grow and develop the District.
Best wishes
Lee Clark
County Commissioner
Greater London North East
PL Training Weekend 2022
Hornchurch District Scout Patrol Leader Training Weekend
Over the weekend of 13th – 15th May 2022. Twenty six Scouts from seven different groups across the district, assembled at Warren lodge for this year’s patrol leader training camp. The aim of the weekend being the acquiring of the Team Leader challenge award.
The scouts were divided into six mixed teams, each identified by a colour. Saturday morning saw the teams taking part in site layout assessment, kit lists, team communication game and a very involved camp planning session. This involves everything from site selection to menu planning, activity planning, plus transport arranging, and costing.
After a well- earned break it was time for the teams to attend six leader lead bases. First Aid, Lashings, Axe work, Bearings, Stoves and Fire lighting were on offer.
With orienteering, more compass work, another type of communication active session and Guy building following on after lunch. In case you’re wondering about guy building in the middle of May. They became our casualties for a pioneering rescue activity later on. Also, of course, they burn well after use. (Always popular).
Many more items were covered from their work folders. Rachel Taylor (DESC) ran a session on the pyramid of scouting followed by information about moving on to explorers.
The last session on Sunday morning, just as the rain made its first appearance in an otherwise gloriously sunny weekend, saw the scouts involved in the ever popular fire on the lake activity. A nice challenge to round of a morning of listening to me rattling through things. Congratulations to all the scouts that took part in the course and gained their award.
And saving a very important thank you to last. A massive thanks to the leaders on site. Gerry Merritt, Lyn Merritt, ( most appreciated for all the cooking), John Reed, Dean Claxton, Dean Holden, Andy Rice, Glenn Daniels, and Rachel Taylor. Also thanks to Lisa for keeping me sane with all the money comings and goings. Without these good people the whole thing could not have run at all.
Grand Job
Roger
District Leader
District Cub Camp 2022
138 cubs from11 groups, 9 young leaders and 34 leaders, with visits from Dean Jeffries and Linda Thorogood.
District camp 2022 was really GREAT!
It all kicked off with a good old sing song around the campfire then bed though not much sleep!
Saturday – up, fed and watered then straight onto activities and bases galore including kayaking, rafting, air rifles, archery, climbing, crate stacking, cave bus, wheelchairs, bottle rockets, slack-line, lava floor, paracord keyrings, knotting, balistas, treasure hunt and bunting for our Jubilee fair in the evening… sooo much fun! And the food….scrummy especially the bacon rolls, thanks to Stuart and his team. The cubs all had great fun making new friends, sleeping in tents, lots for them for the first time, and enjoyed EVERYTHING!
Corinne
District Leader
District Cub Camp 2022
St Georges Day 2022
So, we thought that after a three year gap that St George’s Day 2022 might have been a small select affair – and how wrong we were!!!
The sun shone, the parade route was packed with cheering parents and residents and we had to get extra chairs out in the hall as everyone packed in!
If doughnut sales is a barometer of numbers all 500 of those went in a flash and many were left disappointed so we clearly had hundreds on parade!
It was lovely to see so many adults being recognised with long service & good service awards and the smiles on the faces of all the participants was great to see!
Can I thank the Police, the Council, Romford Drum & Trumpet Corps, the site team at Emerson Park, our Road Traffic Marshalls, our Pianist, Pete Seddon our Parade Marshall and everyone who helped to set up the venue yesterday and to tidy up today.
It was a lovely celebration of the family of Scouting in Hornchurch and I was bursting with pride seeing you all parading past!
Well done one and all!
Dean Jefferys
Interim District Commissioner
St George’s day 2022
