On the Sunday 6th July 2008 1st Crowborough held an Exhibition at our Scout HQ to celebrate our centenary year.

The Exhibition had displays of the vast range of diverse activities the young people do and from local businesses.

We are also had a big Group BBQ, Presentation of Chief Scout Award badges, 1st Crowborough AGM We invited local dignitaries, all past members of the Group, our Dutch Scouting friends from Maarssen, and representatives from all the other Scout Groups in the UK who are also 100 years old.

The Scout of the Year was presented to Matt Shaw and runner up was Charlotte Avery.

Scout group bring up century in fine style

THE THIRD largest Scout troop in the country welcomed past and present members along with friends from overseas to celebrate its 100th birthday-at the weekend. The headquarters of 1st Crowborough Scouts, on White-hill Road, was filled with well wishers who celebrated the group's history and its most recent achievements. Scout leader John Easton, who spent the morning preparing home-made burgers for the guests, said he thought the event went well. He said: "It was brilliant, absolutely brilliant. Even though it rained I think everybody had a really good time." Each of the nine sections had a display and after the Scout leader's burgers were eaten, more than 150 people present were given a slice of a birthday cake made for the occasion by Jarvis Brook Bakery. Mr Easton said five Scout leaders from a group in Maarssen in the Netherlands came across for the celebration. The link between the two groups has been going for some time.

Mr Easton said: "It was actually started by a guy by the name of Dick Van der Val, who was known as Hoppy. "He wandered into the head quarters many years ago because he happened to be in the town and happened to be a Scout leader. It all started from there. That must have been late '60s." The Dutch visitors joined past Scouts and Scout leaders from Crowborough. Mr Easton said: "We had about 20 from the late '70s-early '80s and about 20 from the '60s. "The displays set out for them included memorabilia from the 1950s to the 1980s." The celebration gave the Scouts a chance to let people know about their trip to China next year. The camp will see them travel to Macau, Hong Kong, Beijing and the Great Wall over two weeks next summer and their preparations and experience will be the subject of a documentary being made by the Scout Association. The afternoon also included a presentation to Mathew Shaw, who was named Scout of the Year, and Charlotte Avery the runner-up.

Mr Easton took the opportunity to highlight the troop's achievements of the past year, including success for Beavers, Cubs and Scouts in various competitions. He thanked Parkers, Waitrose, Brian Gow Roofing, Howdens and Coppards for their support. The Scouts will be at tomorrow's (Saturday) summer fair at Goldsmiths Re-creation Ground. By Jon Bennett

GSL Report 2007 / 2008 ·        Welcome ·        Thanks ·        Achievements ·        Rock Bands ·        Events ·        My personal highlights ·        What next ·        Presentation of awards   Welcome County Commissioner, Mayor, Canon Corns, other distinguished guests, ladies, gentlemen, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers both current and historic - Welcome to 1st Crowborough Scout Group    Thanks 2007 to 2008 has raised many challenges, to which I will refer in a minute and I’d like to take this opportunity to say some thank you’s.  First of all I’d like to thank the Chair, Terry Moon and my 2 glamorous assistants Adrian and Derek who have given me tremendous support and encouragement this last year.  There have been a number of times I have called them ready to throw in the towel, but they have reassured and cajoled me into continuing, so thank you.   I’d also like to thank all the leaders, assistants, parent helpers, and the partners of all of the above, plus the young leaders, the town council and the Courier who have all contributed towards making 1st Crowborough the success that it is.  Taking into account the amount of young people in the group, we are the 3rd largest Scout Group in the UK and this has been achieved by the commitment and enthusiasm of all of you, so again, thank you.   Achievements ·        John (Skip) King, received his Silver Wolf.  The Silver Wolf is the unrestricted gift of the Chief Scout and is only awarded for service of a most exceptional nature.   ·        Jim Ringe, District Commissioner (2001-6) and ex Group Scout Leader for 1st Crowborough and now President of the Group, was awarded the Bar to the Silver Acorn, which is awarded for at least 25 years distinguished service.   ·        Mike Beesley – Medal of Merit - The Medal of Merit is given for outstanding service of not less than 15 years. It implies keen, conscientious, imaginative and dedicated service over a sustained period.   ·        Football tournament 2007 – Beavers; 1st, 2nd and 4th, Cubs; 1st and Scouts joint 5th.   ·        Carnival - 1st Crowborough was awarded 1st prize in the Walking Tableau category.   ·        swimming gala 2008 – Beavers 1st and 3rd, Cubs 1st and 2nd, Scouts 1st and 4th   ·        Overland o       2007 - 9th and 10th o       2008 -  2nd, 3rd and 15th   ·        East Sussex County Camping Competition 2008 – 1st and 3rd   ·        Wood Badges –   First name Last name Position Group Date of request Peter Harvey ASL Crowborough 11-Jun-08 David Clark ABSL Crowborough 28-Dec-07 Paul Wenham ASL Crowborough 13-Jan-08 Karen Hawkes ABSL Crowborough 01-Mar-08 Vanessa Jennings ABSL Crowborough 01-Mar-08     ·        Many Chief Scouts Awards in all sections    Rock Bands ·        Formed in 2005 – now 3 bands Massive Moose (formerly Southon Rox), The Allies and now The Speed of Dark – playing at many pubs and locations throughout the South East   ·        East Sussex Battle of the Bands 2007 – 1st and 2nd   ·        The Rock Festival 2007  raised over £4000 – thanks to Phil and Pippa Shaw   ·        The Rock Festival 2008 – 19th July – tickets from Nick Jones   Other events   ·        Live 07 – O2 Dome   ·        1st in the 2007 Carnival in the Walking Tableau section   ·        Santa’s Grotto – thanks to Chris Hawkes     My personal highlights ·        being involved in the Centenary of Scouting ·        World Jamboree in Essex plus Martlets (2,500 young people) ·        development of the new necker and the Centenary badge ·        new kitchen ·        new porch ·        development of new leaders and teams – o       Chris Hawkes o       Becci Rimington o       Oli Robinson o       Sam Coates o       Matt Gumbrell and o       Robin Carmichael, to name a few   What next   ·        Summer Fair next weekend ·        Rock Festival the weekend after ·        Carnival in September ·        Scout Show in November and then   ·        China 2009   Once again thank you all for coming.  It just leaves me to present some awards      Presentation of awards   ·        Scout Mate – each leader ·        Thanks Badge – Julie Barr ·        Chief Scouts Award ·        Scout of the Year, Matt Shaw and Runner up, Charlotte Avery

 

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