Chapter 5.6: 1956-1960
Early Cubs & Scouting
Adventures that wouldn't pass Health & Safety requirements these days!
Together, by 2020, Malcolm and I had shared in excess of 800 hills, having known each other over 70 years!!
After a year or so running Cubs I changed over to running the Scouts, as many of the boys I knew had moved up from Cubs to Scouts at aged 11. I was now known to all the boys as “Skip”.
Every fourth Sunday was Church Parade, when all the Cubs and Scouts were expected to attend.
​
If anyone failed to appear I would go to his house after the service to enquire why.
We had few absentees, although I recall one house visit whilst I was running St Christophers. Young Jimmy, a fairly new recruit, had failed to put in an appearance so I called round at his house to see why.
The door was opened by a giant of a man in a rather sweat stained vest. “Yes” he said. He was obviously a man of few words.
I explained that I was the Cub Leader and Jimmy had missed Church Parade. Was he OK, or was he ill perhaps?
In return for my polite enquiry I drew a look of blank amazement. “Do you know what day it is!” enquired the Giant. “Yes, its Sunday” I naturally replied.
“Yes” came the reply “Sunday, and I'll tell you what happens in this house on a Sunday. Its Weight Lifting, so clear off.”
Its nice when kids get parental time and attention, and he was, at least, doing something constructive with his kids, so perhaps I should overlook Jimmy's absence.
I felt that I definitely should if I wished to remain in close contact with all my teeth!!
​
Marjorie had a slightly different approach to Church Parades. Those who turned up were treated to a trip out by car.
She was never short of leaders and helpers, whereas I seemed to plod on mainly on my own.
Persuaded by someone called Tony Shaw (see how I met him in Accountancy Training stories) I was soon running the St Marys Cub Pack - 23rd Blackpool - that not long previously... Marjorie, my future wife, had run.Her mum, Alice Milton, was still on the parents committee.
Little did I know then that she would later become my Mother-in-Law.​There were about 24 boys in the Pack, and they were well disciplined (or else!). This is when I learnt that “Without discipline you cant have fun!!”.However, rarely did a Cub miss a meeting or the opportunity of a trip or camp.
​I still recall the names of most of the boys from that time. One of them was Malcolm Newlyn who went on to win his “Leaping Wolf” & “Queen Scout” badges and with whom I am still Walking Scotland's Hills!!
Me, far left and Malcom next to me, and then the District Commissioner and John Holmes also collecting the award with my role model Wally Crellin (Group Scout Leader) far right
Early Scout Camps
The Group Scout leader at that time was an elderly gent, or so he seemed, Wally Crellin. Wally became one of my role models.
He had very strict moral standards. At camps we shared a tent on camp beds. He had been in the Merchant Navy most of his life and could talk for hours about the interesting places he had been to, and the amazing things he had seen and experienced.
We went to a number of Summer Camps together, normally taking about 15 boys. We generally hired a big furniture van to transport all the gear, with the boys crammed excitedly into the back, amidst the gear. No Health & Safety issues.
Some of our camp activities were also a little borderline like using Felling Axes and rigging up Pioneering Runways over 20ft wide rivers.
One night, during a camp at Sawrey, we set the boys off on a small local hike. Whilst they were away we pinched all the pyjamas from two of the three tents.
At bed time the tent whose kit was not touched were getting accusations from the other two.
However, I mentioned that I had seen one or two guides, from a nearby camp, walking through our site earlier. Maybe they had stolen them for a lark! I said that I would go and investigate.
After sitting on a log out of sight from our camp for a while, I returned to our site and announced that some of the girls had admitted the theft/loan.
The guide mistress was sending them home! After a discussion, the boys agreed that this was too tough a punishment, and they wanted to let the guide leader know that it was only a prank, that the guides could return the pyjamas and that all would be forgiven.
I was asked if I myself would convey this message to the Guiders, but I suggested that it would be better if the boys went over there themselves.
I would write a note for them to give to the Guide Leaders. So this was agreed. About 10 boys trundled off to remedy things, bearing a sealed note from myself. They were unaware of what I had written.
“Dear Guiders. I am sending these boys over as we discovered that they had plotted to raid the Guide Camp and make off with the girls night ware as a joke. They wish to apologise. Appropriate action will be taken at our end. Sincerely yours. Scout Leaders”.
​
The boys arrived back somewhat baffled and bewildered, having been admonished by the Guiders, and laughed at by the guides. They were even more baffled when someone discovered that all the missing pyjamas were in fact in a bag in our food tent.
Perhaps it was Tent 3 who were the culprits after all!
​
No one knew who to blame for what, and the facts never did come out although theories abounded!
​
Wally and myself were never mentioned! We remained innocent observers.
Later I ran the whole summer camp myself.
I had to organise the logistics of transport, programmes, equipment and food supplies etc.
I had absolutely no cooking skills and working out simple things like how many potatoes per boy per week were required, then multiply by 20, then convert into how many sacks of potatoes. This was new territory.
So were cooking skills and menu selection. For cooking purposes I only allowed real fires of course, even though we had, and could use primus stoves.
When a Scout Patrol thought their food was ready they came to my tent and I then visited their site to test it. If anyone ate standing up I took their plate and scooped it empty into the fire.
We built Biscuit Tin Ovens and plastered them with wet soil. These worked amazingly well. We had a morning inspection, and everything was for points, one patrol against another.
The daily prize was a “Bomb” as we called it. In fact it was a hollow cardboard cylinder that had once held a certificate. I tied a string through it so it could be hung up with pride.
Surreptitiously awarding points to the more backward boys was a good way to make them more popular.
​
I remember having a heated discussion about litter. I argued that a chicken feather in their campsite area was litter, whilst they argued that it was natural. Only one winner in those days.​
In 1958 we held a Cub Weekend at Mowbreck, Kirkham, and a Scout Camp at Bentham.
At this camp I hitched home early on the Thursday morning to prepare wages packets for about 100 staff at a clients business. Late that night I hitch hiked back to Bentham.
​
The picture shows us setting of from St Lukes one day, with my young sister Joan wishing that she were going!
We had camps at High Bentham, North end of Kentmere valley near Staveley in the Lakes, and Sawrey near Hawkshead.
​
Once a week I allowed a shop visit, (our sites were usually at least 5 miles from a shop).
​
Scouts were allowed to spend 5p each. If they spent more, then the additional purchases would be confiscated.
If one spent 4p and another spent 4p I allowed them to put the two spare pennies together and to purchase and divide whatever the remaining 2p bought them. So it was not so Draconian after all.
Parents were discouraged from visiting except for a narrow window on the Thursday afternoon. This was to discourage homesickness, and by holding parents day at the end of the week there was not much camp time left.
​
Boys were not allowed to take any food or goodies of any nature at the start of the camp. This meant that rich and poor were on the same starting block.
It also meant that they ate their meals.
A 50p savings amount was allowed, but was held by me, and most of them took it virtually all home, although I did allow small souvenir purchases.
About twice a year a few leaders from Blackpool, male and female, spent a Sunday visiting Disabled Boys who lived in a Residential Home at Silverdale.
We played with them, football, draughts, cards, etc. They really looked forward to our visits and each attached themselves personally to individual leaders so when you arrived they tried to “bag” your attention for a game.
​
We were given lunch and tea, and at bedtime we bathed the boys before they turned in. This would never be allowed nowadays. They were great kids.
After Accountancy Exams, More Time for walking and Scout Camps!
​​Boxing day 1960 found Brian and myself motoring up to Kirkstone Pass for the day, and ascending Kilnshore Chimney in a heavy hail storm.
Brian could have done with windscreen wipers on his glasses as they were repeatedly covered with hail within seconds.
​
We left the occasional cairn of “markers” for our return route, but found none of them.
At this time there was a decent scree run and we ran down arm in arm amid roars of laughter.
Just to make a day of it we drove home via Ambleside, Coniston (for a coffee), Hawkshead and Lakeside. Some years later I was to attend an auction, and make a bid for this mountain.
​
More Cub Scout Camping
​
New Years Eve, 1960. Brian and I decided to take a party of seven 10 year old Cubs to Garstang for a hike round Oakenclough and Nicky Nook Reservoir.
​
Next day was of course New Years Day, 1961, a holiday, not to be spent in bed.
So, with a party of Senior Scouts (ages 15+) we again took the bus to Garstang. Here we changed our plan, deciding to go further afield, to Ingleton, to climb Ingleborough, 2373ft.
​
We were, of course, late home!
11th July 1960 was my 21st Birthday and shortly afterwards I took my Accountancy Final Exam, and passed. I was now a free man!
Woodbadge Woggle
Later in 1960 I attended a Woodbadge Course at Gilwell Scout Centre in Epping Forest.
As part of the course we had to undertake a two day hike, and reconnoitre the area, and report of what industry we could introduce etc.
We chose Tourism and drew plans for Connaught Waters extension, fishing rights, cafes, chalets, casino, etc. Needless to say I retain a small notebook about this venture.
​
The course was full on and lasted about 5 days. Successful completion resulted in your being authorised to wear the special “Woodbadge Woggle”.
​
Little was I to know that it was through Scouting that I would meet my wife. She was to gain the Woodbadge Woggle too!
In fact I proposed to Marjorie at a Scout Camp... but that's in a later Chapter of the Book!