Scouting

 Scouting is in my blood. I joined the 30th Picton (Childwall Methodist) Cub Scout Pack in 1976 at the tender age of 7, and thirty years later I'm still in Scouting. Back in those days Beavers hadn't been invented but I'd already been along to Scout events (including Summer Camps) because my Dad was the Scout Leader at the time.

 I had a great time in the Cubs. I went away from home 'sans parents' for the first time on a Cub Camp to Bispham Hall campsite near Billinge, St Helens. I can't actually remember many of the things we did, but it must have been good because I went on the next camp too!

 I remember my time in the Scout Troop with great fondness. Since my dad was Skip, I picked up the nickname Skiplet! We were taught all of the Scouting skills I take for granted these days - pioneering, knotting, map reading, tent pitching, camp cooking, axmanship, tree recognition, and the 'how to use a sheaf knife without cutting your fingers off'.

 Summer camps were a blast, and we had lots of fun whatever the weather. Most of our camping at the time was greenfield camping, where we had to dig our own latrines (toilets) and go down to the farm for water and milk.

 One of the best parts of summer camp was the campfire. Especially the last night fire when we (sometimes successfully) cooked a whole chicken. It was while sitting round the campfires that I fell in love with campfire songs and folk songs in general. I'm indebted to Iain Headey (Assistant Scout Leader at the time) for singing many of the great campfire songs of all time, and also for introduing me to the wonderful song 'Tim Macguire' by Leon Rosselson. "Little Tim Macguire loved to play with fire; always hated water, never used to wash. Loved the smell of buring, of bonfires burning. Used to play all day with his little tinder box" I sat listening to the song, staring into the flames and embers - totally enraptured. This is something I've tried to pass on to future generations of Cubs and Scouts during my time in the movement. Thanks, Iain.

 At 15½ I moved from Scouts into Venture Scouts, and continued helping with the 30th Picton Scouts and Cubs. I went to the Abbey Valley Venture Unit based at the 29th Picton, literally a five minute walk from 30th Picton HQ. It was here that I gained my Queen Scout Award. The day it was presented, and the day I went down to Windsor Castle for the St George's Day parade and service were proud moments for me and my Dad because he was a Queen Scout, and his father had been a King Scout before him.

After a short period as an Assistant Scout Leader at 30th Picton I took on the role of Cub Scout Leader - a job I did for nearly fifteen years! I'm now the District Commissioner for Picton District and am enjoying (?) the different sets of challenges that the job brings!