Pine Cone - Autumn 2022

Pine Cone

of the

of Woodcraft Chivalry Autumn 2022

as

Greetings all!

I've spent a very enjoyable summer elsewhere as well as at Summer Camp - graduation ceremonies for Luke and Anna, and volunteering at several music festivals.

Looking back over 2022 so far I can report a very successful camping season. A lovely Easter camp, where I had the pleasure of hearing "When I'm 64" sung at Rally as well as the traditional Birthday song. Yes, Easter Sunday was my 64th birthday!

A most enjoyable Spring Bank Holiday camp at Grove Farm (thanks, Emily & Steve), with canoeing, abseiling and caving, and a great Summer Camp near Chippenham at a new site found by Daniela. The future looks bright!

Looking forward to getting the tent up again!

Sky!

From the Pine Cone Editor—

was a time many of us went camping with more

for the last couple of years.

As well as news of our future programme of camps this edition reflects on our history—including over 100 years of Pine Cone and the opportunity to tell our story to the many visitors to the Sandyballs estate at Godshill, Hampshire read on to find out more.

of past camps

creative endeavours

the Spring

2023

OWC Future Programme

Hallowe’en – A one day event on Saturday 29th October 2022 based at the home of Lucy Kehoe, 60 Stowey Rd, Yatton, BS49 4HU T: 01934 834376 M: 07904 600446 E: lucykehoe@hotmail.com

Easter Camp—15th – 18th April 2022 Briarlands Activity Centre, Wick Lane, Bitton, Bristol, BS30 6NW

Spring Bank Holiday 2nd – 5th June 2022 Activity camp location TBC (Bristol / Mendips area most likely)

Summer Camp 2023 Saturday 29th July – Saturday 12th August 2023 the usual site at Plwmp, Ceredigion, Wales F

Folkmoot will be held on Friday 4th August and Merrymoot will be on Saturday 5th August

International Gathering 2024—USA tbc more details to be circulated

Why not bring a friend along to your next camp?

Summer Camp 22 at sunset

Summer 2022

Halloween 2022

Saturday 29th October 2022

Lucy and Lee’s Field

60 Stowey Rd, Yatton

4HU

From 2pm

Traditional programme to include: lantern making * games

Activities * tea lantern walk

This year we are experimenting with an outdoor venue so please wrap up. There will be a bonfire and shelter. Please bring: pumpkin or other item to carve, tools for carving, string, candles, wellies, ideas for games.

Cost: £2 per person. Be sure to let Lucy know you are joining in so we know how many to cater for and any special dietary requirements.

Highlights from Folkmoot 22

On a blazing hot day in July around 40 woodcrafters of all ages gathered in the field on the edge of Gastard, Corsham. The ceremonial fire was lit and ashes added as is traditional ‘thus is our fire the same though ever new’.

We sang ‘Glad that I live am I’, spoke the Affirmation and shared our greetings. We recalled with thanks the lives of Marcus Guillen, Tony Simpkins and Hugh Witemeyer, and celebrated the births of Grace Chapman and Aubrey Travis.

Later in the business session we agreed agreed the last year of accounts (see below); agreed the future programme of camps and appointed the council of leaders the details of both are elsewhere in this edition.

We discussed the opportunity to create some interpretation boards of the OWC history to be sited at Sandyballs; the future of our regalia and paper archive and the possibility of financial support for attendance at the next international gathering in 2024 in the USA. More details will be shared when available. A copy of the minutes have been circulated to members.

Membership of the Order and the Annual Financial Contribution (AFC)

The AFC is a donation to the Order, to maintain and continue the service it provides to members. The suggested level of AFC is determined by Folkmoot based on guidance from the Keeper of the Purse.

The suggested contributions during 2022 23 are as follows:

Kindreds: £30.00 Pathfinders (15 18): £6.00

Wayfarers (over 25) £18.00 Provisional members: £6.00

Waywardens (18-25): £14.00 Pine Cone only £6.00

These amounts are aimed at balancing the books; there is no set minimum or maximum, so members may pay the suggested contribution, what you can afford, or what you feel membership is worth to you.

The A.F.C. is not requested as proof of membership, but to encourage involvement with the running of the Order.

A.F.C.s are due at Folkmoot for the coming year and all members are reminded to make a return to the Keeper of the Purse. If you would like to pay online or set up a Standing Order please contact me for the bank details.

Lucy Kehoe, 60 Stowey Rd, Yatton, BS49 4HU.

01934

07904 600446 E: lucykehoe@hotmail.com

Postcards from Summer Camp 2022

(Left) The stones at Avebury are not the only thing to see there—these amazing tree roots were a sight to behold!

(Below) The last hole of mountain golf remained elusive to most after 3.5 hours in the heat.

(Above) The last marshmallows signalled the end of a lovely camp.

(Right) MerryMoot had many fine performers this is Greg Jones reciting a poem by Bernard Cribbins. More on Facebook with videos!

(Above) Wild swimming in the shadow of Lacock Abbey was a highlight for many including Nell and Hayley.

Pine Cone The Order of Woodcraft Chivalry Summer 2022

Postcards from Pine Cone past

These front covers of Pine Cone from 1926 are amazing —I love this pen and ink & wood cut art—a feel of art deco mixed with all sorts of woodcraft symbolism! . Ben Arnott is taking a closer look to see if we could reproduce these images and use on textiles etc. If you are interested too please get in touch with any of the Council of Leaders. Please also let us know if you still have a stack of old Pine Cones in attics or under beds a complete digital archive is being planned.

Telling the story of woodcraft: Plans for a set of interpretation boards at the Sandyballs Estate, Godshill—Charlotte Jones

Our commemorative gathering at Sandyballs, Godshill in March this year was warmly welcomed (and generously hosted) by the new management team from Away Resorts the new and current owners of the Sandyballs holiday park. It seems our longstanding links with the Sandyballs estate can be maintained giving a sense of home and the opportunity to share the history of woodcraft and its place within 20th century educational culture.

Our gathering in March included lunch in the Woodside meeting room, complete with zoom connections. As well as renewing connections after Covid we all enjoyed a ramble around the woods and alongside the river Avon.

At Folkmoot 2022 those present discussed the opportunity to design and install one or more interpretation boards at the Sandyballs Estate which illustrate links between the international story of woodcraft based youth organisations and this small part of England. This is a way of telling the Sandyballs story to visitors to the holiday park—for the estate to create a sense of place, and its role in local, national even international history. For the OWC it’s a chance to share its story perhaps spark an interest in woodcraft and giving ways to get to touch to find out more.

Charlotte and Greg Jones visited the estate in August, meeting with Pelican (Mick Tutt) who lives in the estate. Pelican has been helping to make links between the new estate owners (Away Resorts) and the OWC.

On the next 3 pages I’ve included the information we already have and some first thoughts on what these boards could look like.

I have also circulated a zoom link by email for a meeting to give any member the opportunity to offer help, ask questions and share ideas for content.

Charlotte Jones

The idea is to create a series of A1 sized boards installed around the area of the Totem pole.

Outline ideas for the new boards

The Totem carvings show various elements of the OWC of the past 100 years and our idea is to link the panels to these as well.

The language we use needs to be simple and accessible ideally readable by young visitors.

The management company have offered to complete the designs using our content text and illustrations, and will take full responsibility for installation and ongoing ownership (including all costs).

From our conversation with the estate team in August its suggested that the boards follow a time line of events and periods (rather than thematic) a rough idea is below—do you think we’ve got this about right?

1 set the scene around 1916 social and political context; the founding of the Order; background of scouting and woodcraft internationally taking root; links with Quaker schools;

2 the purchase of Sandyballs; the first camp (Smoke Tribe from Bermondsey) setting off the years to come; emergence of Guilds and Lodges.

3 the Grith Fyrd camps in the 1930’s; founding the Forest School (with a link to current FSC activity?) and the OWC move down to Greenwood. Add links to Kibbo Kift and the co op / social credit movement?

4 the fall of the Berlin wall and re emergence of Eastern European groups; the international movement Blue Sky World Woodcraft (which in turn connects back to the origins of woodcraft based youth organisations).

5– an explanation of the Totem

There are other ideas floating around too….

• The labels for trees planted are in need of repair at the Folkmoot Circle.

• There is a large map showing trails around Sandyballs but little interpretation elsewhere (eg Greenwood, Good Friday Hill, Woodling Point and so on).

• Perhaps an App or paper trail to tell you more as you walk around….

Do get in touch with a member of the COL (contacts at the end of Pine Cone) if you would like to be more involved. With luck we can arrange another visit to Godshill and Sandyballs in the Spring to view the results of this collaborative project.

Charlotte Jones

Pine Cone

Order of Woodcraft Chivalry

Meet the Totem

The top of the carved wooden totem is a golden eagle representing Aubrey Westlake son of the founder Ernest Westlake who later established the Forest School at Sandyballs amongst many other achievements. He was given the name Golden Eagle as his ceremonial name by the Order.

Although its difficult to show the detail in these photos you can see different emblems and symbols of the OWC history and cultural links.

We hope to create illustrations and text which tells the story of the totem—watch this space and do share any photos or memories you have of when it was made and installed.

Blue Sky!

Memories of Camping with the OWC By Pelican (Mick Tutt)

Back in the late 1980’s, courtesy of the Ridley kindred, we held two summer camps at St Columb Major where we were blessed with blazing hot weather. Our area for camping was at the bottom of a fairly steep hill and you had to cross a brook to get to it using the stepping stones thoughtfully placed there.

Our first visit was just after Frances was born; so Sheena would have been about 6 years old. Days passed in an idyllic fashion – the brook, having been dammed, provided a deep pool in which to paddle and float, nearby attractions included the harbour at Padstow meaning fresh fish in abundance and there were two outstanding local events scheduled.

Each year St Marwgan the local RAF base had an airshow, and we knew it was imminent because the Red Arrows spent the days beforehand practising their manoeuvres apparently using ‘our field’ as their marker for their passes over the base. We could float in the pool and watch the planes overhead…

All of which proved to be nothing compared with the experience of the airshow, itself. Both Concorde and a Vulcan bomber were lined-up and again ‘our field’ seemed to be their marker Concorde flew, not much above the trees, as it made its way towards the airfield and then the Vulcan came overhead turned on its tail and appeared to ascend like a rocket before then turning in an arc and making what in effect was a dummy bombing run on the airfield. I may not have ever approved of the operational intent of this killing machine but, as with Concorde, its design and appearance were to be marvelled at, as things of beauty.

At one of these camps we also discovered that the pub in St Columb planned a barn dance to coincide with the airshow. Myself and Sheena and a group of around 20 or so set out for what we believed would be an early evening of enjoyment. Little did we know that the landlord had other ideas and, as the evening wore on and the dancing continued, time slipped by until we heard the pub’s bell ring with not ‘Last Orders at the Bar’ but ‘Lock In’. Sheena and I were ‘trapped’, along with rest of the party and with no way of alerting Sue or others left back at the camp.

Finally, the lock in was lifted—Sheena and I led the way back to our field. We managed to negotiate the stepping stones and Sheena got herself into her tent, pitched next to ours. I guess you can imagine, firstly, my reception and then that of others as they returned; with some not quite as nimbly negotiating the stepping stones...

St Columb was also the place where Alf Maddon introduced the Order to both the tipi he had constructed, from hospital bed sheets, whilst on night duty and Smiler a lurcher, whose character reflected that of Alf. Alf arrived in the middle of one night and the first people knew of his arrival was when they arose the next morning to find Alf’s new tipi erected in the middle of the field and Alf sitting, cooking breakfast. The second thing which alerted people to Alf’s arrival was when they went to get stuff for their breakfasts; to find Smiler had been there first...bacon and sausages were in short supply that morning!

My final recollection from St Columb again relates to cooking...and Petrus (Bertschinger). For a couple of years at least Alf and I had tried to get the camp to eat together by roasting a side of lamb. This required us to build a fire, which we would need to keep going for at least 12 hours, whilst a side of lamb gently roasted away. One year, at St Columb, Alf and Petrus decided to occupy that cooking time; bringing back a live (initially) lobster from Padstow harbour. They encouraged Sheena and Sophie (Myers) to befriend the lobster who became Henrietta before plunging it into a dixie of boiling water...to eat with the lamb. I wonder whether that experience was the genesis of Sheena’s antipathy towards meat...

Mannacott Farm was also a significant camp not least because of A Storm. Sue was Marshal and we had taken responsibility for organising that Summer’s Camp with the farm, on the west of Devon. We spent a weekend at the farm, in late spring; checking out the location and surrounding attractions. We concluded the weekend with an agreement, with the farmer, for the field we would use; over looking the Atlantic, from a high point above cliffs. The view was spectacular and I arrived back, congratulating myself that we had indeed selected the site which would be remembered. It was!

We arrived, late on the Friday afternoon, in mist – which, we assumed would clear the following morning...instead we awoke to ‘mizzle’, which only really cleared 4 days later as a deep depression approached. Woodcrafters do it in a Force 10 could describe the wind which blew that mizzle away the only tents which looked capable of withstanding the, increasingly over whelming, north westerly blast were the main (Order) store tent and Spike’s make shift A frame.

With enormous reluctance we decided to abandon the camp and seek shelter at the nearby Village Hall, eating first at the nearby pub. The entire camps worth of kindreds and assorted Lone Woodcrafters, sleeping on the floor of the Hall, after John Meyers in his striped pyjamas had asked for permission to turn the lights off.

The next day a hasty all Camp Council was convened and it was decided, unanimously I think, that we would re group at Greenwood; where the huts could provide shelter for those whose tents had been badly damaged and the trees would protect us from a re-occurrence of the wind of the night before. (I remember returning to Mannacott Farm in 1991 we camped in a different field, away from the cliff top!!)

We returned to Bearwood in 1992—a camp of contrasts; Week One was blazing sun and we had a cricket match and tea on the middle Saturday afternoon. England were playing Pakistan at the time and Greg (Jones) and I captained the two sides of mostly under 12s. Others prepared the tea, and organised mass tye dying for days beforehand; so that the gazebo pavilion was festooned in bunting.

There was a massive thunder storm that night the ground, literally, shook and that set the tone for Week Two being mostly dodging down pours. I remember packing-up by backing the car into the front of our enormous frame tent; so that we could get the bedding etc into the car without it being sodden wet.

Bearwood ‘92 was very different to the almost palatial place I had first been to 20 odd years earlier: the manicured front lawn on which those first camps took place stretching down to the lake, had become almost grass land; the house was in a state of dis repair; much of the grounds had been sold off to a golf club and the field we were offered was located on the far side of the lake from the house.

I regard this year being when Phoenix Lodge (almost) matured providing all the Camp Officials including Jonster (John Harries) in his first appearance as Camps Chief. I was initially thrown to be informed there would be a plan for camping none of this ‘turn up and make a decision on what takes your fancy’ (usual) routine! – but it was a perfect pitch for us...and completely opposite to Jonster’s previous incarnation, of laid-back anarchy!!

I recall that Eric (Gander) arrived with his latest version of how to entertain children (of all ages)...this year it was ropes and netting to string in the trees behind the camping field. Previous endeavours by Eric had included huge tractor tyres to place young people inside and then roll them at great speed, down a slope/hill if possible...

We had negotiated use of the indoor swimming pool (as an alternative to the lake or an outdoor pool that had to be filled at arrival always cold and unpopular). Eric revelled in his alternative to encouraging young people to climb

into his cupped hands; then throwing them into the air so they could turn a somersault before landing...by doing it in the water. Sheena was not impressed Sheena was not impressed when he persuaded her to try and the somersault was left incomplete...

My memories of Eric are not just confined to camps I also got to spend many weekends with Eric at his place, just outside Hampton Court. It was on an island, in the Thames, just up stream from the Palace, with a lawn as a back garden stretching down to the Thames.

Guests spent the night in Eric’s attic room; in hammocks strung from the rafters and I recall awaking one morning to the sight of Eric, clad in his familiar shorts and wellies, jumping up and down on the lawn, and screaming at the top of his voice as some ‘horray henry’ passed at more than 4 miles an hour! Of course, jumping up and down also induced the other spectacle for which Eric was well known; his shorts fell down...and he always went commando style!!

Eric had a house boat moored at the bottom of the lawn, as well as a rowing skiff. The roof of the house boat was a perfect place from which to exit the sauna and dive into the Thames. On one occasion, probably only shortly after arrival (and needing to get refreshed after the drive there), I came out of the sauna, across the house-boat roof and was just above the Thames when I remembered I still had my car keys (the only car keys...) in my pocket... Thankfully, they were still in there when I surfaced!

1922 illustration of Bearwood House, Berkshire.

Contact details for the Council of Leaders and Officials

CHIEFTAIN

John Pringle Jnr (Merlin)

138 Northwick Road, Worcester WR3 7EG M: 07949 808711 E: johnpringle99@gmail.com

KEEPER OF THE FIRE

Petra Houston

33 Clarendon Drive, Royal Wootton Bassett, Swindon SN4 8BT M: 07830 005625 E: phouston72@hotmail.co.uk

MARSHAL

Daniela Krawczyk

16 Esson Road, Bristol BS15 1NP

M: 07970 060620 E: dmk1977@hotmail.com

RECORDER

Katherine Pringle

21 Hartoft Street, York YO10 4BN

M: 07928 033807 E: kathpringle58@gmail.com

KEEPER OF THE PURSE

Lucy Kehoe, 60 Stowey Rd, Yatton, BS49 4HU.

T: 01934 834376 M: 07904 600446 E: lucykehoe@hotmail.com

HERALD

Sarah Ward

92 Churchill Avenue, Clevedon, North Somerset BS21 6NX

T: 01275 791304 M: 07795 551261 E: sarahward0671@gmail.com

KEEPER OF THE HONOURS TALLY

Billy Morgan

39 Bwllfa Road, Cwmdare, Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taff, CF44 8UG M: 07853 262514 E: owain777@hotmail.co.uk

COUNCIL OF LEADERS AND OFFICIALS - Continued

GLEEMAN

Glo Pringle

140 Northwick Road, Worcester WR3 7EG

T: 01905 923568 E: glopringle@talktalk.net

PINE CONE EDITOR

Charlotte Jones

Morland Cottage, Peak Lane, Compton Dundon, Somerton, Somerset TA11 6PE T: 01458 272531 M: 07512 456739 E: charlottemjones1962@gmail.com

KEEPER OF THE WARDROBE

(Charlotte Jones has care of the wardrobe and part of the OWC archive in the interim)

PHOENIX LODGEMASTER

Spike Leggatt

43 St. Georges Drive, Chichester PO19 8SS M: 07780 614121 E: spike@beerpiglets.co.uk

Liaison (not on the Council of Leaders but help us to maintain links with other groups with links to the practice and ideals of woodcraft).

BRAZIERS LIAISON,

Aggie Forster

E: aggiegoatmother@hotmail.com https://www.braziers.org.uk/

GRITH PIONEERS LIAISON

Ian Graham, E: i.j.graham@lboro.ac.uk

INTERNATIONAL LIAISON - (vacant) virtual links through the Blue Sky World Woodcraft website. https://www.blueskyworldwoodcraft.org/

THE ORDER OF WOODCRAFT CHIVALRY

The Order of Woodcraft Chivalry is a small but well established movement founded in 1916 by Ernest Westlake, naturalist and research scientist, in collaboration with Ernest Thompson Seton, American naturalist-author.

It is an educational and social fellowship, of both sexes and all ages, non-political and non-denominational. Members believe in the ‘Woodcraft Way’ of first hand experience and the ‘chivalrous spirit’ of helping others and being ready to respect and understand all peoples.

The aim of the Order can be found in the Affirmation to which all members subscribe:

To respond to the call of the world of nature, seeking from it simplicity, good sense and fortitude. To pursue bravely and gaily the adventure of life, cherishing whatever it holds of beauty, wonder and romance, endeavouring to carry the chivalrous spirit into daily life.”

Membership of the Order is open to all who feel themselves in sympathy with its Affirmation. It includes families, kindreds and individuals, or lone members. Activities during the year include weekend camps and social gatherings ad a two week Summer Camp during which members come together for ‘Folkmoot’, our annual general meeting.

We hope this Pine Cone edition will have given you some idea of our activities. If you would like to know more about the Order and perhaps to attend one of our camps please contact the Herald (address inside back cover).