Scout magazine by Rose Lewis

Welcome to the very first issue of Scout Journal, and the wondrous world that encompasses our devotedly printed publication. Thought Scout was just another magazine? You thought wrong. Scout is an attitude; a pioneering spirit that allows you to be whomever you want to be, regardless of age. Here at Scout, we believe youthfulness is a state of mind, not a time of life. Whether you are 16 or 66, we believe anyone and everyone should embrace the power of youthfulness. You might be weary from your nine-to-five work slog, or worn out by your Jeremy Kyle-fuelled mornings since becoming a retiree. Whatever your condition, you could probably do with getting out of your daily grind. We can’t do this for you, but we can sure as hell inspire you to do so yourself. Who’s to say you can’t be fascinated by the things you once loved as a kid? Who’s to prevent you from traveling to a place you’ve always dreamt about? Who’s to tell you that you cant climb trees? Youthfulness is uninhibited exploration; a spirited spontaneity that allows you to make the most of life. Life is short, but in Scout, age is meaningless. The splendor of adventure has shaped the subject of our first issue. In the following pages you will meet courageous and compelling folks of all kind, from an 75-year-old globetrotting backpacker, to a die-hard Cliff Richard fan. Be inspired by these engaging characters, and embark on your own adventure.

People 4. The Generational Skaters 8. The Voyaging Silversmiths 10. The Seasoned Devotee 12. Hektor Krome- The Abiding Adventurer

Culture 18. Four Films for an Ageless Adventure

Style 20. Sail Away Splendid 26- In Raputre

Mark Lewis and his daughter Judy are skateboarding fanatics, riding their boards wherever and whenever possible in their hometown of Bristol. Grinding and kickflipping across the smoke-suffused streets of their city, anywhere they go, it is guaraneed their boards will go too. Interview & pictures by Rose Lewis How long have you both been skateboarding for? (Mark) A very long time! I started skateboarding way back in the Seventies when I was about ten. I stopped for a while, and now I’m 45, doing it all over again! (Judy) On and off for a good few years. My dad and I recently got into skating again, and I haven’t been able to put my board down since. What do you love about skateboarding? (Mark) For one, it’s a great way of getting around. It’s fast, as well as cost and energy efficient! I guess I just feel really free and liberated when I skate. What skateboarding tricks do you have up your sleeve? (Mark) I mostly freestyle with tricks, and don’t take it too seriously, so I do what I want. I am pretty good at flip tricks though; mostly kickflips, although I did do a great treflip the other day! (Judy) I generally use my board for getting around rather than doing tricks; I’ll leave that to the professionals! I’d definitely like to get better at grinds though. Do you both get along with each other? (Judy) Most of the time, but we do have our father-daughter fall-outs every now and again. As cheesy as it sounds, skating is great in the sense that it lets us spend time with each other. How do you keep a youthful attitude? (Mark) I think distinct interests that you can really get into stops things from getting boring. For me, that’s skateboarding- it prevents day-to-day life from seeming too ‘routine’. (Judy) I agree; being enthusiastic about whatever it is that you like doing definitely helps to keep a positive, fresh outlook on life.

Jane Kennedy and Omar Trepat are the owners of jewelry company Jaom Jewelry. During the summer, the pair scoot off to a slew of UK music festivals to sell their handcrafted goods. Come winter, they travel across the world in search of materials by which to make their intricate creations. Interview by Rose Lewis. Pictures- Jane & Omar’s own. Why did you decide to start your own business? (Jane) I met Omar whilst backpacking, shortly after I left University. At this point he was already jewelry making, travelling across Asia to source metal and stones for his pieces. I found the whole process fascinating, whist the idea of travelling for business certainly appealed to me! We got married, and our professional partnership naturally fell into place. Since then, we haven’t looked back. What do you love most about your job? (Omar) I love the craftsmanship of creating special, one off pieces for people to cherish. I also relish the interaction and buzz of trading at festivals; everyone is in great spirits, which guarantees a fantastic working environment! Which festivals are you planning to sell at this summer? (Jane) First up is Sunrise in early June. Then it’s the big one, and Omar’s favorite; Glastonbury, in late June. Whilst it generates a lot of profit, I prefer smaller festivals like WOMAD, which we’ve got planned for July. Then there’s Boomtown and Shambala in August, and finally Bestival in September, which is a lot of fun. Phew! Are your material-sourcing trips purely for business, or a little bit of pleasure? (Omar) Believe it or not, our trips are very laborious! In February we usually spend time in Bali, Indonesia, liaising with suppliers. Then in May we’ll often visit Turkey and Morocco, seeking out their native materials along the way. Of course, being surrounded by such beautiful scenery has its perks, inspiring us to no end! I’m originally from Argentina, so England’s bleak winters are something I’m unfortunately yet to embrace. How do you keep a youthful attitude? (Jane) Our line of work requires constant communication, which always keeps things fun. Working in different environments, whether it is at a festival or in our studio, also allows us to have a fresh perspective. Above all, we make sure we’re genuinely interested in what we’re doing- otherwise it wouldn’t be worth it.

Pauline Ludlam is an avid member of York’s thriving Cliff Richard fan club community. So far, Pauline has been to 50 Cliff Richard concerts, 5 trips to the artist’s vineyard, and 3 of his charity balls. She has recently discovered a 24-hour Cliff Richard radio station… Interview & pictures by Rose Lewis. Why do you love Cliff Richard so much? Sir Cliff is an icon of British pop, and has been for a very long time! He’s also a fantastic performer, a generous philanthropist and a brilliant actor. Of course he’s a good-looking fellow too, especially as a bearded Heathcliff… What’s the best thing about being in a fan club? Its so much fun! Some of my longest friendships have come about from the fan club; it’s a good way of meeting people with similar interests to you. We’ve had some great times throughout the years, travelling the world to see our favorite star perform. Visiting Cliff ’s Algarve winery has been a definite highlight, getting a little too merry on all the free samples! What do you enjoy about going to concerts? The atmosphere is always electric. Everyone is there to be entertained, and we know just about all the words to every song. Cliff ’s in his seventies now, but he still has so much energy, getting the crowd going like he always has done. What does your husband think about your Cliff Richard adoration? At first he was a bit wary and thought it was silly. Now I think he secretly loves it! He’s even become our resident tour driver, chauffeuring us to every concert with no complaints. What keeps you young in spirit? Having fun and not taking anything to seriously has helped me keep a young attitude to life. You never know what might happen, so you might as well celebrate and enjoy each day to the full- that’s my thinking!

Enter the fascinating world of backpacking maverick Hektor Krome... By Rose Lewis. Photographs by Judy Lewis-Jones.

Some people will amble through the treadmill of life at a reasonable pace, unassumingly proceeding through the mapped milestones of society until they reach old age. Hektor Krome is different. A 75-year-old vagabond voyager, Krome has been exploring our curious world for 50 years. In 1972, Krome professedly realized his 28 years on earth was in fact 27, in a sense gaining him a year. Rather than discounting this remarkable epiphany, he took it as his chance to do something he’d always wanted to do; to go travelling. Since then, Krome has been here, there and everywhere, with a simple focus on seeing as much of the world as he possibly can. Given his adventurous spirit, it was apt that Krome was a devil to get hold of. Fresh from being shipwrecked off the coast of the Bahamas when we finally tracked him down (no lie), Krome invited us to his homely military truck in the bucolic depths of Devon for a good old English brew. Inside his humble abode, surfaces are scattered with peculiarly puzzling artifacts. Are they souvenirs from his travels, I ask? Krome laughs. “I’m not sure I would call them souvenirs; that suggests I’m a tourist!” Tourism, I discover, is a concept that Krome isn’t particularly fond of. Having immersed himself wholeheartedly in an abundance of vibrant cultures for several decades, it’s fair to say Hektor Krome isn’t your average sightseer. I remark on his eccentric name. “After my first stint of travelling, I came back to England and met a first generation trance-synthesizer band called ‘Zorch’. They called me Hektor Krome after the high-speed, 400 ASA Ektachrome film. As you can gather from my general demeanor, I’m quite a rabbiter; so it was an ideal name for me.” Why did he want to change his name, I wonder. “It allowed me to reinvent myself. I got reborn, with a completely different idea about what I was going to do with my life.” And reinvent himself he certainly did, as he tells me wryly that he has never lived in standard housing accommodation since. Instead, the ramshackle vehicle we perch in has formed his go-to home for over 30 years. Of living ‘normally’, he declares, “I just can’t see the point in spending money, money, money. I’d hate to play the old social dance of being a wannabe.” It is anarchic views such as these that signal Krome as a self-confessed nonconformist, as he later tells me he’s ‘quite strongly against being told what to do.’ I am curious as to where the roots of his rebelliousness stem from. “I was born into an army family”, he tells me reluctantly. Was he educated growing up? “I didn’t go to University; having spent the best part of ten or 11 years at boarding school, I couldn’t hack the discipline any longer! I used to get beaten all the time, because I didn’t comply with all the rules and regulations.”

It is clear that Krome’s disdain for both conduct and control are at the essence of his urge to travel. Travelling suggests free reign and abandon, whilst Krome’s strict upbringing implies the opposite. Is this what attracts him to backpacking, I ask? “I guess it is. There are all sorts of potential fears when you’re travelling, but its one hell of an experience if you just go for it. That said, back in the day you could get away with an awful lot more than you can now; that was pre-terrorism, pre-CCTV, pre-computers.” It’s certainly true; technological advances in the modern day have meant that almost every part of the world is now under strict 1984-esque surveillance. I ask if this increased governance has affected Krome’s travels. “A little. I mean, when I first started travelling, I blagged my way into a job on a dive boat without any certifications at all”, he says. “I had a wonderful time, with intelligent people who had escaped from the big battleship that was the rest of America. But that kind of thing just wouldn’t be possible to do now.” Interminably upbeat, Krome stresses that it’s not all doom and gloom, however. He tells me that some of his most life-affirming travelling experiences have happened in recent years. “My last trip to Ethiopia was incredible, as I really got under the skin of the community I stayed with. It was everything, in so many ways.” Are there any other places that have truly affected him, I question. “India. It’s a place for everybody. In some cases, it’s the last place anybody could handle. It’s a challenge, but if you accept it, you see that family life is really strong no-matter where you are. They just get on with it, and it’s so humbling. You come back here, and think, ‘Stress? What’re you talking about?’” Having faced a multitude of enlivening experiences since travelling, Krome started talking to school pupils in 2003, in the hope that they too would be encouraged to embark on adventures. Entitled ‘UGAP’, his talk professedly enables you to ‘plan, budget, and realize your dreams.’ He states that it has ‘everything to with initiative and independence, and absolutely nothing to do with unnecessary expense.’ I ask him if he would ever consider talking to older people about his explorations. “Absolutely”, he declares. “I think travelling is incredibly important for older people; otherwise you’re just staying in your own safe and familiar rut, that you’ve dug all your life.” Does he think it’s important for older people to keep a youthful spirit? “Bloody hell- it’s so important. It’s just the way it has to be. There’s all sorts of pitfalls and traps to ‘take your youth’ from you, but in terms of energy and attitude, I’m just the bloody same.” I wonder if he’s ever thought about ‘settling down’, to which he retorts with, “No. After retiring, so many people give up in a sense, simply because their reason to live is gone; they feel like they’re on a scrapheap. I’ll do whatever I can to keep a youthful spirit.” If everyone had as much optimism and vigor as Krome, the world would assuredly be a better, if not more inspiring place to live. With all his enticing tales of peril and paradise, it’s a wonder he hasn’t put his experiences to paper, I remark. “If I had a pound for every time somebody has said I should write a book, I’d be a very rich man”, Krome laughs. “I’ve got so much writing, but it’s all unfinished.” We’ll be eagerly anticipating it, I tell him. Until then, we can all be inspired by the fantastical Hektor Krome, and his interminable appetite for adventure.

Words & illustrations by Rose Lewis.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Adapted from the revered book of the same name, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is a fantastical adventure in more ways than one. Ben Stiller plays the daydreaming Walter Mitty, a hesitant introvert who longs to escape into his imagined world. In jeopardy of loosing his job at the renowned Life Magazine, Walter commences on a trip across the world in order to find a missing photograph. Walter’s incredible expedtiton affects him in startling ways, taking him on an emotional journey as well as an enduringly physical one. An enlivening story that urges spontaneity, with striking Icelandic scenery to boot.

The Darjeeling Limited Arguable, but for us The Darjeeling Limited is amongst director Wes Anderson’s most stunningly visual work. Predating the efforts of any Instagram filter, Anderson remains the inimitable originator of retro cinematography. With this in mind, his travelogue of a train trip across India undertaken by three brothers doesn’t disappoint. Owen Wilson stars as the eldest brother, who meticulously plans the family trip in the hopes of reconnecting the trio after their father’s funeral. Of course, little goes accordingly; however, unexpected occurrences guide the brothers on their touchingly starry-eyed journey to enlightenment.

Into the Wild The ultimate chronicle of fearlessness and adventure, Into the Wild is a must-watch for anyone who’s ever dreamt of a life that goes against the grain of society. The film recounts the true story of Christopher McCandless, a privileged graduate who rejects his professional prospects and instead embarks on a thrill-seeking journey into the American wilderness. The inspiring figures he meets throughout his expedtiton alter Christopher’s perspective on life, and what it means to be living. A poignant film that resonates long after having been watched.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel In a bid to invigorate their lifestyles, a group of British retirees travel to India to stay in the supposedly lavish and newly restored Marigold Hotel. Upon arrival, the ‘hotel’ is a ramshackle residence, antiquated and lacking in sophistication. Without realisation however, the eccentric resort begins to influence the guest’s lives in ways they’d never have imagined. A witty and touching account of retired life, the film inspires in its refreshing approach to ‘growing old’. Ripe in its vigorous, colorful portrayal of India, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel will have you longing to take an exhilarative trip.

Fashion fanatic Wendy Lewis lets us raid her resplendent wardrobe, as she pays homage to the elegant flamboyance of the French Riviera in her resort- wear. Words & pictures by Rose Lewis. Styled by Wendy Lewis.

Wendy Lewis is a self-confessed hat hoarder. Her collection started in the 1980s; as a tanning aficionado, she bought sunhats for the simple reason of preventing herself from burning. Now, she has over 50 in her burgeoning collection. She talks to us about luxury, lipstick, and her lasting love of Chanel, sharing with us the style secrets she swears by. A little bit of glamour never hurt anyone. People are too cautious and sensible with what they wear these days. Fashion should be fun, and if that means being a little over-the-top then so be it. Red lipstick adds instant glamour- Chanel’s ‘Rouge Allure Pirate’ always does the trick, as does Mac’s ‘Ruby Woo.’ Earrings never fail to make anyone look stylish; the bigger the better. I prefer gold jewelry, as it stands out against my white hair. I’ll usually just by costume jewelry, as it has more of a wow-factor. Chanel will always be my favorite designer. Coco Chanel was the goddess of elegance. Her simple but stylish designs are as chic and contemporary now as they were almost 100 years ago- that’s endurance for you. She made is acceptable for women to wear men’s clothes, which is a pretty impressive achievement. Think where we’d be today without masculine tailoring! My Chanel 2.55 bag is one of my most prized possessions. Everyone should own one; they’re so sturdy! Hats make everything look better. If you have a plain outfit on, adding a bright coloured hat will make your clothes instantly pop. Floppy, suede Annie Hall-style hats are a favorite of mine, as are cream safari hats for the summer. Millinery is an undervalued craft in my opinionthe hat maker Steven Jones is a genius. The great thing about growing older is that no one can tell you what to do. You can make your own decisions- there’s no right or wrong way to act or dress. I’ve kept my fingernails long and painted them pillar-box red for years; just because I’m older it doesn’t mean I have to be boring. You can be anything, as long as it’s not boring.

Soft-hued attire for the lightness of Spring and Summer. Let the splendorous sun of the seasons charm you once more as you laze in its languid rays. Because resting is good for the soul... Pictures by Rose Lewis.

Scout editor- Rose Lewis Scout contributors- Judy Lewis-Jones, Omar & Jane Kennedy-Trepat, Hektor Krome.