Scouting

SENIOR SCOUT TROOP

This term the Troop numbered 25, a record so far during its five years in existence, and we found it necessary to restart Mallory and Wingate Patrols to add to the firmly established Livingstone and Scott Patrols. The P/L.s are respectively : Livingstone—J. M. Lennox; Mallory—G. D. Parkin; Scott—R. R. Baldwin; and Wingate—K. A. Steel. Nine members of the Troop remain from last year and five of these are Queen's Scouts, R. R. Baldwin and G. D. Parkin qualifying during November. Fifteen Scouts came up from the Troop; ten of these are First Class, M. J. French and J. A. Shouksmith completing the tests for the badge during the Christmas Term. We also welcome one new member who has not been a Scout.

The training programme for the term was mainly centred round the Ambulance badge and certain tests for the First Class badge, while a number of Seniors took detailed weather readings in preparation for the Meteorologist badge. A number of outdoor meetings were held, including practice in pioneering and mapping, usually with added difficulties caused by failing light. Four tea chests were converted into robust and attractive Patrol boxes and they will serve as patterns for the rest of the Group so that all Patrols will eventually have their own inexpensive storage boxes. Next term we hope to make a start on the conversion of the outer room of the Scout Store into a Senior Scout Room and these boxes will form the first, but we hope not the last, furniture for this room.

During his inspection of school groups, Mr. B. Blake, N. Riding Field Commissioner, visited us this term. He attended a normal meeting and seemed to be quite satisfied with what he saw and heard. As his one real criticism seemed to be that no one in the Group knows how to tie a clove-hitch properly, perhaps we are not doing so badly !

As noted in the Scout Troop notes, four of the Seniors have regularly been assisting Mr. Holbeche and Mr. Montgomery. This now seems to be an established tradition and probably justifies the existence of the Senior Troop more than any other single factor. As in previous years we hope that it will lead to several warrants as A.S.M. being awarded before long.

Just before Christmas some of the Senior Troop, aided by Ormiston of the Scout Troop, braved the elements to sing Christmas Carols in Clifton on two evenings. We felt we were amply rewarded by being able to donate our takings, £7 2s. 8d., to the Royal National Institute for the Blind.