Scout Group

R.N. SECTION

The shock wave caused by the change of recruitment for the C.C.F. has reached the R.N. Section, has been absorbed and has made little change. There have been only a few resignations and the Section is left in a strong position.

The policy of taking the Proficiency Examination in December, followed by the Advanced Proficiency Examination in March has borne fruit, and Higgins, Scaife and Watson G. are to be congratulated on achieving this last hurdle. This increase in the number of cadets who are qualified as instructors will lead in a very short time to a stronger band of N.C.O.s, improved instruction and greater efficiency.

We learn that Evans, who has been Instructor Petty Officer-in-charge for the last two terms, is to be promoted to higher duties with the Contingent. He is well qualified for these by reason of his Advanced Proficiency Certificate, which he has held longer than anyone else in the Section, by his experience as an instructor and a leader in the Section, and his great enthusiasm and keenness on all things to do with the Royal Navy. We congratulate him and wish him well in his final term's duty with the C.C.F. F.W.

R.A.F. SECTION

During the Easter Term the section numbered 33, which included as N.C.Os., Flight Sergeant Gartside (i/c), Sergeants Skiera and Dawes, and Corporals Bruce, Smith and Grieves, together with Corporals Dickie and Outhwaite who were utilised in training the Basic Section.

The new official textbooks arrived during the term, and these up-todate and well illustrated publications were a great help during training periods. Instruction for Advanced Proficiency was given by Sergeants Skiera and Dawes and for the Elementary Proficiency by Corporal Bruce. It was decided that cadets taking the Elementary Proficiency should sit the examination in March instead of June. This experiment proved a success, and the 11 passes included one credit (Haggie) and one distinction (Youle).

A visit to No. 9 A.E.F. at R.A.F. Dishforth was arranged on Sunday, 10th March, but owing to adverse weather conditions only four cadets were able to obtain Chipmunk flights.

The unit was fortunate in being able to avail itself of the services of Flight Sergeant Danks of R.A.F. Topcliffe, who had replaced Flight Sergeant Barrs as Liaison N.C.O.

This year the Group is running smoothly as it has done for many years, and this can be largely attributed to the excellent team of Assistant Scoutmasters we have at the moment. They have instilled enthusiasm into the whole Group and the number of activities has grown enormously. For instance, recently teams from both the Scout Troop and the Senior Scout Troop have taken part in local First Aid Competitions (the senior team being perhaps not quite so successful as the Scout team!); we have had an excellent Group Camp Fire, run entirely by the Rover Crew; and this year we already have a record number of Queen's Scouts, while the Scout Troop is rapidly approaching the stage where all the second year Scouts will hold the Scout Cord. We bid farewell to A.S.M. J. T.

Bradshaw, and thank him for all that he has done for the Group. The Crew hopes to see him from time to time during the Summer Term and the Scout Troop should have him at their Camp in the summer.

ROVER CREW

At the first meeting of the Crew this term it was realised that G. M. Holgate had left us and so a new mate had to be elected in the usual very democratic manner which always prevails when the G.S.M. is in attendance. Hopwood was asked to take on the office of "Scribe". Senior Scouts S. H. Bradley and P. E. Haxby were unanimously elected Rover Squires to fill the vacant places in the Crew left by Holgate and S. H. Reiss.

The members of the crew all felt that something positive must be done this term and so suggestions were put forward. It was decided that the outer part of the Scout Loft should be converted, by means of curtaining, carpets and chairs, into a Rover den, or, as it is now known, "The Moot Hall". This conversion and the consumption of a lot of coffee took up much of the term, but our resident composer, script writer and producer, Hirst, had been working on a comic opera, making fun of several different operas and especially "The Pirates of Penzance"

This opera was performed at a camp fire at the end of term, the whole crew and the G.S.M. taking part. Bradshaw led the singing and other members of the crew, either alone or in groups, put on items, all of which were of a high standard. Mr. Dunstan is to be thanked for his very excellent rendering of "On Top of Old Smokey".

J.H.O.

SENIOR SCOUT GROUP

At the beginning of the term S. H. Bradley and P. E. Haxby joined the select ranks of the Rover Crew and M. H. Ibberson and M. R. Wroe were appointed Patrol Leaders in their place.

The term was significant for its variety of activities. Amongst the highlights were: (i) An afternoon in the snow on the Ings, practising observation by following tracks. This resulted in a very hectic and energetic meeting, when many other members of the School were confined to the buildings. Though the majority of us were well and truly soaked, no one seemed to suffer from the experience. (ii) A night map reading exercise in heavy snowfall. We had intended to make use of the stars, but these were not visible, and the Troop was dropped in small parties in a village near York and told to race to a map reference, selecting their routes from Ordnance Survey maps. Despite the proximity to York, the winter weather • had completely changed the scene and this made the need for careful map reading more than ever necessary. Surprisingly enough, everyone was accounted for on our return! (iii) A night street exercise, when members of the Crew, assisting as "Soviet spies", were nearly arrested and charged with "loitering with intent!" J. H. Ormiston made up into a particularly impressive looking Russian, complete with large boots and fur hat. (iv) Intensive badge training continued and, as a result, twenty-seven members of the Troop gained the Ambulance badge. We should like to

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thank Mrs. Dronfield for undertaking the formidable task of testing such a large group. The fruits of the other training sessions will, we hope, be seen next term.

We congratulate M. R. Wroe on being the latest Senior Scout to gain the Queen's Scout badge. He achieved this by what must be the smallest margin ever, by gaining the last badge on the eve of his eighteenth birthday.

We should like to thank our team of volunteers who took part in the Senior Scout Ambulance Competition, our thanks particularly going to P/L. D. R. Gow for taking charge of the team. Though they could undoubtedly have achieved a higher position, the fact that they did not is not surprising, considering that they never had an opportunity to practise together as a team. The main reason for this was that Gow was occupied in winning his Exhibition at Oxford, which we felt was a much more worthwhile result than a high place in the competition. We are sorry to have to say boodbye to Gow and thank him for the part he has played in helping to run the Senior Scout Troop.

SCOUT TROOP

Training has continued this term and good progress has been made in all sections of the Scout Troop. The First Class Scouts have been successful in obtaining the following badges: —Pioneer badge by Bell, Dixon, Fear, Gill and Hothersall; Jobman badge by Fear and Gill; Linguist badge by Maslin, Thirlwell, Gow, Watts and Hothersall; Aeromodeller by Hothersall and Music Maker by Thirlwell. This means that Maslin, Gill and Hothersall have now qualified for their Scout Cord.

First aid, emergencies and estimation have been the work of the Scouts doing First Class training, although the training and testing was interrupted by the many absences caused by illness. The four Scouts who were invested last term have made very good progress and should get their Second Class badge early next term.

I should like to thank Bradshaw for all his work in training for the Scout Cord and, although he is leaving, we hope to see him at our summer camp in the Isle of Man. This will be from 30th July to 7th August and it is hoped that all Scouts will be able to attend. For the first time a party of second year Scouts are camping in the holidays under A.S.M. Bradshaw near Rievaulx, and their extra experience should be valuable at the summer camp. I should also like to thank Clegg for his help this term and for supervising our team for the Inter-Troop First Aid Competition. This competition took place at the beginning of the holidays and our team came fourth out of fourteen, with the third-highest score. This was a very creditable result because none of the more experienced Scouts was available because of the Easter Camp.

EASTER TRAINING CAMP

At the beginning of the holidays ten senior members of the Scout Troop under A.S.M. J. T. Bradshaw held a training camp near Rievaulx Abbey. Reports that the site was an ideal one were confirmed on our arrival.

Some difficulty was experienced whilst erecting the tents as a high wind blew up. However, by the end of the next day we were well settled in and had explored the surrounding woods looking for trees suitable for firewood and a flagpole.

We were joined on Wednesday by M. A. Clegg. His arrival brought welcome sunshine as well as the not-so-welcome activity of being dragged

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