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10 Sutton Coldfield, R.N.Unit No. 58, 171 Birmingham Headquarters: Indomitable, Powell’s Pool, Sutton Park www.suttonseascouts.org.uk email:[email protected] Registered Charity No. 508682

ISSUE NO 0030 March 2017 DATES – See months ahead in separate attachment but note especially:-

S/C MODEL RAILWAY SOCIETY BISHOP WALSH SCHOOL We have again been asked to assist set up 21 April and dismantle 23 April 16.00 hrs both days – will you help, please, and raise funds for the Group? Contact Rob Nicholas Email [email protected] Text 07715747425

ROYAL NAVAL INSPECTION Tuesday 16 May

FUN RUN Sat 04 June– are you running and pushing our boat?

FAMILY 75th BIRTHDAY CAMP Weekend 07/08/09 July

ACTIVITIES, RESULTS, NOTES, NEWS READ ON OUR NEW GROUP SCOUT LEADER Welcome to John Burke, well known to many over the years for his support and help at Troop Level. When the vacancy arose for a new GSL, John jumped at the opportunity to take up the role and if history is anything to go by we are all assured of strong future under his office. His job outline is to manage and support the Scout Group and its Leaders to ensure it runs effectively and that Scouting within the Group develops. It certainly will. Doug congratulates John on taking up his new role and we thank retiring GSL, Roger Nicholls, for his leadership over the last 3 years INDOMITABLE SHIP’S CREST We have obtained a replica crest from HMS Indomitable and you will find this displayed in the Fo’c’s’le, above door to Galley. R N SWIMMING GALA - JANUARY This annual event takes place at HMS Raleigh, Torpoint, Cornwall & being an eligible RN Recognised Group we were able to take part and fielded both Scout and Explorer Teams Scouts - Maisie Sutton, Zeb Bachelor, Luke Douglas, Emily Perkins, Catherine Meehan & Ruth Culinane Explorers - Savanna Lea, Keeley Knight-Harwood, Jared Roche, Callum Simner, Ben Allen nd Maisie came 2 in the under 12 freestyle and Callum, Ben & Alana (a young girl borrowed from Warwick explorers) came third in the U18 relay. Thus a silver in the Scout U12 and a bronze in the nd Explorer U18. The Explorers also gained 2 place in the challenge competition held during the weekend. Congratulations to all as this is the first time in a number of years that we have won any medals. (Reporting by Savanna Lea)

SCOUTS First of all 3 Reports from Elodie Lancaster GANG SHOW If you did not manage to get along you missed a fantastic show of young talent. Scouts, Elodie & Cameron Lancaster, Explorer, Savanna Lea & Beaver Assistant Chris Brown took to the stage during half term in the Sutton Coldfield’s th 50 Year of Gang Shows. Songs were sung with such gusto that Elodie unfortunately lost her voice during a solo performance but did manage to get it back in time for the last 2 shows. A great time during the 6 months of rehearsals & the week of the show, making new friends from around the district. Scouts & Explorer were noted in a blacked out piece with UV drummers & dancers and a Beaver leader was dressed as ginger Spice! What’s that all about? Elodie cannot wait for the next one to start in 18 months’ time. (Reporting by Elodie) The Sea Scout “Gang”

Guess who?►► DISTRICT ARCHERY COMPETITION Greg, Cameron & Elodie recently took part in the District archery competition last weekend and although they did not win th (4 overall), all 3 did manage to hit the gold bull’s-eye at least once. Cameron came th 10 overall individually. (Reporting by Elodie) KAYAK RIVER TRIP MARCH 2017 Zach, Luke, Beatrice, Elodie & Cameron all took part in this year’s first exhilarating river kayak trip with the rd 3 Walsall Sea Scouts. The 6 ½ mile trip along the River Tame was definitely an adventure to remember. They all went through rapids and learnt new skills. So after recovering from the hard work on the river and rapids all are desperate to go on the next trip. (Reporting by Elodie) (Editor – Well done to Elodie for your reporting 3 events and enabling us to be part of your experiences).

ZACH’s KAYAK TRIP REPORT (Zach Scrivens) th Saturday the 11 of March I arrived at the boathouse and waited for the people from Walsall Sea Scout Group and helped Andy sort out our kayaks. Walsall eventually

arrived - I was happy because I hated just sitting and waiting. We hopped on the minibus and introduced ourselves and I was able to sit in the front with Elodie and Beatrice my friends. Lee closed the door and we headed off . The mini bus ride was longer than I expected to be but we eventually got to the river, put on our bouyancy aids and helmets, and set off on the water. A few hours into the journey we found a mini island so went around it, following which we had lunch on a gravel slope. After lunch we set off to the end of the river and whilst heading home there was a fisherman so we stayed clear so as not to disturb his net. Finally we reached our destination, loaded up our kayaks, packed away and headed home. It was a hard but enjoyable day. Thanks to Leaders Andy Millross & Lee Isherwood. (Editor – Thanks Zach for your report) KNIFE SKILLS & FOOD PREP An evening of knife skills, whittling with Andy Millross, & and food prep with knives. Some very tasty and healthy wraps were the result. In training already for Camp & District Cooking Competitions FIRST AID TRAINING Emergency Aid Stage 3

EXPLORERS On the 20th January 2017 The Sutton Coldfield East and West District Cub Scouts held a Cub Night Hike in Sutton Park. The Explorer Scouts volunteered to help out and marshall an area base, which entailed radioing information to back to base regarding cubs arriving and moving on. During a very chilly night Explorers (no surprise here) cooked sausages and made hot dogs to keep themselves warm. The event contributed to their Explorer Nights and also Young Leaders Award. Well done also to our Explorers in assisting at Beavers & Cubs – see below and other items in Newsletter.

What Concentration!

CUBS

BEAVERS HAULED “ASHORE” 6 Beavers have just joined Cubs hauled in as you can see from photo. Welcome to Matthew, Alfie, Daniel, Connor, Damien and Noah who were all due to be invested on the 15 March, all desperate get into their Cub uniforms!!

Heave Ho!

CUB ACTIVITIES Night Hike 20 January 7 Cubs, mostly Sixers and Seconders went to this event. All thoroughly enjoyed the night as Alan provided walkie talkies to enable the Cubs to obtain coordinates so they could set the compass to find the next location – Cubs gained their Night Hike and Navigators Badge (Big thanks to the Explorers plus the Leaders Alan and Maria for taking the walk to another level). District Chess Competition 04 February – A favourite event for Akela as the Cubs are very quiet and she thinks she should run a Chess Competition every Wednesday night! Our Team did brilliantly, William Stead, Fraser Paterson, Alfie Davies and Connor Grimston rd coming 3 in the West District which resulted in the boys winning Bronze medals. Special “BRAVO “ to Alfie and Connor who have just come up to Cubs from Beavers. Bone Trophy 04 March – William Todd, William Stead, Matthew Moule and Warwick Lea did a sterling job in taking 3rd place in the West District

BADGES BEING AWARDED Scientist Badge x 12 Night Hike 2 x 2 Astronomers Badge x 8 Night Hike 1 x 5 Disability Awareness x 16 Swimmers Stage 1 x 2 Nights Away x 6 Swimmer Stage 2 x 2, Navigators Badge x 7 Reader Badge x 1 Outdoor Challenge x 6 Very busy Cubs and now very busy adults to get sewing! WHAT’S NEXT FOR CUBS 02 April – Faiths for Fun (County Event) 13 May - Provisional Date – Sports Day 23 – 25 June - Cub Camp TBA – Possible District Cricket Competition, date and location to be arranged

HOW TO TIE A TALLYBAND Beavers can be sensible

Scouts & Explorers - A key element of our uniform Check it out at the link below. https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_bJ8Ir e3u24R3k3U2syNEhCVzg/edit

SAINSBURYS 2017

ACTIVE

KIDS

Please collect and put your tokens in the box in the Fo’c’s’le reception

BEAVERS With the help of our enthusiastic Explorers, we reorganised our full-to-bursting Beaver colony into lodges in January - this has been a great success, allowing the Beavers to work and play within their lodge teams and has coincided with the whole colony completing their Teamwork Challenge badge. We've had a busy Badge-focussed term, including an evening dedicated to Beavers bringing in items for their Collectors, Hobbies, Sports and other badges. We were hugely impressed by the variety of interests within the group. Two Beavers even managed to complete four badges each on that night! ◄ What concentration

or silly

but whatever they are – a great contribution to our/your Group and enjoying their Scouting

We carefully planned a dark January winter's evening to work on the Space badge. Unfortunately the weather did not comply with our plans, but the heavy rain alternating with fog did not put us off and the Beavers enthusiastically learnt about constellations, planets and space missions. We are still waiting for a clear Tuesday evening to get outside and look for the stars ourselves hopefully this will come around before the evenings get light again!

PHOTOGRAPHS Many photos of Activities at Beavers

We had a Scotland themed meeting in January to mark Burns Night, with caber tossing and shortbread tasting on the menu, along with creativity designing their own tartan and clan crests. Throughout the half term the Beavers have also increased their skill set by learning how to sign their names (using the British Sign Language alphabet), lighting a candle, tying their neckerchiefs and decorating biscuits (apologies to parents for sending the Beavers home covered in sticky icing!).

VOLUNTEER CRISIS - DAILY TELEGRAPH

Finally we're very happy to confirm the appointment of our new Beaver leadership team. Chris Brown (Assistant Beaver Scout Leader) has now been joined by Jocelyn Swann (also ABSL), along with Sectional Assistants Annie Moule, Tracy Adams & Mark Jackson. Big thanks go to all the Cub and Scout leaders who've helped us out during this term (Burkey, Angie and Doug) and also special thanks to parent Richard Harris for his caber tossing & space badge expertise and to Lawson Cooper for his guest appearance as Badge Examiner!" Three of the Beavers who recently went up to cubs have completed work for their Bronze Chief Scouts awards. Well done to Alfie Davies, Connor Grimston and Daniel White.

and others for the Group (e.g. Rededication Service) have been taken by Richard Harris, a former Sea Scout, to whom we express our thanks. [email protected] 07834933937 www.richardtharris.com Volunteer crisis as young won’t give up time Have a look at :http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/16/volunte er-organisations-face-recruitment-crisis-youngpeople/ Item includes “Scouts said that they had a waiting list of 46,000 children & desperately needed more volunteers to run sessions”. Our Explorers are, however, doing their bit – check out their valued assistance helping at Beavers & Cubs in the items in this Newsletter. Are there any more willing volunteers out there to “man our ship”. You might have just one particular skill or just 1 hour per week, but it all helps

BOAT MAINTENANCE Problems this winter - rot found in the gunwales of 2 Rovers, but service team OfBoat are tackling the work. It all takes (volunteer) time but repairs now finished on 1 of the boats launched 24 March for the start of the boating season .

BOXING DAY FOOTBALL 2016 LEGENDS v YOUTH A thrilling festival of football. 16 -7 to the leaders. Man of match awards to father and son pairing Noah and dad, Anton. Liam 3, Jim 4, Roger, Anton, Burkey 7. Ben and Solomon on score sheet with Noah for scouts. Doug spends Boxing Day in A and E with over stretched ligaments in his hip. Replacement in the future perhaps.

Men of the Match Father & Son Anton & Noah

FROM THE ARCHIVES Going through the Group Archives, Angie (Akela) may be old but not quite old enough to be in this picture of our Cubs in 1943

And Jo Tayler has sent us this note:_ My uncle Bobby Brimson is the one in the centre of the middle row. My dad Frank and my other uncle Billy were two of the first in the Group. My brother also was in the Group and has many happy memories. We also have a similar photo from former scout Brian Cadman.

Great morning - the kids were brilliant as usual.

REDEDICATION SERVICE 22 JANUARY 2017 A lovely Group service for all uniformed sections and parents & supporters.

Brian is bottom row on right with his sixer stripes on left arm, but significantly his father Sid Cadman is in the middle of the back row. Sid was then Cubleader and eventually became Group Scout Leader. We are collecting together photos over the past 75 years and hope to have a display ready for the celebration camp in July.

NAUTICAL TERMS FOUND IN THIS NEWSLETTER STAY SAFE LEAFLETS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE The world is constantly changing and there are always new ways to communicate with friends, explore the world and get connected. Society puts pressure on young people to experience new things, but that can make them feel vulnerable and unsure about the world around them. The STAY SAFE leaflets contain information for young people about how to stay safe online and in the real world, and how to report something that makes them feel worried, scared or upset. They can be downloaded in pdf format from the links below: (CTRL+Click) BEAVERS STAY SAFE CUBS STAY SAFE SCOUTS STAY SAFE EXPLORERS STAY SAFE

Fo’c’s’le (Forecastle, pronounced fowk-sul) refers to the upper deck of a sailing ship forward of the foremast, or the forward part of a ship with the sailors' living quarters (This is our reception coffee lounge) Gunwale (pronounce “gunnell”) is the top edge of the side of a boat. Originally it was the "gun ridge" on a sailing warship. This represented the strengthening wale or structural band added to the design of the ship, at and above the level of a gun deck .

DISTRICT TEAM Best wishes to our newly appointed commissioners Paul Little – District Commissioner (DC) Brian Harvery – Assistant District Commisioner (ADC)

GOOUTDOORS DISCOUNTS FOR SCOUTS http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/scouts Show your neckeckerchief in store or quote 10GOSCT on line.

PHOTO GALLERY CAN YOU SPOT ANYONE NOT ENJOYING THEMSELVES? BEAVERS ON A FRENZY

THEY LIKE A CHALLENGE ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO SWEETS

CREATIVE CUBS

OFBOAT AND EXPLORERS SERVICING RESCUE BOAT AND AND MAKING SURE OUR PICOS AND TOPPERS ARE READY FOR SUMMER SAILING.

SCOUTS INVESTITURE

READY, STEADY COOK - A PATROL PRODUCES A CULINARY FEAST

KAYAKING DOWN THE RIVER – BEATRICE, CAMERON, ELODIE, LUKE AND ZACH

REDEDICATION SERVICE