Posts by: franfeehan

6-8th September 2019 was the date of the Gilwell Reunion. 4 lucky Leaders had a wonderful weekend exploring all that Gilwell Park and the Reunion had to offer. They had sunny days, fun, fellowship with Scout Leaders from around the world and a chance to sleep in without being disturbed by young scouts. But what is the Gilwell Reunion?

100 years of Gilwell Park

On the edge of a clearing in the woods, behind a bright white manor house on the edge of an ancient forest just outside London, stands The Gilwell Oak. Unbeknownst to many, this tree is deeply rooted in Scouting history, and remains a symbol of its growth. For 100 years, Scouts and adult volunteers from around the world have gathered beneath its boughs while undertaking training at Gilwell Park. If Brownsea Island – the site of Robert Baden-Powell’s first camp for just 20 boys – is the birthplace of Scouting, then Gilwell Park is its lifelong home.

This year will mark 100 years since Gilwell Park opened and, in true Scouting style, the century of success will be celebrated with a variety of events at the historic site, exhibitions of Scouting souvenirs through the ages, and a wealth of information on Gilwell Park’s heritage.

Gilwell Park was originally bought as a campsite in 1919, using donations from a Scottish Scout Commissioner who wanted to give East London Scouts some outdoor space for their activities. However, the First World War (1914-18) had lost the country thousands of young men, including over 5,000 Scouts and adult volunteers. A new generation of leaders was needed to guide the 200,000 strong youth membership, and so a training centre was established alongside the campsite at Gilwell. The first course ran in September 1919, and the occasion is commemorated every year with the infamous “Gilwell Reunion”.

A century of success

The early training courses, led by Baden-Powell himself, taught leaders practical skills such as pioneering, campcraft, games, fieldwork and pathfinding – activities which remain at the heart of Scouting. One hundred years on, successful participants are still awarded the Wood Badge, which was originally made using beads from a Zulu necklace Baden-Powell picked up on his travels. The founder was determined that Scouting be open to all and believed that anyone could be a member if they had “a good stout heart”. In 1982, on Scouting’s 75^th anniversary, Gilwell Park hosted Extoree ’82 – the first international camp to offer equal access to all Scouts. In 1995, the Queen came to open a newly refurbished training centre and in 2001, Gilwell became the official HQ of The Scouting Association. In its first 100 years, Gilwell Park has gone from modest estate to state-of-the-art training and activity centre that welcomes more than 60,000 youngsters from across the globe every year.

My experience at the World Scout Jamboree 2019, by Caitlin

Last summer I took part in the most amazing experience of my life. I went to the 24th World Scout Jamboree in West Virginia, USA.  Here were Scouts from all over the world who had a taste of each other’s cultures, picked up skills for life and made friends. From paddle boarding to mountain climbing I had many amazing experiences and enjoyed the picturesque landscape. I met loads of cool people, swapped neckerchiefs, badges and Welsh goodies with them. The other Scouts in my unit had become a like a family to me as we had bonded through months of preparation camps, fundraising events and get togethers. We were honoured to represent South Wales at such a great event.  The Jamboree at the massive Summit Becktal Reserve was full of Scouting groups from 160 countries. Scouting is truly international.

In the USA we had two city experiences in New York and Washington. In New York, we had a tour of iconic sites, Central Park, Times Square and the Statue of Liberty. In Washington we watched a baseball game, visited the Lincoln Memorial and went shopping. Following the Jamboree, we were welcomed to Canada by our home hospitality Scout group (HOHO). When in Canada we took part in Scouting activities such as canoeing and swimming and learned about the area where we were staying.

Over the whole experience of preparation days, camps, fundraising and the trip itself, I made memories and friends for life.

I’d like to thank everyone who helped me go on this trip of a lifetime and made my experience so great.

(5 Llanishen & Lisvane Scouts and Fiery Dragon Explorers received a grant from the Lisvane Community Association towards the £3.5K that they each had to fundraise to attend the WSJ2019).

Scout Post

Scout Post is about to be launched for 2019.  Please buy your stamps from our brilliant outlets, Lisvane Store, Kelvin Francis, InSync Pharmacy and Treetops and post our cards in their postboxes. We are very grateful to them for helping us again.  Or buy them from a member of Llanishen & Lisvane Scout Group (red and black necker).  Thank you for supporting us.

Last posting day Mon 2^nd Dec Deliveries start Fri 6^th Dec

Deliveries completed Sun 15^th Dec

UPGRADE OF LIVSEY SCOUT HALL

This process, that started approx. 13 months ago, with external wall insulation being applied to the outside of the Scout hall in Llanishen, is nearly finished.  We have undertaken a big list of renovations, including a new heating system, extra wiring, moving storage cupboards, new roof ladder, sanding and varnishing floor and full decoration of all areas.  Photos next month when fully completed.

There is also a list of things we would like to complete in the near future, which includes a patio, porch over front door, new disabled entrance, new drainage on the driveway, shower and sound system.  With the new hot tub, we will be able to let it as a luxury pad on Airbnb (joking!).

Huge thanks to those Leaders and Parents who have given their time up to make this happen.  It has been a difficult time, trying to fit the upgrade around running our sections, fundraising and taking into account when the hall is being used. 

GRAND OPENING OF LIVSEY HALL AND SUMMER RAFFLE

This fabulous and fun event happened Saturday 29th June, when the Scout Hall was nearly completed.  The weather was good, the BBQ was tasty, the raffle prizes were never ending, the music was good, (provided by The Nobodies) and the drinks were cold.  Everyone enjoyed themselves.  Thanks to John Lancaster, who was a Scout in the Group for many years and is now a Councillor in Llanishen, who officially cut the ribbon, shook the champagne and opened Livsey Hall.  We discovered that the date chosen was the 60^th anniversary of the original official opening of Livsey Scout Hall in 1959.

YOUR SCOUT GROUP NEEDS YOU!

Could you volunteer to help with Llanishen & Lisvane Scout Group? Have fun, exciting and amazing times as part of a thriving Scout Group. Full time or part time positions. Support and training available. Change your life! Come to section meetings for 4 weeks, before committing to be a Leader or Section Assistant.

Roles available @ Livsey Hall, Station Rd, Llanishen Scout Leader or Section Assistant,       Thu 7-9pm. Scouts are 10-14 years Cub Scout Leader or Section Assistant, Tue 6.15-7.45pm. Cubs are 8-10 years

Roles available @ Lisvane Scout Hall, Heol y Delyn, Lisvane Cub Scout Leader or Section Assistant, Wed 6.45-8.15pm. Cubs 8-10 years

We also require an extra volunteer to join the Lisvane Hall Committee (meetings about 4 times a year).  Get in touch if you can help with any of these roles.

6-8th September 2019 was the date of the Gilwell Reunion. 4 lucky Leaders had a wonderful weekend exploring all that Gilwell Park and the Reunion had to offer. They had sunny days, fun, fellowship with Scout Leaders from around the world and a chance to sleep in without being disturbed by young scouts. But what is the Gilwell Reunion?

100 years of Gilwell Park

On the edge of a clearing in the woods, behind a bright white manor house on the edge of an ancient forest just outside London, stands The Gilwell Oak. Unbeknownst to many, this tree is deeply rooted in Scouting history, and remains a symbol of its growth. For 100 years, Scouts and adult volunteers from around the world have gathered beneath its boughs while undertaking training at Gilwell Park. If Brownsea Island – the site of Robert Baden-Powell’s first camp for just 20 boys – is the birthplace of Scouting, then Gilwell Park is its lifelong home.

This year will mark 100 years since Gilwell Park opened and, in true Scouting style, the century of success will be celebrated with a variety of events at the historic site, exhibitions of Scouting souvenirs through the ages, and a wealth of information on Gilwell Park’s heritage.

Gilwell Park was originally bought as a campsite in 1919, using donations from a Scottish Scout Commissioner who wanted to give East London Scouts some outdoor space for their activities. However, the First World War (1914-18) had lost the country thousands of young men, including over 5,000 Scouts and adult volunteers. A new generation of leaders was needed to guide the 200,000 strong youth membership, and so a training centre was established alongside the campsite at Gilwell. The first course ran in September 1919, and the occasion is commemorated every year with the infamous “Gilwell Reunion”.

A century of success

The early training courses, led by Baden-Powell himself, taught leaders practical skills such as pioneering, campcraft, games, fieldwork and pathfinding – activities which remain at the heart of Scouting. One hundred years on, successful participants are still awarded the Wood Badge, which was originally made using beads from a Zulu necklace Baden-Powell picked up on his travels. The founder was determined that Scouting be open to all and believed that anyone could be a member if they had “a good stout heart”. In 1982, on Scouting’s 75^th anniversary, Gilwell Park hosted Extoree ’82 – the first international camp to offer equal access to all Scouts. In 1995, the Queen came to open a newly refurbished training centre and in 2001, Gilwell became the official HQ of The Scouting Association. In its first 100 years, Gilwell Park has gone from modest estate to state-of-the-art training and activity centre that welcomes more than 60,000 youngsters from across the globe every year.

EVENTS TO CELEBRATE CUBS 100 BIRTHDAY

CUBS 100 Thanks Tea Party @ Livsey Hall CF14 5UX

Sunday 28th February 2016, 3-5pm

Have you ever been a Cub?

Come and share your memories and photos with us.

RSVP to the Website contact.

AFON DISTRICT CUBS 100 CAMP @ MISKIN MILL

20th-22nd May 2016

CUBS 100 FUN DAY @ WOODHOUSE PARK

19th June 2016

AFON DISTRICT CUBS 100 PROMISE PARTY / CAMPFIRE @ LIVSEY HALL

Friday 16th Dec 6.30-8.30 pm

John Morgan, second left, with Scouting friends

We arrived in Coevorden, at the home of Dick and Ally Elzing, late on 29^th April. The following morning after a good night’s sleep, we went to the Fontein School in Sleen, where Dick is the headmaster. After speaking to the year 6 children about John Morgan and our Scout Group, we were taken to visit a traditional Dutch windmill and then to the Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery in Sleen to visit the grave of John Morgan and the other airmen who were killed with him.

John Morgan’s gravestone in Sleen cemetery

John Morgan’s name embossed on the plane fuselage

Hilary, Meme and Sue

With the children of Fontein School

After lunch, we went with the year 6 children, teachers and invited dignitaries to the memorial, made from the wreckage of the crashed plane, set in stone. We took part in a very moving ceremony to commemorate the young airmen whose lives were cut short by the evils of war. I made a speech, as part of the service, which was translated into English by the Headmaster. The service included speeches from Dick Elzing, the local councillor and a sister of one of the boys who found the wreckage and hid it from the Nazis. We sang the Dutch and British National Anthems and listened to the last post. It was a moving experience. On return to the school for tea and cake, we presented our friends with a welsh plaque to hang in the school hall. We also compiled a file for them about John Iorwerth Palmer Morgan, his life and family. We added some information and pictures about the history of Llanishen and Lisvane Scout Group and the memorial in St Isans Church.

Sue, Meme and I felt honoured to be at the ceremony. We were also overwhelmed by the kind welcome we received from the people of Sleen. We have even made it onto the village website!

http://www.sleen.nu/home/fotoalbums/album/1093/vliegtuigmonument-nrd-sleen-overgedragen

http://www.sleen.nu/nieuws/bericht/7680/plechtig-moment-voor-john-iorwerth-palmer

In 1921, John Morgan was born in Mill House, Tongwynlais. His parents Harold and Frances moved to Llanishen when John was a child as his father was a teacher in Llanishen school. This was located in the old building, next to the church which now houses Llanishen Good Neighbours. His father eventually became the headmaster in the village school. Llanishen was then a village on the outskirts of Cardiff. John had an older sister and a younger brother. As a young boy, he joined Llanishen and Lisvane Scout Group, progressing to be a Rover Scout. When the 2^nd World War came along, John volunteered with some of his Scouting friends to join the RAF reserve.  Unfortunately John and two of his friends were killed in action and their names are commemorated in the memorial in the Lady Chapel in St Isan Church.

Evan Palmer, one of our Scouts, with some help from his Dad, started to undertake research into the details of the lives and deaths of these three Scouts and in particular John Morgan. John’s plane was shot down at Sleen, in Northern Holland in 1943 and all six airmen died. After the bodies were removed and buried, the local people hid the plane wreckage. After the war, a memorial was erected around the metal of the plane fuselage. The names of the dead airmen were embossed onto the metal, including that of Sergeant Morgan. The memorial is currently cared for by the year 6 children of the local school. Every year, at the end of April, a service of Remembrance is held for the 6 airmen and care of the memorial is handed to the next year 6 children. Evan and Nick contacted the headmaster at the Fountain School in Sleen (Fontein School) about John Morgan and the Remembrance Service which our Scout Group hold in St Isans Church during November. The headmaster sent details of the annual service and invited members of the Scout Group to attend the service on 30^th April this year. So ……Meme, curly Sue and I are off on the plane to Amsterdam on Wednesday on an important international Scouting mission. Several people have kindly helped to dig up information about John Morgan, to present to the children in Sleen: Evan and Nick, Ces James and Sylvia Evans from Llanishen History Society and Rob Davies, our Group President, for a picture of John Iorwerth Palmer Morgan. We are hoping to forge a Scouting connection with Sleen. Meme, Sue and I are grateful to Dick Elzing, the headmaster at the Fountain School and his wife Ali for inviting us and providing us with accommodation for two nights. Finally, thanks to the Scout Group for agreeing to pay for our travel costs. #excitingscouting!

You all know, of course, that all the Leaders, Young Leaders, Group Executive members and Helpers in the Scout Group are volunteers. Why do we do it? Did we all start to help when we were young members of the movement or perhaps when our children decided to join? Did we join enthusiastically or perhaps a little reluctantly?

I joined when my son was involved in the Group as a Beaver, Cub and Scout (he is 30 now) and yes I was somewhat reluctant and a bit terrified at first. I started as Akela because there were no other Cub Leaders and I sort of picked it up as I went along. As I have grown into the role, I have become very enthusiastic about Scouting and it’s place in the lives of young people. I’m sure you are aware of this if you have ever spoken to me on the subject. It has literally changed some young people’s lives, giving them confidence, practical abilities, teamwork and leadership training.

We hope that some of our young members will continue to volunteer in Scouting or in other volunteering roles as they move towards adulthood. I was a Girl Guide when I was younger and this ignited the flame of volunteering in me. Prince Charles is also keen that young people get involved as volunteers, for the good of themselves, for others and for society. It also looks great on your CV. He has launched a campaign, “Step Up To Serve” in November at Buckingham Palace, with the help of two Scouts. It is a campaign aiming to empower young people to volunteer.

I re-tweeted from Step up to Serve, check out @LLScoutGroup or @stepuptoserve. I hope some of you are following my tweets. They are available on the right hand side of the Home page of the website. Check out the Step up to Serve website: www.stepuptoserve.org.uk

Lets all encourage each other in our volunteering roles.

Hilary Ashton
Group Scout Leader