1st Lower Morden Scout Group

Reminiscences of my Scouting Times - Part 4

At the end of reminiscences part three I mentioned that special camp at Walton Firs. It was about 1962 or '63 when scouts from the whole county attended a camp which was to be visited by the then Chief Scout Lord Maclean. The event was called 'Operation Touchdown' because the Chief was going to arrive by helicopter. Helicopter travel although quite common even then, was nowhere near an every day occurrence as it is now so this was going to be quite special. There were hundreds of us it seems, all under canvas, and it rained and rained and then it rained some more for good measure and it didn't stop all weekend! Needless to say the helicopter was grounded, the Chief arrived by car, if he actually came at all because I certainly didn't see him and in any case we were all so wet that we couldn't have cared less anyway! To make matters worse we of the 12th had to cook on wood fires. Remember Timber Woods was nothing if not a traditionalist and such handy tools like calor gas stoves were an anathema to him, so as well as being wet through we were hungry, too! The whole affair was nicknamed 'Operation Washout!' This was only once in a few times that we camped at Walton Firs, which I understand no longer belongs to the Scout Association and that's a pity, I think, but I remember it as a smart place not too far from home where I spent some happy times. In the year 2000 I happened to be near to the site and I visited for the first time in over 30 years. It was on a weekday afternoon and the place was totally deserted. Perhaps I shouldn't have but I explored the place for an hour or so with my thoughts reaching back. Did I really remember this place? Was that where the Providore was? Did we pitch our tents in this clearing? Who knows? Fond memories of good times with the nostalgia quotient rising all the while. I have not returned since.

The 12th Morden, your 'parent' group, put on a Gang Show one year, written and directed by Timber. One wonders where that man found the time and energy! We were joined by Girl Guides from a local group. Dear Brian Whalebone will remember taking the lead part in a sketch in which he played Gerty, a bride jilted at the altar. Imagine Brian parading on the stage dressed in a white bridal gown to the chorus of

Someone's done the dirty on our Gerty
Someone's pulled a fast one on the Bride
The bloke that was to marry poor old Gerty
Has jumped the hook and scarpered on the side!

Do you remember that, Brian?

On the marriage theme again I was one of several 'couples', the others being Guides, who took part in a sketch called Mr. Brown and Miss Suzanne. I can't recall what it was about really but I remember the name of my Miss Suzanne. She was Valerie and she was a pretty girl. She lived in Monkleigh Road. Wow! It's all coming back to me! I wonder what she's doing now. She's a Grandma now I expect. But I did my bit, make up and greasepaint and all! Can you imagine a stage being set up in the hall now? Do you put on Gang Shows now I wonder?

In those days it was most Scouts ambition to achieve the 'Scout Cord'. One had to attain the First Class badge and six proficiency badges to get the Cord. It was a twisted green silky cord which had tassels on the ends. It was looped around the right shoulder, I think, through the epaulette and with the tassels dangling down the front. These Scout cords were not too common in the greater scheme of things and those of us who wore them thought that we were the bees knees. Do bees have knees, I wonder? In modern parlance you might say that we thought that we were 'the business'.

I really had a grand time in the Troop. I became Patrol Leader of Eagle Patrol, with a lad called Reg Newnham as assistant and I can remember lots of daft things which now make me smile. Things like bullocks from the next field getting into ours at a camp in Dorset and causing havoc among the tents. Or high winds ripping our specially made and quite expensive polythene dining shelters to shreds. Another was helping a wobbly older scout back to camp on day after he'd had too much cider to drink and throwing him in a ditch when Timber came walking down the hill towards us. But all these things were fun and character building and activities with the Movement mostly helped to create rounded, sensible and good young people who would hopefully go on to better things. The Movement was recognised as encouraging a way of life which would be of benefit to everyone. I hope that it still has that reputation.

As the age of fifteen beckoned it was time to leave the Troop and move onto the Senior Scouts. Now these really were the grown ups and by that age we were ready for it. So, maroon berets and fluffy garter tabs beckoned and when I write again I'll tell you more.

John Wilkin former Cub, Scout and Senior Scout of the 12th Morden Group.

(Past Times 1)

(Past Times 2)

(Past Times 3)