SHEAF DISTRICT

 

NEWSLETTER

 

January 2009

 

 

Welcome to the New Year.  I feel certain that scouting will have an excellent 2009 as we have so many good leaders and lots of children and young adults enjoying being in the movement and new ones coming in.

 

Also in the Dates for your Diary section and elsewhere there are a number of exciting events to look forward to throughout the coming year.

 

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 2009

 

Jan  13  Tuesday Appointments Committee Meeting at Bradway 

Jan  15  Thursday City Scout Leaders Cheese & Wine at Trippet Lane  7.30pm

Jan  16   Friday Friends of Woodseats Whist Drive Helmton Road 7.30pm

Jan  17   Saturday 1st Response Course at Beauchief Baptist 9.30am-3.00pm

Jan  19   Monday Sheaf  Fellowship Meeting at Bradway 7-30pm

Jan  20  Tuesday District Cub Leaders Meeting at St James Norton 7.30pm

Jan  22  Thursday Brian Sellars

Jan  25  Sunday GSL Workshop at Wakefield

Jan  31  Saturday Modules 5 – 9 at Hesley: Contact Phil Eastburn

Feb  07 Saturday Fellowship Murder Mystery at Bradway 7.30pm

Feb 09  Monday District Executive Meeting at Bradway 7.30pm

Feb 20  Friday Freezer Camp Weekend at Hesley to  Sunday Feb 22nd

Feb 20 Friday Friends of Woodseats Whist Drive Helmton Road 7.30pm

Feb 23 Monday GSL’s Meeting at Beauchief Baptist 7.30pm

Feb 25 Wednesday Trustee Workshop Venue TBA

Mar 07 Saturday GSL Conference at York

 

Please note there will be a training session for Getting Started Modules 1-3

At Barnsley: Date to be advised.

 

 

 

 

Canoe Courses will commence immediately in the New Year from 20.00hrs to 21.00hrs.

There will be a course for beginners and another one to learn the art of rolling a canoe.

Please contact John Hall for further details – Tel: 230 5285 or Bob Teasdale – Tel: 2745172

 

 

Would all leaders please inform Maureen of any dates or articles for inclusion in the newsletter?

 

I can be contacted at

113 Woodseats Road,  Sheffield S8  OPH

postmaster@mgcarr.plus.com

Tel: 0114 220 4657

 

Sheaf District Cooking Competition

 

SATURDAY 31ST JANUARY BRADWAY SCOUT HQ               10am - 2.30pm

 

One team per scout troop; consisting of 4 scouts. Suitable clothing to be worn.

10am-12noon - preparation and cooking. 12noon-1pm serving and eating. 1pm-2pm washing and cleaning up.

2pm final inspection. Results will then be announced after which teams can clear their areas in order to leave. Judges decisions are final!!

Inspections, judging and marking will be continuous during the event, with a final one before leaving.

 

Teams will be required to bring 1 or 2 double burners with their own gas (i.e. up to 4 rings), all their own cooking equipment, utensils, crockery, cutlery table settings etc. Teams will be required to boil their own water and wash up in their area. Teams will need to bring a large groundsheet to put under their tables in their area. We will provide each team with 4 chairs and 2 tables.  No electrical equipment to be used. Please bring a full waterjack to start you off. No access to the kitchen during the competition. 

 

Teams will cook 3 courses and tea/coffee etc., based on the cuisine of a chosen nationality. At least 2 courses must be hot, all food to be prepared at the venue, all fresh- no tins or packets etc. A strict budget and ingredients guideline will be issued in the next week or so, and each team will be required to submit via e-mail to me their chosen nationality, menu, ingredients etc. well in advance.

Each team will be marked on behaviour, standards, difficulty, hygiene, knowledge, presentation, final clearing up etc.etc., by a team of judges.

 

We look forward to receiving an entry from your troop.

Rose Francis and Tim McQueen.

South Yorkshire

Winter Wonderland 2008

 

 

What a wonderful weekend it was.  I must say I thoroughly enjoyed it and I know Janet and Peter Stevenson did also.

 

We were manning the craft table that was making sailing ships.  And busy we were.

 

With a registered total of 449 children on Saturday and 461 on Sunday including those not yet in scouting or brownies Hesley was certainly the place to be.

 

Craft tables set up were for the making of Christmas cracker hats, Christmas crackers, bendy pencil toys, beaded men, penguin bulb pot holders, door hangers, snowmen, sailing ships, jolly jesters, Chinese lanterns (which were lovely), snowmen plates, chocolate teacake men and several other types of crafts.

 

There was also face painting, guess what is in Santa’s socks and feely boxes, and most important letter writing to Santa Claus.

 

I must say on the Tombola I was not lucky!!

 

On top of all this, there were also fairground rides, Santa’s Grotto-which I didn’t manage to find-and a candlelit trail passing a very nice winter scene of penguins and bears etc., a hot food seller and the loveliest nativity stable setting, just in the woods.

 

Rooms were allocated for those staying over, meals and drinks were provided by the excellent volunteer kitchen staff and the whole ambience of the weekend was exceptional.  If only it could be like all the time, throughout the world.

 

A camp fire and carol singing was the Saturday evening entertainment, unfortunately we had to miss this but I am sure it was the usual excellent event.

 

On the Sunday there were visits from various dignitaries who had a wander round and were chatting to people and taking an interest in the craft stalls.

 

 

      

 

 

Sheaf District anniversary event for Beavers at Beauchief on Sunday 1st Feb 1.45-4pm in uniform ( 2pm Start) remember to bring you anniversary flag design.

Next Beaver Leaders meeting to be on   March 12th Beauchief Baptist Church 8pm  (venue to be confirmed)

 

Camp Fire on  Monday on 16th March 2009 6.15-7.15pm at Bradway Scout Centre

 

District Beaver Computer Badge Day, Saturday 4th April 1-30-4pm at Helmton Hall Woodseats, just turn up and Young Leaders will be there to help Beavers through this badge.  

 

 City Scout Leaders

 

The city scout leaders met at Hesley Wood in October to discuss possible co-operation and joint activities with other Sheffield districts, although the attendance was disappointing those present felt that the event was worthwhile and suggested that we repeat the exercise at Trippet Lane on Thursday 15th January 2009 when a cheese and wine party has been arranged.

 

The event is open to any leaders or interested parties working in the scout section.

 

In order that I can cater at the correct level could people intending to attend please book in by emailing me at: - peter.stevenson38@blueyonder.co.uk

 

Hesley Happenings

 

Freezer Camp – This winter camp will be held over the weekend of 

February 20th to 22nd

Crewboree Activity Camp – is to be the weekend of June 5th – 7th Spooktacular – This year sees the return of this popular event which will be held on Saturday 24th October

Winter Wonderland – Santa is once again visiting this years event on 5th and 6th December

 

 

 

Information Day

(FOR ANY LEADER/HELPER ie BEAVERS, CUBS, EVEN SCOUTS).

 DATE:                   SATURDAY, JANUARY 24TH 2009

 VENUE:                ROYSTON BUILDING, HESLEY WOOD

 TIMES:                  10 am – 4 pm.

     Morning Sessions   10 – 12.30:     Health & Safety – Paddy Bass

                                                             Training – Richard Wade

     Afternoon Sessions    1 – 3 pm:    Faiths and Belief

     Young Leaders                              Recruitment / Fundraising

These are some of the sessions that have been requested by you as leaders so please do your best and try to attend, don’t forget it will go against some or all of your ongoing training for 2009.  You will need a packed lunch; drinks and biscuits will be provided.

Sylvia  and I would be grateful if you could let us know asap if you are attending.  I apologise for the delay in getting this information to you.

 Lynn Moore / Sylvia West (ACC’s Programme – Beavers and Cubs)   

                                                                                                                                          lynn-home@tiscali.co.uk               Tel:01709 700 425 sylviaannewest@btinternet.com    Tel: 0114 284 6022 

 

On the Move…

 

Further to last month’s article on the Classic Car Show event, Malcolm has received on the www.scoutcarshowandgala.co.uk website, which was only launched in 2007, quite a few visits and hopefully real interest from people in Greece, Turkey, Germany, The Netherlands, Poland, The Seychelles, Bosnia Herzegovina and Mexico!!!

 

He asks ‘could this be the beginning of Sheaf District International Classic Car Jamboree?’  Well who knows?  Possibly.

 

Can I please stress that help is needed on the day from groups and their supporters.

The date is 13th June at Sir Harold Jackson School, Bradway.

 

Malcolm can be contacted on 01246 419520 or email: Malcolm.garrett@tiscali.co.uk   

 

 

2008 District Carol Service

 

Once again the Carol Service was a huge success, our thanks go to John Batley and his team for making us so welcome at St James Norton.

As usual Mac led an interesting and entertaining event assisted by Bradway and Norton cubs and for one night only the Cath Batley ensemble. 

The collection raised £220.00 for The Oakes Holiday Centre.

Many thanks to all the leaders and members who supported the evening.

 

Peter Stevenson

 

John Hall MBE

We are pleased, nay we are delighted, to hear the news of the award of the MBE in the New Years honours list given to John Hall.

 

It is doubtful if there is a more deserving person than John to be honoured in this way.

 

He began his scouting career by joining the cubs at Crookes at the age of eight, and during the following years progressed through the movement, gaining his Queens Scout Award as a senior scout.

 

He became a leader whilst on National Service in Malaya and Hong Kong.  On his return to England he was attached to St Mary’s, Walkley before transferring to Sheaf District in 1967 where he was very involved with the establishment of Woodseats Venture Scout Unit, the history of which is well known.

 

During this time well over 100 young people have gained the Queens Scout and Duke of Edinburgh Gold Awards, most of them by being bullied and cajoled by John into arranging their expeditions, also going to troops and packs to help out for their Service section.  Many others have been through the unit and although they did not gain the major awards there can be no doubt the influence of John and Scouting have given them values they will retain throughout their lives. 

 

John started and still runs Sunday night swimming sessions training young people in life saving and survival techniques.

 

John says, “ I see this award as not for me but for the everyone else who has been involved in scouting in my generation, they have put in the hard work establishing groups and sorting buildings.  I am the fortunate person who has had the opportunity to lead expeditions”.

 

John also has the honour of receiving the Silver Wolf, the highest honour within scouting, awarded by the Chief Scout in 2006.

 

Well Done, John

Congratulations from all in Sheaf District.

 

 

 

 

Congratulations to the following leaders who have gained their wood badges

 

Catherine Boutinard     Scouts 181st

Anne Brookes              Beavers 280th

Emma Charlesworth    Scout 146th

Rebecca Hunt Brown   Cubs 297th

Nicholas Taylor           Scouts 297th

 

Thanks also to Phil for guiding them through it.

 

 

Fancy doing yours?

 

Ring Phil on 281 1410

 

All it requires is a bit of effort

 

 

District Camp Drum Hill

 

May 1st- 4th this years camp will be held at the Derbyshire County site at Little Eaton.  Activities will be arranged for cubs and scouts with beavers visiting as usual on the Sunday.

 

Details to follow nearer the time, just book the dates now.