Top award for scouts while cubs go fly a kite

Four little cub scouts learned a harsh lesson when they discovered looks aren’t everything during a kite-flying contest.
By The Newsroom
Published 11th Dec 2015, 11:06 BST

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The boys, from the Billingshurst Dauxwood pack, made an impressive green and silver star-shaped kite for the contest in May 1977 – but it failed to deliver when it came to flying.

While Timothy Roberts and his friends went home with the best decorated kite award, the County Times reported “It’s flying did not match its beauty”.

A little harsh, maybe...

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Ashington cubs produced the winning kite, flown by Nicky Cooper, with occasional kite retrieval by cub leader Jean Doyle and her assistant David Goldsmith.

For the cubs of the 2nd Southwater Scout Group, May 1977 brought celebrations, hellos and farewells.

While they gathered round a camp fire to celebrate foundation day, they also wished good luck to five of their number, who were heading up to scouts.

The five – Andrew Brown, Stephen Hamilton, Kevin Holmes, Lee Portwine and James Varley – were formally invested while four new boys joined the group from other packs.

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They were Stephen Sayers, from the 1st Shipley & Southwater, and Ian King, Michael Wilson and Stephen Wilson, from the 9th Horsham.

While the youngsters were playing with kites and celebrating foundation day, four young men from the 1st Shipley & Southwater Scouts were receiving the top award in scouting.

Mark Beckett, Graham Botting, John Woolgar and Russell Francis were all presented with the Chief Scout award by district commissioner Michael Leppard.

The awards ceremony was part of a particularly special day for the group as the scouts celebrated 25 years at their Dragons Green headquarters while also honouring the Queen in her silver jubilee year.

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As well as the five Chief Scout awards, a long service ribbon was presented to leader Bob Lee, and leader warrants were given to Karl Botting and John Heath.

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Related topics:Ashington