Group Scout Leader’s Report June 2009

As you will read in the various Section Reports, this has been a particularly successful year for our Group.

In my report last year I had to start with a few negatives – this year I cannot think of any!

The Group has continued to thrive and we now have a strong and successful Explorer Unit, a very full Scout Troop a growing Cub Pack and a burgeoning Beaver Colony.

Our new trailer has been fitted out with shelving and many thanks are due to Anthony Bradbury for all his hard work and expertise. It is shortly to be sign written with our Group name. David Fuller who has allowed us to store the trailer in his secure compound retired earlier this year but I am pleased to say that the new owners of the business are happy for us to continue to use this facility. A letter has been sent to David wishing him a long and happy retirement and thanking him for all his support of our Group over a large number of years.

The Scout Hut now has 7 new light weight Go-Pak tables that have replaced the older very heavy (and somewhat battered) tables which are now in the trailer for use at camp. Our Borough Councillor, Nigel Lawrence, very kindly awarded us part of his £500 annual grant for community use to be put towards the cost of these tables.

I wish to record my thanks to all the members of our Executive Committee for all their hard work and support throughout the past year. My particular thanks go to Janet Dobson who took over as Chairman last year and has managed to successfully control me ever since! Two members of our committee have recently been hospitalised but are now both on the road to recovery. Roy has been fitted with new heart plumbing which seems to be working well and Betty Cheetham, although still hospitalised, is recovering from her broken femur. Thanks to the wonders of the internet Betty has managed to keep in touch with me and has told me exactly what I should be doing, who needs nominating, reminding me about soup ’n’ spuds etc. I would have been disappointed if this had not been the case and I would have been far more concerned about her chances of recovery!

I also wish to record my thanks to those leaders and parents who worked hard over the Easter break to completely re-paint the inside of the Scout Hut. I hope you have all noticed!

I am delighted to report that Francis Meylan, our Assistant Scout Leader, was awarded the Silver Acorn in this years St George’s Day Awards. This Award is richly deserved and is in recognition of his support of Scouting in general and his 30 years plus leadership at 1st Shelford & East Bridgford.

My thanks go to all the parents for supporting our young people, for taxiing them round the country, for attending our fund raising events and in many other ways.

My thanks to all the members of our Executive Committee who have helped to raise the money to enable us to purchase equipment and to run the various sections and particularly to Liz Meylan our Treasurer.

My especial thanks to all our dedicated Leaders. We are so fortunate here at 1st Shelford and East Bridgford to have such a hard working team who ensure the best possible Scouting experiences for the young people in their care. Last year I had to report the loss of a number of Leaders. Thankfully this trend has been reversed and our leadership team has been strengthened in every section except Beavers. We are not complacent however and we would be delighted to welcome anyone who thinks that they can help in any way to continue to ensure the success and development of our Group

We have the equipment, we have the finances, we have a very efficient and hard working Executive Committee, we certainly have no shortage of young people – all we need is a little more help PLEASE!

Steve Cumberland
Group Scout Leader