THE BADEN POWELL GUILD OF

GREAT BRITAIN

Scouting Spirit in Action

1

Patron – Hon Wendy Baden Powell(Granddaughter of B-P)

President: Alec Fraser

Chairman: David Harbach

Acting Vice Chairman: Adrian McDowell

Secretary: Allan Page

Treasurer: Peter Skilton

Editor: Pat Parks

Website: http://www.badenpowellguild.org.uk

2

Editorial

Welcome to the Spring edition of the magazine. The cover photo shows Brian

and Gillian Cheeseman, a lovely couple from Dorking Branch, enjoying the

Skittles and Supper evening social following the very successful AGM. Keith

must have been telling quite a tale for me to be laughing so much behind

them!

Thank you to everyone who attended the AGM and I hope you all arrived

home safely. I am looking forward to meeting you again in Henfield in 2017.

Sadly, among those unable to attend, was Derek Elton who had taken a

tumble and broken his collarbone. I am pleased to report that he is making a

good recovery and sends his best wishes to you all,

Sadly, we have lost both Derek and Julie Wacey from the National

Committee. Derek felt it was time he stepped down to allow a younger person

to ‘carry the baton’. Derek’s letter has been scanned and appears on the

following page. Thank you Derek for your leadership, friendship, dedication

to service and your love.

Derek would like everyone to know that ‘he is NOT retiring’, just stepping

down from the role.

As Julie Wacey resigns from the role of Vice Chairman, the National

Committee would like to thank her for all her years of service. Adrian Mc

Dowell has been co-opted onto the National Committee. Adrian wrote a very

detailed account of his Scouting career in a previous edition of the magazine.

He also lowers the average age of the National Committee…

Pat Parks

3

4

Bebington Branch

It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of one of our more

recent members, Doug Weaver. Doug had been a great supporter of

Scouting since his sons were young. He was on the Bebington District

Scout Executive Committee for many years, and more recently District

President. He was quite a character and is missed by us all.

Our second and very recent death was Chris Dillon. He was very much

a family man. He was also a biker enjoying the open road, Chris has

been involved in both district and county activities for a very long time,

supporting his wife Gill in her various Scouting positions. He was a

great man to have at events and on camp. Chris would organise the

equipment for activities and if he hadn’t got a tool or piece of

equipment, he would just make it. He could turn his hand to pretty well

anything. Chris, another great character in our district, will be sadly

missed by all.

SUNDIALS

We enjoyed a visit and talk from a local man, Mike Shaw, whose hobby is

sundials. He told us about the history of them and had many small examples

5

of different types. There were lots of photographs taken all over the world of

unusual and interesting pieces. He demonstrated how the thickness of the

gnomon (the piece that casts the shadow) affects where the shadow falls and

therefore has to be placed very precisely. Although most of us realised that

sundials were in use before clocks and could be found in the grounds of many

old country houses and parks, we were amazed at the variety of designs and

materials used.

One or two of us have the garden variety that are a novelty and not very

accurate, but enjoyable. His talk made us recall the ones we had seen over the

years on our travels, many on the sides of churches and other buildings. To

commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee a new sundial has been created

in the Lever village of Port Sunlight. Below is the official description –

Analemmatic Sundial Port Sunlight

The sundial has been named the Diamond Jubilee Sundial to reflect its

location in Port Sunlight’s Diamond garden – the area leading up to the Lady

Lever art gallery – and marks the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year.

This type of sundial has two rows of stone markers which are laid on the

ground to represent British summer time and winter. The person using the

sundial must stand on the flat calendar stone which reflects the month of the

year. When the sun is shining, the shadow cast by their head will reveal the

current time.

6

It is certainly an attraction and many adults and children are usually to be

seen following the instructions.

Many Guild members have visited Port Sunlight Village when attending the

National AGM in Bebington and we thought this may be of interest to those

who know the area.

This visit was the first of two. Mike recently returned to complete his very

interesting talk. Mike Shaw’s Sundial Page is where you will find him on the

web if you are interested to read more.

Our other speakers covered a variety of subjects.

Derek Arnold talked about the Marie Celeste and the Mary Celeste – the latter

being the true name of the vessel found adrift. The change of name to Marie

Celeste was made by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle when he wrote a short story about

this mysterious event.

Brian Worster Davis talked about Richard lll – Brian, as a member of the

Richard the third Society, had been in Leicester for the many events taking place

before and after the funeral. He is a very knowledgeable amateur historian and

was able to bring to life the times and events that happened leading up to the

Battle of Bosworth when Richard lll died.

taking place before and after the funeral. He is a very knowledgeable amateur

historian and was able to bring to life the times and events that happened leading

up to the Battle of Bosworth when Richard lll died.

We were very lucky with the weather on the occasions when we donned our

yellow jackets and ‘parked cars’ for the opening of Poulton Hall Gardens for

both large and small events. Lots of money was raised for various charities.

We finished 2015 with a memorable Christmas lunch at the Wheatsheaf in

Ness.

Kathie Bailey

Bebington BPG

Keith and I visited Port Sunlight after our visit to Bebington and again after a

long weekend in Liverpool. We now have the perfect excuse for going again!

Editor

7

Henfield News

Henfield B-P Guild are as busy as ever. The Annual Village Senior Citizens

Day out and evening dinner with entertainment.

Guild members seen here preparing the evening meal.

The Senior Citizens looking forward to their lovely meal following their day out.

8

Malvern Branch News

Members of Malvern supported the

Chenobyl Children’s holiday Quiz

Night which included a Curry

Supper on Friday 27th November.

A successful and a very enjoyable

evening.

Members held their Annual Xmas

Dinner on Saturday 28th Nov at the

Green Dragon. Malvern. Not all

members were able to attend this

year, but those who did enjoyed an

excellent dinner with all the

trimmings.

Malvern held their AGM meeting on

Saturday 13th February. Branch

members also helped with

refreshments for the District Scout

Leaders meeting.

The chair of Malvern branch seen

here presenting a cheque for £150 to

Rob Walker, Scout Leader for 1st

Bosbury Scouts. The donation will go

towards the purchase of camping

equipment.

9

Stourbridge Branch

We continue to work with

the community and charities

promoting our organisations

and its aims. For two days

the team promoted the guild

at the Bonded Warehouse,

also we had great a day with

the District Scouts Family

day celebrating St Georges.

Very good use of the

National Guild display stand.

For the second year running Stourbridge

branch were invited by St. Thomas’s

church to take part in their Christmas

tree display. Dale put her artistic talents

to good use. A lot of good feedback was

received back from the church and once

again we made people aware of who we

are and what we do.

Our

member,

ever active

Barrie

Williams

offered us the prospect of him demonstrating his

model making skills at one of our meetings. We

accepted and he brought down his model steam

engine. He has made and assembled every part

himself over many years (very clever but we

don’t tell him) A very interesting evening even

for the not so technical members.

Still with Barrie, and this for those who know

him, quite astonishing, he offered to do an hour

sponsored silence This he achieved, ( I understand they did place sticky tape

over the bit where the sound comes from).There are not any pictures as no

one could hold the camera still enough through laughing. Well done though

Barrie and thank you. (For the silence we mean)

10

Once again the Guild have demonstrated their Bar B Que culinary skills. We

cooked for Age Concern at their Family Fun Day, held our own Charity Bar

B Que raising money for our chosen charity which was Age Concern, and

finally, for

Stourbridge Explorer

unit we cooked for

circa 80 people, at

which time there was

such a torrential

downpour, but we still

managed to be

organised and on time

when all including the

mayor came out for

their food

.

And finally our National Guild webmaster

Garth became a Dad for the first time with

the birth of Ruby, making Dale and David

first time Grandparents…….. Oh the joys of

babysitting.

11

Chairman’s Cup The Chairman’s Cup was awarded at the

National AGM to our retiring President

Derek Elton, which was accepted at the time

by Derek’s daughter, Dale. The picture

shows Derek receiving the cup from David,

at home where Derek is recuperating

following a fall.

A personal message from Derek

“I am very sorry and disappointed that I was

not able to be with everyone at the AGM.

May I, through the magazine, express my

appreciation and thanks to everyone for the

Get well card you sent me, and also for the

Gift voucher you have so kindly given, due

to my stepping down as National President.

I will see you all soon and finally my best

wishes to Alec as he takes over from me”.

Happy Trail

Derek.

Many thanks to David Harbach for this informative report from Stourbridge.

Editor

Welcome New members

New Branch Ashby De La Zouch Trefoil Guild. 12

members

Mrs Elizabeth Ward. Daventry. Northants. Mrs Barbara Walters. Stapleford. Nottingham

Mrs Norma Sedgwick. Walsall. West Midlands. Mrs Marion Harris. St Issey. Wadebridge.

Mr Allan Richardson. Malvern. Mr CG Norman. Sedbergh. Cumbria

Mrs Pauline Richardson. Malvern. Mrs Gill Taylor. Stapleford. Nottingham

Mrs Sue Hobson. Malvern.

12

MY SCOUTING

An account of a ‘Life in Scouting’ from Lew Nash of Malvern Branch.

I began my Scouting being invested as a Wolf Cub in February 1933, this was

at St.Margarets Church Group in Streatham Hill London SW16. Soon after

this we began a somewhat migratory existence, moving firstly to Hayes in

Kent where I progressed from a Cub to Scouts. The first Troop was the 13th

Bromley Grammar School Troop and then on to the 3rd Bromley where I

achieved my 1st Class and became a

Patrol Leader. The highlight of my

scouting in Bromley was to gain my

Airman’s Badge at Biggin Hill

Aerodrome where we were taught by

some of the young men who were soon

to become the ‘Famous Few’ flying

Spitfires and Hurricanes against the

Nazi bombers and fighters during the

‘Battle of Britain’.

Due to the outbreak of the War my family moved to Christchurch in

Hampshire and I joined the 1st Highcliffe Troop. Soon we were on the move

again, this time to Malvern in Worcestershire, where I continued my

Scouting, receiving my first warrant as an Assistant Scoutmaster in the 2nd

Malvern Group in October 1943. Shortly after this I went to Palestine and

only returned to Malvern in 1948. I then took over as Scoutmaster for the 2nd

Malvern Troop for three years before again moving, this time to Kent where I

became Scoutmaster for the 5th Bromley Troop and also as District

Scoutmaster (Seniors).

In 1957 my work in the Paper Industry took my family and I back to the

Midlands where I soon became involved with Scouting again. I took over as

A.D.C. Senior Scouts for Malvern District and I was also invited to join the

County Training Team where I eventually held the position of Deputy Camp

Chief for Worcestershire until the end of 1967. There then followed a period

where I was to take a less active part in Scouting and became involved with

District executives and also joined ‘The Baden-Powell Guild’.

13

In 1980 after having served as District Chairman I went back into uniform as

District Commissioner for Malvern, a position I held until the dreaded ‘age

deadline’ forced me out of uniformed scouting. Needless to say H.Q. soon

altered this ruling but by then I was more involved with the Guild and its

activities.

In November 1964 I was presented with the Medal of Merit and in April 1982

I received the Silver Acorn and was chosen to lead a contingent at Windsor

for the presentation and service at St. George’s Chapel on the march from the

Inner Green to the Chapel with Royalty present. A signal honour.

The last few years has seen some changes in requirements for Leaders and the

Training now required and I have been leading a team under the new ‘Adult

Advisory Committee’ as District Appointments

Chairman. In June 2009 I was invited to become

Honorary President for The Malverns District

where on St. George’s Day that year, together

with the District Commissioner and the Deputy

County Commissioner I took the Salute of the ten

Groups comprising some 680 uniformed

members in our District.

The tradition of ‘Scouting’ is still being carried on in my family – my two

granddaughters are both in Guides and one of my grandsons is now a Scout in

the 2nd.Malvern Group where 67 years ago I held my first warranted

appointment. My wife ‘couldn’t beat them, so joined them’ taking a warrant

as an Akela in 1957 and she has held warrants both in Guiding and Scouting

for more than 20 years and is also a member of ‘The Guild’.

Lew has also been awarded the Silver Wolf at a St George’s Day Presentation

in 2013. There is a lovely photo of Lew with his award in the magazine

during that year.

Editor

14

The 38th National Annual General Meeting was held in Malvern on Saturday

19th March 2016. Malvern Branch were the hosts and provided an excellent

venue with refreshments. A social evening was arranged with Skittles and an

evening supper.

National Chairman David

Harbach awarded the

"Chairman's

Challenge" Cup to Derek

Elton for his 16 years’

service as President of the

Guild and his services to

Scouting and his

community work over

many years. Derek's

daughter, Dale, received

the Challenge Cup on

Derek's behalf.

Pauline Richardson, Georgina Nash and Connie Brixton from Malvern

Branch providing refreshments during the meeting. Ladies of the branch

provided an excellent cold buffet lunch with soup, tea and coffee. A big thank

you to John Holman who did the washing up.

15

Guild member Colin Scriven did a magnificent job as Skittles ‘sticker upper’

but he did get some help from the others.

Skittle Champions were Wendy Fraser and Colin Scriven,

A very enjoyable evening!

16

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17

Treasurer’s Report to the 2016 AGM

This report on the Guild accounts accompanies the 2015 balance sheet dated

31 December 2015.

Expenditure. A glance at the closing balance for 2015 shows that we ended

the year around £500 less in our accounts than at the corresponding time in

2014. If we look at the headlines for this £500 fall in our assets, then just 3

items stand out:

A £200 donation to Nepal earthquake victims via the NSGF-UK

Emergency Aid Fund and onwards to ISGF

~ £200 for a projector which has been well used in Guild publicity

An increase of ~£100 in costs for attendance at NSGF meetings

An explanation for a couple of the other Expenditure items: around £50 of

magazine postage costs incurred in 2014 fell into the 2015 accounts, resulting

in an apparently high 2015 cost, and the Fellowship Toy expenditure in 2014

was offset by a corresponding income in 2013.

Income. The figures for 2014 and 2015 income are very similar although it is

worth noting that sales of Guild merchandise were around £80 higher in 2015

than 2014.

The AGM approved the 2015 accounts.

Guild Charitable funding. The Guild National Executive committee

discussed this topic at their 5 March 2016 meeting and the conclusions

reached were presented to the AGM. It was agreed that, with the exception of

one-off purchases or donations, the Guild income, based on 180 members

paying £9 per year, is well matched to typical annual expenditure.

Furthermore, making future charitable donations from National funds would

be ‘second-guessing’ the wishes of our members who may have other

charitable priorities.

It was concluded that the National Committee should continue to provide a

focus to coordinate charitable donations from Guild branches and T&C

members towards ISGF projects such as Fellowship Toy and NEST. To meet

the wishes of those members who would like to make a personal donation to

the NSGF-UK Emergency Aid Fund, it was agreed that, by making a minor

18

change to the T&C and branch renewal forms, an opportunity would be

provided for members to add a donation at the time of annual membership

renewal, should they so wish.

2017 Subscription. A budget forecast to the end of 2018 was presented to the

AGM. If the 2016 subscription of £9 was maintained for the following year,

then, assuming no significant one-off events, a surplus should be achievable

in the accounts for the current year. A subscription of £9 was therefore

proposed to the AGM and approved. Thanks. Garth Harbach has continued to manage our website and the contract

with the service provider, for which we are extremely grateful. Also, my

thanks to Lew Nash, who for the ninth consecutive year has kindly audited

the Guild accounts.

Merchandise. Our Guild merchandise has been re-stocked with a new supply

of ISGF woggles; albeit, unfortunately, with a slightly higher price tag.

Peter Skilton

National Treasurer

March 2016

19

ISGF INTERNATIONAL NEWS

The National Scout and

Guide Fellowship

Copernicia on Curacao

organized a Soup Sale

during Fellowship Day

2015.

The proceeds of the Soup

Sale ( 400 euros) raised

went to the Haiti

Project.

Baden Powell Guild.

Auckland Branch.

New Zealand.

Members seen here

enjoying dinner with

Guild friends from

Austria.

TE PUKAPUKA ISSUE NO 224

March 2016. 7th-12th September 2015

20

Guild members attend the 26th Western Europe ISGF Gathering in Belgium.

ISGF members from 12 countries attended the gathering at the De Westhoek,

Oostduinkerke. The next ISGF Gathering will be held in the UK in 2018 and

will be hosted by the

National Scout and

Guide Fellowship-UK.

ISGF members involved in a Gang Show

Created: Wednesday, 16 December 2015 Written by Barbara Dean

Comedy Capers

Gang Show is a

performing arts group

of Scouts South

Australia. They are

based in the Northern

Suburbs of Adelaide.

In 2015 they

performed Comedy

Capers 50th season.

The members of the

Alkina Trefoil Guild in South Australia are involved in the Performing Arts

and participate in various Gang Shows in Adelaide. The photo depicts three

Alkina Trefoil Guild members in the front row of the 2015 Comedy Capers in

Adelaide.

21

N S G F News Our project for the Nepal Educational Support Trust has got off to a flying

start.

Guild members have raised more than £500.00 and the project will continue

to run until September 2016.

Thank you for your support to date.

For more news and pictures go to: www.facebook.com/nestworld/

NSGF will be holding their Annual Meeting on Wednesday 13th April 2016

at the Claremont Hotel, 1 The Parade, Eastbourne. All members are welcome

to attend.

22

BRANCH SECRETARIES

Bebington Katherine Bailey

Wirral

Henfield Derek Gardner

W Sussex

Malvern Sue Page

Worcestershire

Stourbridge

And District Stephen Ackland

W Midlands

Tiviot Dale Marian Parker

Cheshire

Central Branch Allan Page

Dorking District Jackie Smith

Fellowship BP Guild

An independent National Association of Men and Women who believe that the spirit of Scouting should be extended into Adult life, including many who were not Guides or Scouts in earlier days.

By its help and practical assistance in a variety of local charitable causes the Baden Powell Guild make a

worthwhile contribution to the community.