PAGE 51
College Post-War Scouting - a Foundation for Life
"IT'S 1947, I'M A "NEW BUG" AND LONELY. CLASSMATE ROBIN MAY INVITES ME TO A BOY SCOUT GROUP MEETING RUN BY A NUMBER OF OLD ALLEYNIANS. WE ATTEND TOGETHER. IT'S MY FIRST EXPOSURE TO SCOUTING, WHICH IS TO PRESERVE, INDEED FRAME, MY SENSE OF SELF-WORTH OVER MY TIME AT DULWICH AND BEYOND.
Austria. Five Scouts from the First Dulwich College Group and three from our Group comprise the Dulwich College Patrol, part of the Jamboree's U.K. contingent. Our destination is Bad Ischl, in Austria's picturesque Salzkammergut region. We camp, tour widely, and march. The Chief Scout, Lord Rowallan, salutes 13,000 Scouts from 60 locations world-wide marching before him. Ten days like no other. Bob-a-Job Week has become an annual Scout event, in which we provide services to local Dulwich homes for a shilling — cutting lawns, cleaning out sheds, and so on. It's June 2, 1953. And I'm serving on the Coronation route of Queen Elizabeth Il, distributing programmes to the crowds. The mood is upbeat, the weather fine. And what a procession by all the Commonwealth countries. The towering Queen of Tonga and her even-taller Tongan warriors stun the crowd in their tribal gear. Churchill flashes a "V" for victory sign. And Queen Elizabeth Il, in all her majesty, in the Coronation Coach, makes her way to a newly scrubbed Westminster Abbey. The Queen Scout Certificate wishes me "God-speed on your journey through life; may it prove for you a joyous adventure." Today, I thank Robin May for introducing me to the Scout Movement for it set the platform from which my life is indeed joyous, and speeds along under God's direction.
I enjoy the sense of belonging, the comradeship, and straight fun. My right hand raised in the three-fingered Scout Salute, I make the Scout Promise: "On my honour I promise, to do my duty to God and the King, to help other people at all times, and to obey the Scout Law." I'm admitted to the Third Dulwich College, Scout Group, ‘Lorne Campbell's Own.’ Brigadier Lorne Campbell, VC, OBE (15-21), being a worthy life model indeed. My first Scout camp is at Cowdray Park, near Midhurst, Sussex. We ride down in a Pickford's removal van, sitting on our camp equipment and singing campfire songs to pass the time. Soon we're all piling out, setting up patrol kitchens, erecting our patrol tents nearby, and digging latrines further afield. Sing-songs around the large central campfire are fun. Songs include Ging-gang gooly, an old Zulu war chant from Baden-Powell's Boer War days. My friend Brian Attewell (48-56) and I have a skit that we, at least, find enormously funny: in front of an old metal petrol can (our TV camera) with an old bottle (our microphone), we alternate interviewing one another on camp events. Planning and running patrol and troop activities, and camps teaches me much. We hold patrol camps at Broadstone Warren, Knole Park and other locations. We enjoy day bike rides together, and visits to places such as the Tower of London. It's August, 1951, and I'm off to the 10-day Boy Scout 7th World Scout Jamboree in
John Townesend, (47-54) Nanaimo, B.C., Canada
Made with FlippingBook Learn more on our blog