1^st BODICOTE BOY SCOUT GROUP.

News Letter No.25 – December, 1958.

I must first apologise for not having 1ssued a News Letter since October, but plead lack of time as the reason I will, however, try and give you all the news to date in this issue.

Banbury & District Scouters ‘At Home' was well attended by about 100 parents and friends of the District, many of whom came from Bodicote Group. The County Scouters ‘At Home’ was also a very pleasant evening for all who attended, Bodicote being again well represented.

At the Oxford County Executive Meeting on November 8th~ many interesting points were discussed The main item which will I think interest most of you is that it has been decided that the County will take 1/6d., per head from the Bob-a-Job earnings in 1959, instead of the usual 2/-,per head. This, with Imperial Headquarters 2/- per head and a possible 1/6d., per head for the Local District, will mean that all money earned over 5/- per head by our Group, will go to our own funds. This will I feel, give each boy a greater incentive to earn his maximum during Easter Week next year.

Sunday, November 2nd saw six of our Scouters at Oxford again to attend a Law & Promise Course. You see, we Scouters be1ieve it is necessary for us to train ourselves for the great responsibilities we undertake in training the future men of our great country.

SCOUTS Since October, we have invested Keith Wyeth and John Duncan, while we welcome to the Movement, Maurice Rawlings. We hope that they will all have many happy years of Scouting. Colds and homework have taken their toll as usual at this time of the year and our numbers on Monday evenings have only been averaging about a dozen boys. We are, however, always pleased to see the absentees on their return. In a search for potential leaders, we have appointed the following to be Patrol Leaders and Seconds:-

Patrol Leaders:- Ken Rogers, Graham Ashmole & Robert Lee

Patrol Seconds:- Peter Mullard, Peter Wroe & Tim Rogers.

We look forward to a keener Patrol spirit in the Troop and a resultant improved standard all round.

The much delayed Peake Cup Football Competition fixtures are now to hand and our first match at home against the 7th Banbury, resulted in a 3-2 win for the visitors. Owing to School matches, etc., our second match, due to be played at Grimsbury on Saturday, November 29th had to be postponed. There are matches arranged for each Saturday during December.

CUBS. We very much regret that Mrs. Simmons (Baloo to the Cubs) and her Son, Robert, spent only a very short time with us. They have left the district but, we hope, will continue Cubbing in their new surroundings.

On 31st October, the Cubs of the District were entertained by a film show at the 2nd Banbury H.Q., which included a film of the Jamboree at Sutton Coldfield. The show was given by the makers of Coca Cola and ‘ice-cold’ samples were drunk by all during the interval. The evening was voted a huge success and a further show has been arranged which will take place at Church House, Bodicote, on our usual Cub Meeting evening of the 17th December. Films will be shown by the local R.S.P C.A. Inspector, Mr. Turnall.

November 5th fell on Cub night this year and rather than cancel the meeting, "Akela" decided to have a Cub bonfire. This took place at Bodicote Lawn Hostel, by kind permission of the Warden, Mr Alf Moore. A large bonfire was lit and each boy, assisted by "Akela", Mr. Moore and the A.C.Ms. then proceeded to let off fireworks. A terrific display followed and the evening ended with a sausage supper organised by Mrs. Moore and the Hostel staff. We are indebted to Mr. & Mrs. Moore and their staff, for all the extra work they so willingly took on to make the evening such a success.

Our 4th Anniversary Party is being organised by "Akela", Mr. Wightman, for December 13th in the Village Hall. Parents and friends will be warmly welcomed from 6 p.m. onwards and we do hope that everyone will try and come along. Boys are asked to bring "feeding stuffs" towards the fray. Cakes, etc., should be brought to the Hall before 12 a.m. on the Saturday morning, but it would be of tremendous help to the organisers if some indication could be given as soon as possible as to what each boy will be bringing. Jellies, blancmange, or any other ingredients, not made up, should be taken to Mrs. Wightman or brought to Scout or Cub Meetings not later than Wednesday, December 10^th.

CHRISTMAS CAROLS will be sung by the District Cubs & Scouts at Neithrop Hospital on Dec. 16th, Bloxham Old Peoples’ Home on Dec. 18th and at Adderbury Old Peoples’ Home on Dec.22^nd. All boys are asked to support this collective ‘Good Turn’.

Finally, may I wish you all, parents and boys, a very happy Christmas and good prospects fulfilled during 1959.

E.A.Davidson, Group Scoutmaster.

1st BODICOTE BOY SCOUT GROUP.
"Yenton",
Oxford Road,
BODICOTE,
Banbury, Oxon.

5th February, 1959.

Dear Parents,
The appeal of Scouting seems to be losing some of its charm of late, at least as far as Bodicote is concerned.

The attendance for the past six weeks has averaged less than six boys. I realise that the weather has been against us and sickness has undoubtedly accounted for some absentees, but I feel also that television has played its part. Mr. Watts and myself, the only two Scouters left, are willing to carry on with the few boys who are still interested providing that they turn up regularly. Fortunately the Cubs under Mr. Wightman and his Assistants are sti11 going strong and it seems a great pity in view of this and the time and money that has been spent on our new headquarters, to think of closing the Iroop down,

Any boys who do not turn up during the next two weeks will be removed from the register unless I have an assurance from the parents or son that the absence was unavoidable.

I’m sure you will appreciate the position, that we cannot continue spending our time on boys who are not interested, but we are willing to sacrifice time and to work back again on Scouting lines to the position which Bodicote has held since its re-formation, and I look forward to your help and encouragement.

Yours sincerely,

E.A. DAVIDSON.
Group Scoutmaster.