1st Bodicote Scout Group.
News Letter No.79. December 1964.
The Remembrance Day Service at Bodicote Church was, I think, the best turn out we have ever made in our village.
The day was bright and warm for the time of year so that all were able to dispense with coats and led by the drummers of
tbe Sea Cadets, the British Legion members, Scouts, Cubs, Guides and Brownies made quite an impressive display.
As forecast in my last News Letter, our birthday party this year was a party with a difference. After the usual tea for the uniform members and our few guests, the tables were cleared and a stage erected with extremely efficiency lighting and curtaining. The Scouts and Cubs were then entertained by a youthful conjurer brought along by Ned Dodwell whilst the Ladies in the kitchen "cleaned up the crocks" and had their tea. At 6.00 p.m. Parents and Friends began to arrive and it was soon seen that we could expect a full house.
Just before 7.Oop.m. the G.S.M. presented a Thanks Badge to our Treasurer, Mr. Sidney Taylor, who has for several years
now taken care of our finances and regularly attends at H.Q. each Friday evening to collect subscriptions thereby saving the
S.M. a considerable amount of work. This was followed by a gift to Mike Barwick who has now left the district to seek greater
adventures and we hope, rewards, in Norfolk. Good luck Mike and thanks a lot for all the help you have given us during your stay
in Banbury. The Patrol Shield was next presented to the acting P.L. of the Peewit Patrol for year ending July 31st 1964.
With this done the G.S.M. handed over to the District Commissioner, Mr. R. G.Beck, our chief guest of the day. It was his pleasure
to present a Queen Scout-Certificate to Senior P.L. Peter Wroe. Peter is the 10th Senior in our Group to gain this award, the
highest that a Scout can gain. We are very proud to add Peter's name to our list of Queen Scouts, particularly as Frank, his
elder brother was a founder member of the Group and himself earned a Queen Scout badge in 1958. It is worth noting that nine
out of the ten Queen Scouts we have had during the last IO years, nine are still members or the Group although for various
reasons some are not as active as we should like them to be. Preliminary training certificates were then presented to Akela,
Tom Heazlewood and his assistant Margaret Powell and a Medal of Merit to the G.S.M.
By this time our "budding Gangsters" were itching to perform. With stage all set, lights, and our first show commenced. Although I missed the greater part of it, there is no doubt it was an unqualified success and considering it was all written, rigged and performed by the Scouters and boys themselves I can only endorse the opinions of, I think, all the audience, that it was a thoroughly amusing and good show.
Both the Cub Pack and Troop are still increasing their numbers and Akela is considering closing the Pack at 30 and starting a waiting l1st. Recent additions to the Troop are Terence Jesse, Eric Heger and Stephen Welbourn. All are most welcome and we hope that they will enjoy Scouting to the full whilst with us.
Senior News. Badges gained during November include:- Astronomer, Peter Wroe and Colin Green, Hiker, Peter Wroe, Despatch Rider,
Ambulance and Rescuer, Robin Wilkinson and Naturalist, Keith Wyeth.
On the nights of I4/I5th of the month all the Seniors went out on a night hike and by all accounts thoroughly enjoyed the
venture. It was a treat to see seven out of eight at the Remembrance Day Parade. They are now engaged on a programme as arranged
by one member of the Patrol each week.
On Friday night, December 11th at 8.00pm, the Cancer Information Association are giving a film and talk on Cancer in relation to Smoklng, at our H.Q. ~ Parents and Friends with members of other Groups are invited to attend.
Carols will be sung by the Bodicote and Deddington Groups at Adderbury Old Peoples Home during the week before Christmas. Times to be announced later, and a Carol Service will be held at St.Mary’s Parish Church, Banbury on Sunday December 27th at 3.00p.m. All Guides, Scouts and Parents are invited.
A training course for Patrol Leaders of the district is being run at Bodicote’s headquarters on Wednesday January 20th and Saturday January 23rd. Full details of this will be given out by the S.M. later on.
May I conclude this last news letter of 1964 by wishing everyone a very happy Christmas for themselves and ask you to spare a thought and to give a helping hand to those whom we know to be less fortunate than ourselves.
And finally, thank you all for the support you have given the Group in general and to myself in particular during the past year.
Dates for the Diary:
December 11th. Cancer Information Association talk. Bodicote HQ
December Week Commencing December 20th Carol Singing at Adderbury Old
Peoples Home.
December 27th. Carol Service. St.Mary’s Church, Banbury.
January 20th and 23rd. P.L’s Training Course.
E.A.Davidson
Group Scoutmaster.
51 Oxford Road,
Bodicote.
Banbury 3098.