It is my privilege, on behalf of the East and West Middlesbrough Districts to extend grateful thanks to the cast, production team, business team, the orchestra and everyone else in any way connected with the Show; to wish them a well deserved success; and to commend them for their dedication and for the way they respond to all demands made on them with unfailing enthusiasm and cheerfulness.

To you the audience—thanks for your support and may you thoroughly enjoy your visit to The Gang Show.

George Elliott
Show Chairman

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Message from the County Commissioner

Scouting in Cleveland offers valuable and enjoyable training for young people through many different activities. Our numbers continue to increase and this year the Venture Scout Section (15¹/₂ – 20 Yrs.) is celebrating its 21st Birthday. One of the special projects being organised to mark this milestone is an expedition to Kenya in the Summer to construct water storage tanks for several villages.

Apart from learning some of the obvious skills of entertainment, the members of the ’88 Gang will have learned a tremendous amount about working together in harmony during rehearsals. One of our fundamental aims in Scouting is to train our members to work together within the Community and Gang Shows certainly help us to achieve this aim.

Traditionally, a Gang Show does not have a star and no one is singled out for special praise, but I must particularly thank the Production Team who have worked so hard to ensure that this year’s Show is even better than before. We always expect a very high standard from the ‘Middlesbrough Gang’ and it is often hard to believe that such professional results are achieved by amateur performers.

I am pleased to have this opportunity to thank everyone involved in the Show for their enthusiastic and dedicated effort and I wish the whole Gang every success with Gang Show ’88.

Neil W. Midgley
County Commissioner.

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A Report from our District Commissioners

As Scouting in Middlesbrough continues to improve all the time, the development of strong Venture Scouting, 21 years old this year, and the more recent formation of Beaver Colonies have been the most significant improvement in scouting during this period.

The turn of the year saw the dissolution of South Middlesbrough District and a realignment of the boundary line now divides Scouting in Middlesbrough into two districts, East and West.

With the spirit of adventure ever present and fun packed programmes being enjoyed by all sections, more members are experiencing the World Wide Brotherhood of Scouting at first hand. Friendship ’87 at Wynyard Park brought together 2,000 Scouts from many different nations last summer for a week under canvas.

Karl Pederson from the Phoenix Venture Scout Unit went on the Yorkshire Schools Expedition to the Himalayas during the summer and at Christmas, lain Shepherd and Keith Richardson represented us at the World Jamboree in Australia. Five of our young Leaders and Venture Scouts travel to South Africa this year to take part in “Water for Africa” and last but not least, Karen Hellier from the Phoenix Venture Scout Unit joins Operation Raleigh in the Cameroons in November.

The Beaver Section is growing rapidly and beginning to work on their own District Activities. Last year they joined the Cub Scouts on a day trip to Lightwater Valley as well as the Santa Trip on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

Several Cub Packs attended the day visit to Friendship ’87 at Wynyard Park and their Football, Rounders and Handicraft Competitions continue to be well supported. This year, as well as each pack taking part in its own activities and camps, they have a trip planned to Flamingo Land as well as a County Sixers Camp.

Our Air Scouts continue to achieve RAF recognition, one of a very small number in the country to achieve this honour.

As the development of Scouting continues to be a high priority here in Middlesbrough, Yamin Khan has been appointed as the Islamic Scouting Development Officer. Together, with the District Teams, the aim of all is to:
a) Strengthen what we have.
b) Expand into areas without Scouting.
c) Consolidate our position.
and along with our Commissioners, Advisors Leaders and the Fellowship, we look forward to our continued success in 1988.

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21st Birthday of Venture Scouting

1988 marks the 21 st Birthday of Venture Scouting. It was in 1967 that the Advance Party Report was issued and the change from Senior Scouts and Rover Scouts to Venture Scouts was initiated. The creation of a self governing, self programming section, guided by adult leadership was seen as revolutionary at the time but, looking back over the 21 years, it is very evident that this was the right step to take. The organisation created and the imaginative training programme proposed for Venture Scouts who are aged between 16 and 20 has withstood the test of time. The opening up of membership of the section to young women some 10 years ago has both strengthened the section and improved the quality of its operation.

In Cleveland there are 35 Venture Scout units, most of them with mixed membership, participating in a wide programme of social, adventurous and community based activities. They and their leaders will be celebrating the 21st year of Venture Scouting over the weekend of October 1st/ 2nd, the anniversary of the founding of the Venture Scout Section. Other special events are planned in Cleveland throughout the year, and in particular, as part of the service commitment within Scouting, a large contingent of Venture Scouts and young leaders from Cleveland will be travelling to Kenya during the summer to work on Water Harvesting projects.

We wish all Venture Scouts a HAPPY BIRTHDAY in 1988 and know that the section will continue to expand and flourish in the future, providing a real challenge for young people of Venture Scout age.

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