Message from Ralph
Once again it is a great pleasure to have this opportunity to wish you all the best show ever. I wish often I could visit ALL the Gang Shows that are staged throughout the winter months but I just do not find enough evenings in the week to be able to do this. I am sure that once again all your Patrons will go away singing the songs and asking when is the next show and that all of you will enjoy every minute of the time you are so freely and willingly giving for the show.
With my own very warm wishes come those of The London Gang boys and I am sure I can include Gang Shows everywhere will be wishing you all the very best of Luck.
Yours aye,
RALPH READER.
From the President
Young men today need to work and study more intensively than ever if they are to make their mark in an increasingly competitive age. This being so, it is equally important that they make the most of the many opportunities to enjoy wholesome and worthwhile recreation and entertainment.
The Boy Scouts ‘traditional ” Gang Show,” which is always the result of much enthusiastic effort and teamwork, is an excellent outlet for good-humoured display of youthful talent.
I am pleased to have this opportunity of wishing the local association a happy and successful event.
EDWARD T. JUDGE
Message from the County Commisioner ~
LT. COLONEL M. J. B. BURNETT, D.S.O., D.L., J.P.
Once again the curtain rises on what I feel sure will be another tremendously successful Gang Show; and once again I am both pleased and grateful that so many people are prepared to spare no effort in order to achieve the very high standard which we have now grown to expect.
Time and time again I am amazed at the never ending flow of original material Ralph Reader produces year after year, giving us hit after hit in the same way that our founder was original with his concept of Scouting. This surely is the lesson we must learn from both Baden Powell and Ralph Reader, that without originality, imagination and enterprise there would have been no success story. The same must surely apply to our Packs and Troops. Let us, therefore, strive for that same originality, imagination and enterprise so that our groups may become power houses for good; and set out with those well known words of Ralph Reader
“Now as I start upon my chosen way,
In all I do, my thoughts, my work, my play,
Grant, as I promise, courage new for me,
To be the best, the best that I can be.”
The Wolf Cub Golden Jubilee Year
In 1907, Baden Powell gave the world the game of ‘ Scouting ‘ and for a number of years the younger boys tried to ” get into the act.” Finally, in 1916, the Wolf Cub Section of the Movement was formed, although there are records that there were troops of younger boys formed before this date. However, this year of 1966 is the of 6cial Golden Jubilee Year of the Wolf Cub Section and our ‘Chief,’ Sir Charles Maclean has challenged each Pack to be a better Pack than ever before, by asking that they should do the following:—
Take part in a Birthday Card Scheme which can be purchased from Scout Headquarters and sent eventually to Packs of Wolf Cubs, overseas.
Achieve a ” Good Turn ” target.
Take part in the National Pack meeting which will be held on 4th .lune and arrangements have been made for the ‘Chief Scout’ to speak to all Cubs at 5 p.m. on radio.
Complete a Scrap Book of life in the Pack and send this to the Overseas Pack. who we hope will have returned the postcard sent to them with the Birthday Card.
Achieve a progress target set by the Cubmaster.
Take part in an expedition to visit some Scouts in Camp.
Do a special Pack Good Turn.
Know that litter is dangerous and do their best to ‘Keep Britain Tidy.’
When these things have been achieved, the ‘Chief Scout ‘ will send a Challenge Certi6cate
I am pleased to say that many of the Packs in the Town have accepted this challenge and work is going ahead with photographs of Packs for the Birthday Cards and Scrap Books. Rededication Services have been held in many of the Districts, for Scouters, Scouts and Cubs. Visits by Cubs of some Districts to Flamingo Park Zoo have been arranged and whilst there, they will be able, through the courtesy of the Curator and Director of the Zoo, to take part in a ” Zoo Quest ” Competition, similar to that being organised by the Regent’s Park Zoo, London. One District is taking a composite Pack to the Cub Open Day at Gilwell Park, Essex (the international training and camping site). Pack Good Turns have been organised during September and we are hoping that all Packs will be participating in the National Good Turn during July, August and September, when they will collect Silver Paper for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. It is suggested that if every Pack in the British Isles aimed at a minimum of 14 lbs. (equal to 22,400 milk bottle tops) several dogs will be trained by this worthwhile organisation.
We are extremely grateful to the Middlesbrough Corporation Parks Department who have intimated that they are willing to place a floral display at the entrance to Albert Park to commemorate our Wolf Cub Jubilee Year.
Our’ Holiday Hostel,’ the Diving Duck at Commondale, has been booked by 22 Packs for this year and we are sure that many Cubs will have an enjoyable time on their Pack Holiday.
All Cubs and Cub Scouters are looking forward to a most exciting year during this ‘OUR JUBILEE YEAR.’
J. J. WALKER, A.T.C. (Cubs).
RAVEN GILL CAMP SITE
“OUT IN SCOUTING”
Raven Gill, the Middlesbrough Boy Scouts’ Association camp site and training ground, is situated in the North Yorkshire Moor village of Commondale. It is principally used by Middlesbrough Scouts to acquire outdoor skills, but is also used by Scouts from Districts round Tees-side and elsewhere. Comprising almost 42 acres of land there are 12 used for camping. Indoor accommodation is available for courses, shelter in inclement weather and as a Senior Scout Winter Expedition base. Mains water and flush toilets are provided, together with a multitude of training aids usually too expensive for the normal Troop, such as Pioneering equipment. A Warden is on the site every weekend from March to October to be of assistance to Scouts and generally keep an eye on the site. Regular badge instruction courses are run by the Raven Gill Staff of Scouters and the site is easily and cheaply reached from Middlesbrough by tram or bus
Plans of development for the site include leveling more camping space from industrial waste land, provision of a swimming pool, construction of new Wardens’ and Quartermasters quarters, reafforestation, drainage of camping sites and many other improvements. Thoughts and plans are looking to the future for a unified Tees-side and arrangements being considered to cope with this. The main task on the site at the moment, however, is to prepare for the Raven Gill international Scout Camp, ” Friendship ’66 ” in August. This requires tremendous preparation to provide a first class camp for the Scouts from all over the World who will attend it.
” Friendship ’66 ” is part of Middlesbrough’s contribution to the World Friendship Year, one of only eight international Camps to be held in England, this year. This is a year specially selected as a practical effort for Scouts to grasp the meaning of The World Scout Brotherhood, stemming from the fourth Scout Law—” A Scout is a friend to every other Scout, no matter to what country, class or creed the other may belong.” Almost 10 million boys throughout the World share a similar law and it is the similarity which helps turn a boy into a Boy Scout.
Widespread support for ” Friendship’66 ” is being received from the North of England as well as from Germany, Belgium, Canada and Holland. Some of those interested may of course not come but unfortunately space at Raven Gill is limited and therefore ” Sandhills,” the Service Crew Headquarters, and the ” Diving Duck ” Cub Pack Holiday center. both at Commondale, have been borrowed, together with additional land to cope with all our expected visitors. The camp, to be held from August 20th to 29th, is open to all Scouts who should apply through their D.C., but a particular welcome is extended to the 15 to 18 year olds. Many items of interest are being planned, including visits to local industry and places of historic importance as well as such things as Mountaineering and Canoeing for the more adventuresome boy. Normal Scout training will be an important feature of this camp with full emphasis on Patrol activities and brotherly co-operation. Middlesbrough Scouts, we hope, will act as hosts in their own homes to foreign Scouts during the week before or after the camp, thus further spreading international Good Will and Understanding.
Much work has already gone into planning and preparation and ” Friendship ’66 ” promises to be a great success. However, the plans and those for the site in general can only be carried out efficiently if there are sufficient leaders to help. If there are any amongst you who would like to help in any way, then I would be delighted to hear from you. One volunteer is worth ten pressed men.
Middlesbrough Gang Show 