Scouting

For old times' sake we joined Scouting Active Service locally, the part of the Movement that used to be called the Scout Fellowship (read: for those getting on a bit who want to be still involved.)

Two months later came The Phone Call. "We have this situation and wondered if you could help..." In short, a village Troop had a good Leader who because of work could only be there every other week. "How do you feel about just..." Always beware the word "just". "...just going along on the other week to help out?"

The Troop turned out to be a village Troop with a good feel to it. A friendly lot of Scouts who made me feel welcome. So to cut the story short I became an Assistant Scout Leader again for a couple of years. At my age.

Advantages? The Downs about 400 yards away, Friston Forest in easy reach, a near-secret campsite in even easier reach.

Disadvantages? The requirements for proving everything's safe can stifle what they can do. And Scouts are now aged from 11 until their 14th birthday (plus a few months' grace), so just as you've got someone who's experienced, useful and responsible, off they go to the Explorer unit to have even more fun. But hey...

Anyway, after two years I decided that the emphasis on H&S paperwork rather than real Scouting (in that particular Group) was doing neither the Scouts nor my sanity any good, so reverted to helping in the District as a member of Scouting Active Service. It's good to tell people I'm in the SAS.

Then I was lucky enough to latch onto a lovely group of people and a lovely Group of Cubs and Scouts, and to start all over again in my dotage. Ah well. It's all good fun.