Week Ending 14.04.12
Band seeks to drum up support
Your pipe band needs you!
Leapmoor Scout pipe band urgently requires new members who want to learn drumming and piping. If you are interested come along on a Sunday night to Westburn Church Youth Hall at 6.30pm. The band can be used for achievement in several badges including musician, entertainer and Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. The band requires new members to survive in the future.
There is a long tradition of piping and Pipe Bands in Scouting within Greenock District almost from the beginnings of Scouting. This tradition continues today with the Leapmoor Scout Pipe Band. The formation of the Band resulted from a chance meeting and conversation at Everton Scout Camp in early 1999, between David Storey (73rd) Graham Hyatt (85th) and Campbell Cairns (5th) about previous Scout Pipe Bands. From that discussion moves were made to form the Leapmoor Pipe Band. The Band struggled at first to progress beyond three or four pipers but in 2004 all that changed with a successful Lottery application for pipes and drums. As a result, band members increased dramatically particularly from the 5th Troop.
Leapmoor Band made its first formal appearance leading the Armistice Day Parade, at Inverclyde Council’s request, to the war memorial at the Wellpark in November 2005. Many of the pipers and drummers had only been playing for six months. The Band has continued to play at District and Scottish events and has a busy schedule.
47th cook up a storm
Scouts from the 47th spent a hard working but fun weekend camping in the forest next to Everton.
The guys spent the Saturday learning about a range of Scouting skills such as various fire lighting methods, the burning qualities of different woods, tree identification and responsible use of the axe and saw. Their newly learned skills along with their recently acquired backwoods cooking skills were also put to the test as the Scouts were camping independently for the first time and responsible for all aspects of the campsite as well as the successful preparation and cooking of their own meals.
However, a Michelin star is still a long way off!
5th Walk the Way in 5
Ten Scouts, three Explorers and one Leader from the 5th completed the West Highland Way in five days over the first week of the Easter holidays in mostly sunny but cold weather. The heavy snow fall on day four only delayed proceedings for a short while.
Explorers Fraser Boyle and Kieran McGarrity completed the walk for the fourth year in a row whilst explorer Jack Pollock with Scouts Colin Lapsley, Scott Boyle and Donald Lapsley completed the walk for the third year in a row and Scout Jamie Burns completed the walk for the second year in a row.
Scouts Stewart Moody, Scott Coventry, Scott Fitzgerald, Rhys Drysdale, and Reef Gillan completed the walk for the first time. Reece Gavin completed three of the five stages walking 55 miles. Assistant Explorer Scout Leader Mathew Thorburn walked with them and completed the walk for the second time.
All had a great time meeting other walkers on the ‘Way’ and many very positive comments were received from other walkers and campers along the route. Well done for a great effort and achievement.
Thanks also to the support team of Jonny Donnachie, Mathew Thorburn and Campbell Cairns.
Cubs Easter Camp
A total of 18 Cubs and seven Leaders from the 73rd and 97th spent the first weekend of the Easter break at Lochgoilhead Scout Centre.
All Cubs took part in various adventurous activities including canoeing, abseiling, raft building and archery. In doing these activities they gained and their Water Activity, Outdoor Challenge and Stage 1 Nights away badges!
A big thank you to the Leaders who made this possible and the parents who helped with transport.