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County of Greater London South West
Annual Reports and Accounts 2002
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Activities Report
Firstly my thanks to David Gould and Anthony Morris for their dedication and commitment whilst holding the appointments of County Band Adviser and Gang Show Producer respectively and I wish their successors, Ivan Gideon and Andrew Hayward, the best of luck in carrying out their new responsibilities. I must also welcome Christopher Hampton who joins our team of Canoeing Assessors.
Unfortunately the Hill Walking Course had to be cancelled due to the outbreak of the foot and mouth disease but subsequent courses were very successful. These included Remote Camping when four parties of twenty Members plus Leaders camped in the Moelwyn area of Snowdonia. The Older Scouts Weekend in North Wales was also well attended with a full programme of hill walking, climbing and abseiling. The Basic Mountaineering First Aid Course was, once again, run to capacity.
Both an Orienteering Competition for Scouts and Venture Scouts and an Advanced Hill Walking Course for Leaders were new initiatives. The former held over Banstead Woods was extremely popular with well over forty teams taking part. The event proved that the standards in map and compass work are being maintained. The Leaders Course, which filled the Bethesda Base, was aimed at developing skills to equip Leaders to meet the requirements of the new Hill Walking Authorisation Scheme.
Foot and mouth disease, together with bad weather, also affected our flying activities although twenty-two Scouts did enjoy air experience flying out of Goodwood, one of the few aerodromes with an Air Operators Certificate, whilst several others had the opportunity to enhance their paragliding skills. Climbing, water activities and rifle shooting were some of the other adventurous activities, which were offered to Scouts throughout the County.
Some of our Members entered the Scout National Parascending Accuracy Championships, the National Scout Air Rifle Championships and the National Marching Band Championships and gained creditable results.
A fifth Band was formed in 2001 and this, together with the existing Bands and members of the County Gang Show, promote musical and entertainment skills, which are consistently of a high standard.
With the implementation of the new Scout Programme, which aims to provide an enjoyable, challenging and rewarding programme of personal development, all Explorer Scouts and Members of the Scout Network should be encouraged to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme which provides further recognition of their achievements. In addition The Explorer Belt is another challenge for those Members over sixteen.
Safety in Scouting is concerned with promoting a culture of safety in all Scouting activities, not just those that have been perceived to involve a greater element of risk. With this in mind most Districts have appointed a Safety Co-ordinator whose role is one of advice, support and co-ordination, being responsible to the District Executive Committee, through the District Chairman, in discharging its duties with regards to the management of Health and Safety. My thanks to the Team who have taken on this important role.
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