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The shot below shows the 1948
3rd Whitstable Scouts Camp....
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Scout Camp -
1948
Seated
left to right left to right:
Tony Blake (yes... the Whitstable
Historian), Michael Thomas (I'm a bit unsure of this identification),
Ken Barnaby, David Stewart, John Morrell.
Standing
op left to right: Michael Stewart (David's brother), Brian
Willman,
Jack Tuckwood, Bernard Ticombe, Dawson Pratt, John Rye, Bill Dancer
and Gary Lucas.
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It was taken either at Sturry
or, perhaps, Teston - just outside of Maidstone.
Dawson Pratt came into the
troop like something from another planet. Our troop struggled to get to 1st
Class Scout status and when Dawson arrived he came complete with Kings Scout,
Bushmans Thong, Gilwell Cord and a uniform whose exterior comprised more badges
than shirt material.
Dawson lead our "Dream
Team" to an unsuccessful challenge for the Lefevre Cup and Pennant - the
local Holy Grail of Scouting (Does it still exist?).
However, at a later date
(likely the early 50's), a team lead by Michael Stewart and including Brian
Willman and myself (amongst others), did win the Lefevre Cup. At that time, it
was the highlight of the troop's history.
I remember Brian as he was an
excellent cook and, at the cooking part of the competition, his peas were judged
to be uncooked in that they were not "mushy peas". Brian thought the
judge was a bit of a culinary philistine and neatly dissected a perfectly cooked
non mushy pea and explained this was the definitive perfectly cooked pea. He won
his point and, likely, that was the vital point that won the cup.
I think Skip Shepperd (who was
our previous Troop Leader and then District Commissioner) actually cried and I
know for certain he dressed down our parents for not coming out in larger
numbers to enjoy our moment of glory. Our Hero!!
I have also included a shot of
the camp band of 1948....
Bill
Bill Dancer
Victoria
British Columbia
Canada
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