After 17 months I still recoil from what happened in June and July 2009.
Fewer than half a dozen people really know what happened back then.
No, that's wrong. Even I don't fully know what went on.
I will write all that I know, though I have no idea how long it will take. Perhaps writing it all down will be the therapy I need? Who knows.
Because I don't want memories of the once proud Group to be tarnished by what I have to say. These are my personal thoughts, not a Group statement.
The writings at first could well appear to be the ramblings of a biiter and twisted old geezer. In time these truly bitter and twisted ramblings will appear in chronological order.
In the meantime I shall probably just let oout my inner feelings which only Diane truly knows.
Before you read any more I have to say that in some respects I feel like a hypocrite for what follows. I have always said that adults should be in Scouting for what they can do for the youngsters, they shouldn't be members for themselves. I've always decried the adult award system - however, I'm immensely proud of the fact that a few years ago I was awarded the Silver Acorn.
I spent 13 years at Crosland Hill as a Cub, Scout, Senior Scout, and finally a Venture Scout.There were then virtually 35 years as a Leader. In fact, out of the 62 years that the Group was alive, I was involved for almost 50.
Because since June 2009 only 6 Scouting people have spoken to me - apart from a birthday party, a curry night, and a funeral. However, even including those events, the number is still probably less than a dozen.
So why haven't I been asked to be involved at some level? [To be totally fair I was asked in June 2010 to help out at one event.] I even had to invite myself to the District Scouters' Christmas party - an annual event which I had started and organised previously!
Not one Scouter has said 'Thank You for what you have done'. Only one Scouter has asked me to help at an event. Not one Scouter has asked me to share my knowledge and expertise.
Not one parent has said 'Thank You for what you have done'. No-one has organised a farewell event.
Apart from the minister, not one member of the Church's congregation has said 'Thank You for what you have done'. No-one has organised a farewell event. [I have been connected with the Church since 1960 both through Scouting and also the Sunday School - including at one time being a Sunday School teacher.]
So me, bitter & twisted?
Too true.
More of the truth will follow, I'm just not sure when.
Good day David, sorry to here about Crosland Hill Scouts, it has been there a long time and now it's gone. They change is inevitable but also shit happens.
Have been on touch with G... through his son and occasionally with N.... Went to Old A...ians annual dinner this weekend and sat with N... and T....
P...
P...
Thanks for your comments.
There certainly was some shit flying around 18 months ago! The thing is, I still don’t understand why!
Yes, we did struggle for Leaders. All but one District official wouldn’t help, other Groups wouldn’t help. However, we had 7 people who had agreed to step into various roles. We had almost 40 youngsters.
Yes, we had been at rock bottom but the corner had well and truly been turned.
All I got was one belligerent District Commissioner who had told me 4 years earlier that he would close our Group down – and he succeeded!
I am still extremely bitter. The whole episode has driven 50 years of Scouting out of me.
However, I will keep the website running as it has a good reputation and get over 2000 hits each month.
Give my regards to ... as I haven’t spoken to either for some time.
It was claimed that it was the Group's Executive Committee which ahd called for the closure of the Group. It wasn't. It was a group of parents who, for whatever reason [I still don't know] felt disatisfied with something. Not all the members of the Executive Committee were invited to 'that fateful meeting'.
I might also add that the decision of that meeting was to merge with another local Group.
Whatever happened to the 'merger'???
I recently found out that the Church was being blamed for our demise and that we were having frequent arguments, being constantly at loggerheads.
I am stating now quite categorically that this was not the case.
Yes, there were teething problems whilst we all got used to the idea of sharing premises when we first moved in. However, these had long since been cleared up and we had been living in harmony for a couple of years before the Judases reared their heads.
The District has had a new DC for a couple of months now, yet still no contact with any Scouting person!
How can someone with 50 years of Scouting experience be cast aside and air-brushed from history? Beats me!