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The End of a Scout Group

1st Stoke on Trent & Newcastle st. Andrews Porthill Scout Group 1908 – 2024

I am sad to say that my Scout Group, 1st Stoke-on-Trent & Newcastle, St. Andrews Porthill has now closed. This is due to a lack of people willing to volunteer and take on leader roles and because our meeting place since 1909, St. Andrews Church Hall is closing.
I have officially been a Porthill Scout, since I was 8. Unofficially, since I was born. Mum and Dad ran the Cub Pack for many, many years and we went on lots trips and camps as a family.
I have been camping in tents, buildings, bivvys, under the stars and HMS Belfast. I have abseiled, climbed, sailed, canoed, rafted and bell boated. I’ve shot arrows and guns. I’ve camped with Greek and Swedish Scouts and camped with many Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, Ventures and Leaders. I’m a Queen’s Scout. I’ve celebrated the Group’s centenary with families and friends at a camp, then been on many family camps. There’s been Remembrance Day parades, especially the big ones in 2014 & 2018. I’ve taken Beavers on their 1st train rides to Manchester & Cadbury World, Cubs Bell Boating on Trentham Lake and Scouts to London and the top of Snowdon. I’ve helped keep Scouting going through the pandemic and helped with online cooking, making lava lamps and singing (our Leader’s ingenuity during this time was fantastic!). I have helped raise thousands of pounds for the Group, St. Andrews Church and various other charities. The Group has done a lot!
I’ve had to deal with endless paperwork, bureaucracy, politics and people who didn’t have the Group’s interests at heart, only their own narrow agendas. I’ve had emergency phone calls at odd times, had to visit hospitals and tended to wounded, upset and scared children. I’ve seen people leave Scouting for various unfortunate reasons. COVID. I’ve been stressed, harassed and lost a lot of sleep.
I’ve seen shy, timid children join Beavers and seen them leave Scouts as confident young adults. I’ve seen hundreds, maybe over a thousand, young people pass through the Group and gain many, many awards. There are even some of them who now have their own children who have joined Beavers (I feel old!). My own children have been through Beavers, Cubs and Scouts and have had a fantastic time. I’ve worked with many brilliant Leaders and adult volunteers and we’ve run some absolutely fantastic activities and events for our Scouts of all ages. I’ve made many lifelong friends. I met my wife!
I have been a Porthill Scout all my life.
I am a Porthill Scout.
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Remember

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. John McCrae, May 1915

Porthill Scouts Killed in World War 1 and World War 2

William Edgar Wood, my Great Grandfather, killed in France 1918

Rowland Rowley, my Great Great Uncle, killed in France 1915

Spencer Rowley, my Great Great Uncle, killed in France 1917

We will remember them

Posted on

Remember

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. John McCrae, May 1915

Porthill Scouts Killed in World War 1 and World War 2

William Edgar Wood, my Great Grandfather, killed in France 1918

Rowland Rowley, my Great Great Uncle, killed in France 1915

Spencer Rowley, my Great Great Uncle, killed in France 1917

We will remember them

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Remembering Don

Thinking about our friend Don who passed away this morning (22/02/2022).
My earliest, most vivid memory of Don was when Porthill and Bradwell’s Cubs were together doing a joint event and we had a campfire. I think we did it at St. Barnabas as I remember Don on the stage. I wasn’t a Cub myself, but I must have been around 6 or 7 (being there because of Mum and Dad running our Cubs).
Don did this song –
“Dunner chuck yer muck in our dustbin, our dustbin, our dustbin,
Dunner chuck yer muck in our dustbin, our dustbin’s full.
There’s rats in, an’ cats in, an our owd man’s ‘ats in,
So, dunner chuck yer muck in our dustbin, our dustbin’s full!”
He then turned to the Cubs and said, “of course in posh areas like Porthill, they sing it like this”. He saw that little 6(ish) year old me had taken umbridge at this and then sung at me with a smile on his face –
“Do not place your rubbish in our refuse receptacle, our refuse receptacle, our refuse receptacle,
Do not place your rubbish in our refuse receptacle, our refuse receptacle is full.
There are rats in and cats in and our father’s hats in,
So, do not place your rubbish in our refuse receptacle, our refuse receptacle is full!”
RIP Don
Posted on

Remember

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
John McCrae, May 1915

 

Porthill Scouts Killed in World War 1 and World War 2

William Edgar Wood, my Great Grandfather, killed in France 1918

Rowland Rowley, my Great Great Uncle, killed in France 1915

Spencer Rowley, my Great Great Uncle, killed in France 1917

We will Remember them

Posted on

Remember

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
John McCrae, May 1915

Porthill Scouts Killed in World War 1 and World War 2

William Edgar Wood, my Great Grandfather, killed in France 1918

Rowland Rowley, my Great Great Uncle, killed in France 1915

Spencer Rowley, my Great Great Uncle, killed in France 1917

We will remember them

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Tigger Creates Art!

While on his trip to London last week, Tigger visited Tate Modern

He decided to recreate his art installation from 2008 called ‘Tigger sitting on a big crack in the floor of the turbine hall of Tate Modern. Apparently this is art!’

The new installation is called ‘Tigger sitting on a big crack in the floor of the turbine hall of Tate Modern which has now been filled in. Apparently this is still art!’

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New Hornby Dublo Layout & B12s

After rather long absence, I’ve decided to try and start writing again. But now not just specifically Scouting, although that is still an active part of my life (I just ran out of stuff to say!), but going back to what I originally did, write about what is interesting to me or on my mind.

So today we start back with model railways.

I’ve intended to set up a small Hornby Dublo 3 rail layout for a while now as I have been adding to my collection, but not really had anywhere to run the trains.
I had a small oval of track that I made a long time ago which was 2 and 3 rail convertible, but the glue on the centre rail was failing so it was time to do something!
I decided to extend the board as much as I could in the space available and the video shows the results, from the original board, to the extensions to running and a few modifications.
You’ll see some of my locos along with my full collection of N2s (including 2 of my Dad’s). One of these has been restored and repainted, the 2 GWR ones have been repainted (not by me) and one is on a much later chassis than it should be.
They all run, a bit more oiling and dusting is needed, but a couple, including the pre war N2, need re-magnetizing.

The second video is of three of my (Triang) Hornby B12s running together.
The first is the original model from the early 1960s (mine’s a hybrid 60s & 70s version), rather nicely detailed for me by my uncle.
The second is the late 1990s Hornby version, which was the original one, slightly updated and now made in China.
The last one is the rather nice, current, modern, highly detailed version.
I must admit to the 1st one being my favourite, because it was specially detailed for me! Still runs very well for something that is around 40 years old!

Posted on

Remember

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
John McCrae, May 1915

 

Porthill Scouts Killed in World War 1 and World War 2

William Edgar Wood, my Great Grandfather, killed in France 1918

Rowland Rowley, my Great Great Uncle, killed in France 1915

Spencer Rowley, my Great Great Uncle, killed in France 1917

We will remember them

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Kids Today!

When, in the media, young people are mentioned, it is normally that they’ve done something wrong and there is a lot of “tut tutting” and “the young people of today..” type comments.
There will always be the ‘wrong uns’ out there and sadly they are the ones that are talked about. Case in point, the two 15 year olds that vandalised the school I work at and caused £1000s of damage. But they are the exception not the rule.
This weekend a group of young people from my Scout Group, went to the National Memorial Arboretum to play their drums, bugles and glockenspiels in support of Armed Forces Day.
They played twice to many members of the general public and members of the armed forces both current and retired.
After each performance many people came up to me and the other Leaders to tell us how good and talented the young people are.
Of course I can’t take any credit for this as it is John, the other Leaders and helpers who go and help the young people to learn their routines and the young people themselves, who do all the hard work.
But, to be told by current and ex service personnel, that they are the best drum band that they have seen in years and how impressed they are that 8 year old Cubs can be that good, it is something!
So please watch the 1st Porthill Scouts Drum Corps in action and remember that there are some very talented young people out there!

A very proud Group Scout Leader 🙂