The End of a Scout Group

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.