WRAY CASTLE 1976
To view the account of summer camp from the Troop Log click here
The Troop Reports of summer camp is in a separate pdf file accessible from the link above
Summary of Summer Camp at Wray Castle, Ambleside 1976
ATTENDANCE
Paddington Patrol (Scouters)
SL Alistair B. Cram (Skipper), Brian Scott (Camp Treasurer and First Aid), ASL Kenny W. Paton, ASL Graham L. Patrick (Glip) (QM Food), ASL Colin Cuthbertson (56th R & I), ASL Calum Grant (1st R & I); CSL Isabel MBride (Akela) (long weekend only).
Droopy Patrol (Curlew)
PL David Terris (Terry), APL Graeme Brodie, Tommy Tully, Kenneth Wallace, Colin Hunter.
Captain Pugwash Patrol (Eagle)
PL John Paterson, APL Steven Haldane, Cameron Still, Peter McLean, Robbie Mochrie.
Pluto Patrol (Falcon)
PL David McCready (Ted), APL Paul Edgar (Eggy), Guy Grant, Alistair Calder, Billy Forbes.
Spiderman Patrol (Fox)
PL Gordon Robertson, APL Roderick Boyle, Murray Brabender, Tommy Boag, Brian McCready, David Eadie.
Woody Woodpecker Patrol (Kingfisher)
PL Iain Calder, APL Harry Lochhead, Charlie Mill, Bruce Black.
Casper Patrol (Seagull)
PL Sandy Eadie, APL Brian Scobie (Scooby), David Griffin, Calum Adams.
Goofy Patrol (Stag)
PL David Bolster (Bosie), APL Stuart Patrick (Slip), Colin Terris (Shugi), Graham Soutar (Sooty).
Charlie Brown Patrol (Tiger)
PL David McCallum (Salem), PL Jim Tosh, Brian Peacock, Douglas Haldane.
Civilising Influence
Moira Cram and Fay Lamont.
Cub Scouts (6th-8th August)
Andrew Wilson, John Kerr, Kenny Kerr, John Chalmers + at least one other.
All eight patrols were present in camp, which might be the only time that this happened. All eight of the Troop’s PLs were present as well as Jim Tosh who was a PL in another Troop. Seven of the Troop’s eight APLs were present. In total, there were 36 70th Scouts at the camp, representing about75% of the Scouts in the troop. With the arrival of the Cubs and visitors between 6th-8th August, the attendance of Scouters, Scouts and Cubs peaked at 51 during that weekend.
Overview
The 1976 summer camp at Wray Castle, Ambleside, was the first of two summer camps to be held there by the 70th, the second one being in 1980. As a result, there were a significant number of Scouts and Leaders who attended both camps (A.B.Cram, K.W.Paton, Glip, C.Terris, M.Brabender, G.Grant, T.Boag, B.McCready, D. Eadie, R. Mochrie, A.Wilson, K.Kerr and J.Kerr). The attendance at Wray Castle in 1976 was a respectable 36 Scouts plus a strong contingent of 6 Scouters.
The weather during camp was very good, and better than what one might have expected in the Lake District. The weather was mostly sunny and dry and there was only one wet day. The standards of camping and behaviour were very good and the Patrol Leaders proved themselves to be highly responsible and trustworthy. The Scouts were a credit to the Troop both in and out of camp.
The campsite itself provided ideal terrain for a typical 70th Summer Camp in that it was slightly hilly with woods that were suitable for kitchen shelters and wide games. There were also sufficient flat areas for tents and games whileLake Windermere was easily accessible for water activities. Needless to say, there was an abundance of hills and mountains within range of the campsite that were suitable for hikes and hill climbs. Being a recognised Scout campsite, there were water taps located around the site as well as a toilet block. It also seems likely that a supply of pioneering timber and firewood was available on site. Finally, Ambleside was within easy driving distance for visits and supplies. Having said all that, the big disadvantage to the site was its popularity and so several Troops were camping there and the space allocated to each Troop was quite restricted - probably about 10-20% of what the 70th would have preferred. As a result, it was impossible to position Patrol sites out of sight of each other. Indeed, 6 of the Patrol sites were located relatively close to each other along the line of a bordering wood. Only the Kingfisher and Fox Patrols found sites that were well separated from everyone else.
As far as games and activities were concerned, these included archery, balloon archery, football, hockey, canoeing and swimming. Football seemed particularly popular at Wray Castle this year.
Training and testing sessions were held regularly throughout the camp, covering the various tests associated with the Scout Standard and Advanced Scout Standard. This included making bivouacs, and a number of Scouts spent a less than comfortable night testing them out. There were also plenty of opportunities to pass tests such as firelighting, cooking, axe and saw, felling axe, map and compass and first aid. Stuart Patrick and David McCallum both completed their Advanced Scout Standard in camp.
Regarding hikes and hill activities, a number of Scouts completed their Advanced Scout Standard Hikes, but no details of the routes taken were recorded. The Scouts involved in these hikes was not recorded, but it it is known that Colin Terris and Steven Haldane both completed and passed the ASS hike during the camp. While the ASS hikers were away, 18 Scouts and 3 Scouters successfully scaled The Old Man of Coniston.
Two substantial pioneering projects were completed during the camp, one by the PLs and the other by the APLs. Both projects involved making swings, though of differing designs. Photographs of both constructions are on the website. There were several day trips during the camp. On a number of occasions, the Scouts were given the opportunity to visit Ambleside. However, there were more substantial trips which involved three day trips, one to Brockhole Park, one to Bowness, and one to Lakeside, Haversthwaite and Fell Foot Park. The last of these trips took place on the 11th August and involved the Troop being split into two group. The first group was driven into Ambleside where they caught the MV Swan with sailed down the length of Lake Windermere. At Lakeside, the Scouts disembarked and caught a steam train which carried them along a surviving stretch of single-track line to Haversthwaite. The minibus then collected them at the station and drove them to Fell Foot Park on the southern shores of Lake Windermere where a packed lunch was had with the second group of Scouts. The first group of Scouts were then transported by car and minibus back to the campsite. The second group of Scouts did the same journey but in the opposite direction. Logistically, the success of the trip relied heavily on cars and minibus being in the right place at the right time to shuttle Scouts to and from Fell Foot Park and Haverthwaite. Earlier, the Troop had visited Bowness for the day and several Scouts visited the cinema in the evening.
The Duty to God aspect of the Scout Promise was duly addressed on Sunday 8th August when the Scouts paraded to the local church with flags flying. Kenny Paton played the organ during the service which most people found rather strange as it was an Anglican Church. It was also very chilly. The Scouts also had the opportunity to experience the 'Worldwide Brotherhood of Scouting' by meeting Scouts from other troops in camp. One of these was the 4th Knowles Sea Scouts who were camping nearby. Several of their leaders and Scouts signed the Troop Log Book and there was some neckerchief swapping during the camp.
At the end of the camp, various Scouting awards were made. Robbie Mochrie and Graham Soutar jointly won the Novice Camper of the Year, while Tommy Tully was presented with the GSLs Cup for Camper of the Year and the GSLs Cup for Best Scout of the Year.