CINDERELLA

I

would like to thank all the leaders for a wonderful year at Cubs. I would also like to thank Akela for choosing me to write this.

The first event of the year was the Remembrance Day Parade. We all looked our best with shoes like mirrors, uniforms ironed until the creases were razor-sharp, hair cut yesterday, the lot. We paraded through the village from the College to the Church. Then we had a church service, paraded back, and went home.

The next event was the District skills competition. Six Cubs from every Pack took part.

After half term we went on a drop hike from Woodbury. We went through a wheat field and Kingsley couldn’t open his eyes for hay fever.

Then we went to Shefford Maze. It’s easy enough to find the middle, but getting out is a different story. We had to play a colour-searching game in the maze and we each got an Easter egg when we had found all the colours.

The St George’s Day Parade was held in Biggleswade. Hundreds of Scouts and Cubs from all over the District marched through the town to the Church for a service, with the Biggleswade Sea Cadets doing the drumming. It was a hot sunny day and lots of people turned out to watch us.

Then in June there was the District sports afternoon. I didn’t go, but the name kind of sums it up, doesn’t it?

Soon after, we had the District camp at Henlow. We went there as white as sheets and came back with the backs of our necks blazing with sunburn. There were some great games, though. There was a slide with detergent and a hose that we went down on our chests with our arms and legs in the air, there were the two-man skis, and there was a game where we had to knock each other off a pole with a giant Q-tip. Every pack had to represent a different nation, and we chose to be Australians.

Then there was the District skills hike. I didn’t go but I know there were challenges like knots and tracking signs.

Now it is half term again and we are all polishing our shoes for the next Remembrance Day Parade.

Many thanks to Robert for his review of the year. We have had a number of guests visiting the Hut during the year.

The Raptor Foundation from St Ives visited, bringing a selection of owls from the European Eagle Owl to the Little Owl they kept the boys entranced during the evening, I haven’t heard them so quiet. During Firework evening Dave Twydell gave a talk on fireworks covering the firework code and showing the various types of fireworks and differences between ordinary shop fireworks and display fireworks. He finished with a short display.

Paul Stevens is another regular visitor bringing his pets with him, a great selection of Tarantula Spiders and Snakes they usually keep the boys in order.

We have also had regular visits around the village.

We had a great visit to St Mary’s church, Dr Hammond and John Boocock made us very welcome. Dr Hammond gave an enthralling talk on the Church before setting a quiz enabling the boys to explore the Church. John Boocock covered all the aspects of the bells and bellringing culminating with a visit up the towers to see the bells in place. It reminded me of climbing St Pauls Cathedral.

The Fire Station is another place that always make us welcome, John Kitchener and the rest of the team give a brilliant display. They enjoy seeing all the equipment and having a go, we usually go home quite wet.

Many thanks to my regular helpers Julie Steele, Chris Smith and the many others that help during the year fundraising, camps and other events.