Veteran of G57 (Greenwich SAS Division) and used to meet up at Charlton URC Hall up Bramshot Avenue, before taking our outfit up to John Roan.
We always used the Scouts Camp at Downe near Biggin Hill, can't remember what time of year, just rememebr other Scout troops going Canada and places like that and we'd go to Downe, 5 minutes up the road
Must have been around the time my brother in law Brian Warwick was there. I was in the Commandos G54 patrolling out of Charlton Manor school.
My mate had trouble at home and wanted to get away so we got some stuff together and got the train to Bromley and the bus to Downe village. Got some bread and jam from the village shop and trekked to Downe camp and bunked in. Got the key from the lady in the house at top of the lane and had it to ourselves for a few days until we ran out of bread and jam.
I am a scout helper in Dartford, yes we do still cook on fires and the kids love it.
Justin, which Group are you with? I retired ater a spell of bad health and pressure of work just over 10 years ago. However I had been in Dartford scouting for much of my life. The two Group's I was involved with were 8th Dartford and Sutton.
@redman I am at 9th Dartford, by Dunelm on Heath Lane.
@Justin20474 Yes I know. I don't suppose Neil Gearing still has anything to do with that group does he?
Veteran of G57 (Greenwich SAS Division) and used to meet up at Charlton URC Hall up Bramshot Avenue, before taking our outfit up to John Roan.
We always used the Scouts Camp at Downe near Biggin Hill, can't remember what time of year, just rememebr other Scout troops going Canada and places like that and we'd go to Downe, 5 minutes up the road
Must have been around the time my brother in law Brian Warwick was there. I was in the Commandos G54 patrolling out of Charlton Manor school.
My mate had trouble at home and wanted to get away so we got some stuff together and got the train to Bromley and the bus to Downe village. Got some bread and jam from the village shop and trekked to Downe camp and bunked in. Got the key from the lady in the house at top of the lane and had it to ourselves for a few days until we ran out of bread and jam.
I am a scout helper in Dartford, yes we do still cook on fires and the kids love it.
Justin, which Group are you with? I retired ater a spell of bad health and pressure of work just over 10 years ago. However I had been in Dartford scouting for much of my life. The two Group's I was involved with were 8th Dartford and Sutton.
@redman I am at 9th Dartford, by Dunelm on Heath Lane.
@Justin20474 Yes I know. I don't suppose Neil Gearing still has anything to do with that group does he?
Yes, he certainly is, he is the group scout leader for 9th and also one of the leaders of the scout section. I have known Neil once I started and have been on many camps with him and Des Harris.
I was in the local Cubs in Eltham. I joined with visions of high adventure in exotic locations.
Our first 'camp' was at a farm at the end of my road. It was so close that I remember walking home for Sunday dinner before returning later in the afternoon.
Veteran of G57 (Greenwich SAS Division) and used to meet up at Charlton URC Hall up Bramshot Avenue, before taking our outfit up to John Roan.
We always used the Scouts Camp at Downe near Biggin Hill, can't remember what time of year, just rememebr other Scout troops going Canada and places like that and we'd go to Downe, 5 minutes up the road
Must have been around the time my brother in law Brian Warwick was there. I was in the Commandos G54 patrolling out of Charlton Manor school.
My mate had trouble at home and wanted to get away so we got some stuff together and got the train to Bromley and the bus to Downe village. Got some bread and jam from the village shop and trekked to Downe camp and bunked in. Got the key from the lady in the house at top of the lane and had it to ourselves for a few days until we ran out of bread and jam.
Was he the leader, married to Jasmin?
No he was just a scout. He was heavily involved in the annual Greenwich Gang Shows.
This visit was a q&a session for girls group leading up to one of their badges, the first question which you would expect to be about the dogs was “ Did I belong to a scout group a longtime ago when I was little” with lots of laughter from parents sitting around the perimeter of the hall. I admitted I was in the cubs, but stopped short of telling the group I got slung out as and 8 yr old for being a disruptive influence.
@RolandsOut one of my boys did that last year (aged 8) with Boys Brigade.
He loved it, I can’t remember ever feeling so apprehensive while he was away!
The Boy's Brigade, oh those were the days. None of that stupid 'dib dib dib' malarkey and 'Arkela, we will do our best' stuff. Absolutely loved the Boy's Brigade and actually met up with my old Captain when in Norfolk last year but I digress. We went on some great summer camps - Harlech, Isle of Wight, Burnham on Sea, Seaford to name a few. Very fond memories of being in The Boy's Brigade.
Fortunately, in our group there are none of Kipling's names (but believe other groups still do use some) and thankfully the dibs ended ages ago.
I was in the cubs at Deansfield school or it might have been in the scout 'hut' off Rochester Way. Maybe 9th Royal Eltham or something like that. On St Georges's day we would parade with flags aka the Boys Brigade. My scout group was in Forest Hill and we camped at Shoreham, Kent, which is one of the loveliest places in the world.
I was in the cubs as a kid many years ago. Based out of St Peter's church hall in Woolwich (the 36th I think). Remember going to Downe a good few times. Mostly in tents, but once in one of the big huts, where I seem to remember the bunks were three high. Preferred the tents and we felt we we'd made it when we managed to sneak a few tins of Bass Shandy in...glad to say I soon progressed from the weak stuff!!!
@RolandsOut one of my boys did that last year (aged 8) with Boys Brigade.
He loved it, I can’t remember ever feeling so apprehensive while he was away!
The Boy's Brigade, oh those were the days. None of that stupid 'dib dib dib' malarkey and 'Arkela, we will do our best' stuff. Absolutely loved the Boy's Brigade and actually met up with my old Captain when in Norfolk last year but I digress. We went on some great summer camps - Harlech, Isle of Wight, Burnham on Sea, Seaford to name a few. Very fond memories of being in The Boy's Brigade.
That sort of disrespect to us chaps that were proudly led by Akela and Bargheera and aspired to be the 'Sixer' or even, in our wildest dreams, the Chief Scout, could lead to a very nasty punch-up in the Makro's car park!
another tick for the G54 group based at Charlton Manor School, remember camping at Downe - am sure I did my swimming badge there in their pool which was absolutely ice cold.
wasn't in the cubs for long, but definitely remember enjoying it
another tick for the G54 group based at Charlton Manor School, remember camping at Downe - am sure I did my swimming badge there in their pool which was absolutely ice cold.
wasn't in the cubs for long, but definitely remember enjoying it
What year was you there. There were two camps from memory one was for Greenwich troops only, near to Downe village, the other with the open air swimming pool a little further on. Only went there once I think.
An activity centre used by generations of scouts and school children is to be sold due to the impact of the pandemic.
The Downe Scout Activity Centre, on the Bromley-Kent border, was set up in 1929 by Scout Association founder Lord Baden-Powell to train scout leaders.
The hostel and conference centre, Baden-Powell House in South Kensington, London, will also be sold.
The Scout Association said a "drastic downturn" in income since March had led to "severe financial difficulty".
It added that a "massive drop in commercial activity" had already resulted in a number of difficult decisions, including cutting services and making 100 redundancies.
Veteran of G57 (Greenwich SAS Division) and used to meet up at Charlton URC Hall up Bramshot Avenue, before taking our outfit up to John Roan.
We always used the Scouts Camp at Downe near Biggin Hill, can't remember what time of year, just rememebr other Scout troops going Canada and places like that and we'd go to Downe, 5 minutes up the road
I was in the 9th Dartford cubs and scouts.
Looking back, I suspect that my first "camping" with the Cubs would have been in one of the lodges at Downe, I would have been young and it was all very exciting!
The furthest I went with the Scouts was Poole I think, where we camped. I remember visiting Brownsea Island.
We were always in tents mate. Not good for my brother and fellow scouts one time as about 6 of us was in a tent, with me at one end and at the top of a small slope and I used to wet the bed.
Wanna get that checked out - might be kidney problems
An activity centre used by generations of scouts and school children is to be sold due to the impact of the pandemic.
The Downe Scout Activity Centre, on the Bromley-Kent border, was set up in 1929 by Scout Association founder Lord Baden-Powell to train scout leaders.
The hostel and conference centre, Baden-Powell House in South Kensington, London, will also be sold.
The Scout Association said a "drastic downturn" in income since March had led to "severe financial difficulty".
It added that a "massive drop in commercial activity" had already resulted in a number of difficult decisions, including cutting services and making 100 redundancies.
An activity centre used by generations of scouts and school children is to be sold due to the impact of the pandemic.
The Downe Scout Activity Centre, on the Bromley-Kent border, was set up in 1929 by Scout Association founder Lord Baden-Powell to train scout leaders.
The hostel and conference centre, Baden-Powell House in South Kensington, London, will also be sold.
The Scout Association said a "drastic downturn" in income since March had led to "severe financial difficulty".
It added that a "massive drop in commercial activity" had already resulted in a number of difficult decisions, including cutting services and making 100 redundancies.
Thats very said, both my girls have had camps there 3/4 times with the brownies/guides. Surprised the Scouting Network couldn't do fundraisers to try and save it.
I was in the cubs in the 60s & never once got to go camping, I wouldn't mind but my Mum was the bloody Akela. She was in the scouting movement for over 50 years & went to Windsor Castle & received a presentation from the Queen Mum for services to scouting.
8th Royal eltham, camping in the late 70's early 80's was not good. Tents didn't have a floor you just had a ground sheet, the wind and rain would come in, of which there was always loads!
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My mate had trouble at home and wanted to get away so we got some stuff together and got the train to Bromley and the bus to Downe village. Got some bread and jam from the village shop and trekked to Downe camp and bunked in. Got the key from the lady in the house at top of the lane and had it to ourselves for a few days until we ran out of bread and jam.
Our first 'camp' was at a farm at the end of my road. It was so close that I remember walking home for Sunday dinner before returning later in the afternoon.
My scout group was in Forest Hill and we camped at Shoreham, Kent, which is one of the loveliest places in the world.
Cooked sausages in aluminium foil. Always burnt on the outside but not cooked in the middle!!
wasn't in the cubs for long, but definitely remember enjoying it
There were two camps from memory one was for Greenwich troops only, near to Downe village, the other with the open air swimming pool a little further on. Only went there once I think.
An activity centre used by generations of scouts and school children is to be sold due to the impact of the pandemic.
The Downe Scout Activity Centre, on the Bromley-Kent border, was set up in 1929 by Scout Association founder Lord Baden-Powell to train scout leaders.
The hostel and conference centre, Baden-Powell House in South Kensington, London, will also be sold.
The Scout Association said a "drastic downturn" in income since March had led to "severe financial difficulty".
It added that a "massive drop in commercial activity" had already resulted in a number of difficult decisions, including cutting services and making 100 redundancies.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-54842923
I was in Sunfields Cubs (up at the royal standard) in the 70s for a year or so and loved it