1st East Grinstead Scout Group
Centenary 1908 - 2008
Centenary 1908 -
Jubilee Fete East Grinstead Observer
THE RAIN GAUGE WAS SOON
FORGOTTEN BY BOY SCOUTS
THE RAIN GAUGE WAS SOON
FORGOTTEN BY BOY SCOUTS
At noon on Monday the 1st East Grinstead Boy Scout Group placed a rain gauge in East Court. They held a policy against rain for their Whitsun fete and since it had been raining steadily for the previous 12 hours or so and dark clouds were still above, the Scout Group felt that they might receive some compensation for the three months' preparatory work they had put into the fete. The policy covered the fete from 12 noon onwards.
But by 12.30 p.m. the clouds began to clear and soon gave way to sunshine. The rain gauge was forgotten and the fete as planned went on. " I do not think that the early rain affected the attendance much," said Group Scoutmaster Mr. Edgar Cooper, " and the only difference it made was that the stalls were not as attractive as we had planned. " Our original idea was to place the stalls around the arena but as the arena was on low land we moved the stalls up to the terrace where the ground is well drained. This was done to prevent any possibility of the arena becoming a quagmire," he said.
The object of the fete was to raise money to purchase new equipment for the boys, particularly new patrol tents. "We have had our present tents since 1933," said G.S.M. Cooper, "and new ones are our main requirements. "The tents have been in constant use for over 20 years and won't stand much more repairing or re-proofing," he added. These new patrol tents cost £20 and the Group requires six. They hope to purchase these in time for the annual camp which this year, as it is the Group’s Jubilee Anniversary, is taking place at Arne, on Poole Harbour. within sight of Brownsea Island, where the first ever Boy Scout camp was held by Lord Baden-Powell in 1907
The resourceful Parents' Committee of the Group, who organised the fete, decided that instead of the usual practice of borrowing stalls from other organisations, they would make their own, and these proved popular.
The Scouts and Senior Scouts were responsible for the arena displays and the boys had camped in East Court over the week-end. Their camp was open to inspection by the visitors.
But by 12.30 p.m. the clouds began to clear and soon gave way to sunshine. The rain gauge was forgotten and the fete as planned went on. " I do not think that the early rain affected the attendance much," said Group Scoutmaster Mr. Edgar Cooper, " and the only difference it made was that the stalls were not as attractive as we had planned. " Our original idea was to place the stalls around the arena but as the arena was on low land we moved the stalls up to the terrace where the ground is well drained. This was done to prevent any possibility of the arena becoming a quagmire," he said.
The object of the fete was to raise money to purchase new equipment for the boys, particularly new patrol tents. "We have had our present tents since 1933," said G.S.M. Cooper, "and new ones are our main requirements. "The tents have been in constant use for over 20 years and won't stand much more repairing or re-
The resourceful Parents' Committee of the Group, who organised the fete, decided that instead of the usual practice of borrowing stalls from other organisations, they would make their own, and these proved popular.
The Scouts and Senior Scouts were responsible for the arena displays and the boys had camped in East Court over the week-