Earlier this year Vicky Tollhurst, Assistant Cub-Scout Leader with the Collins Pack abseiled our great wall despite her fear of heights. To see the original web post and video of her achievement follow the link below.
http://www.5thdartfordscouts.org.uk/?p=4274
After two full days selling tickets for the 2012 5th Dartford Scout Group’s Christmas Raffle, the final count has been made and the winning tickets drawn. Before we get to the numbers, we would like to thank everyone who either bought a ticket or assisted with the sales, but our special thanks as always go to Maggie and Jim for sorting everything from the design and printing of the tickets to sourcing the prizes, manning the sales desk all day, counting up and ensuring the winners goodies are delivered in time for Christmas.
The Net total raised from this years raffle is a fantastic £895.97, which will be put to excellent use for the furure of Scouting at the 5th.
The prize winners, who have all been contacted and varified are:
| Prize | Ticket # | Name | |
| 1st Prize | Hamper | 1920 | Mr Curtis |
| 2nd Prize | Six Bottled of Wine | 5550 | Mr Gopi |
| 3rd Prize | Sweets Selection | 4400 | A Clements |
| 4th Prize | Xmas Cake | 4421 | K Tower |
| 5th Prize | Xmas Crackers | 5992 | Vincent |
| 6th Prize | Xmas Pudding | 1097 | Gill Randall |
On Monday 12th December a small representative of 1st Wilmington and 5th Dartford Leaders were invited to the West Dartford Masonic Centre to receive a cheque from money raised at the Craft Fair held on 18th September. It was a rare and appreciated gesture that we were invited in to the Temple and a welcome surprise that the amount for each group was match funded to total £600. This generous amount will be added to our new hall fund.
Each group were requested to nominate the two best achieving members not only to observe the presentation, but to also receive an award themselves, which will be annual award. After nominations were received from leaders of all the nine 5th Dartford Scout’s sections, two particular names were nominated several times for their achievements this year.
Matthew – A Collins Pack Cub who is now linking to Burne Troop, he has achieved his Silver Award, attended all of the fundraising activities for the New Hall Fund as well as many of District and Group events.
Jack – An Earley Troop Scout who is now linking with the Johnston Explorers unit, he has achieved his Chief Scout Gold Award and attended all of the fundraising activities for the New Hall Fund as well as many of District and Group events.
Both individuals are well respected by their peers and recognised by the leaders to have outstanding conduct and behaviour records. In the years to come, we will look to award these trophies to our two highest achievers at our annual Birthday Parade, which takes place on the first Sunday in December at the Methodist Church in Spittal Street.
Today the 5th Dartford Scout Group commenced its 95th birthday celebrations with a short parade from the hall to the Spital Street Methodist church and as usual, everyone present was made very welcome by Rev Tim and his congregation. We were well represented, with a good turnout of members from All 9 sections. During the service a prayer was read by Leigh-Pack Cub George and readings by Earley-Troop members Connor and James. Members of the congregation had a fundraiser for our benefit yesterday and raised a “small sum” for our new hall fund, which to the thankful gasp of all present turned out to be £700!
After the service, we paraded the colours back to HQ before the Scouts and Explorers left to go ice-skating and the Cubs and Beavers remained for a party with entertainer and long time favourite of the Fifth, Travis. All who attended the party had a great time, as did the ice-skating contingent with some talent in the making for some and for others………… well let’s just say thanks for keeping the rest of us laughing 😉
Every invested member now has the privilage of wearing our 95th Birthday badge on their necker, which was designed by Burne-Troop member Patrick. If you have not yet recieved your birthday badge, please speak with your section leader.
2011-11-20 – Chief Scout Bronze Awards
Today, at a district ceremony held at St Mary’s Church, Greenhithe and attended by the cream of Dartford’s Beaver Scouts, 10 members from the 5th Dartford Scout Group’s Beaver colonies were presented with their Chief Scout Bronze Award by Kathy Smith – ACC Kent Beaver Scouts. The Chief Scout Bronze award is the highest accreditation a Beaver-Scout can achieve and shows the level of commitment from both the young person and their leaders.
A special mention for James, Megan and Chloe of the Edwards colony who achieved their award in just 9 months and with Chloe and Megan being the first girls in the history of the 5th to achieve the bronze award it proves that a year on, the Edwards colony and the leadership team behind it are yet another success story for the 5th.
On behalf of all at the 5th, we congratulate you all on your award and recognise the effort that you put in to complete the requisite challenges – Well done!
If you have any photo’s to be included in our archive, please send them to media@5thdartfordscouts.org.uk
At a recent district ceremony held in the Mayor’s parlour and attended by the cream of Dartfords’ Cub Scouts, 9 members of the 5th Dartford Scout Group’s own Collins-Pack cubs were presented with their Chief Scout Silver Award by the Honourable Mayor of Dartford. On behalf of all at the 5th, we congratulate you all on your award and recognise the effort that you put in to complete the requisite challenges – Well done!
In an email from our friends in Gravelines, France we recieved this press cutting from La Voix du Nord (The Voive of the North), acompanied by the following translated text.
“Dear Friends,
Please find attached the article from La Voix du Nord (newspaper “The Voice of the North”) reporting on our 2 Scout friends, Alex and Malcolm of the 5th Scouts Division in Dartford, our twin-town, at the start of the French leg (of their marathon).
I hope you will enjoy it.”
Alain Létreux
Responsable du Groupe “Pêcheurs d’Islande”
des Éclaieuses et Éclaireurs de France
Secrétaire Adjoint des Amis du Jumelage
<Translated>
Start of the French leg in front of the Arsenal building in the presence of:
A delegation of 12 scouts from the 5th Scout division in Dartford who arrived this morning to mark the occasion, led by Paul Boreham in charge of the group, together with two representatives.
Bertrand Ringot from the General Council and Mayor of Gravelines; Councillor Raoul Defruit, President of the Youth Commission and friend of the “Amis du Jumelage” – Friends of Twinning; Edmonde Jourdain, secretary of the “Amis du Jumelage”; Alain Létreux, representative of the group “Pêcheurs d’Islande ” – (Icelandic fishermen) of the Guides and Scouts of France in Gravelines, with other members of the group and the joint-secretary of the “Amis du Jumelage”; Christian Hogard, representing the group “Paul Emile Victor” (a French explorer) from the Guides and Scouts of France in Loon-plage with other members of the group.
Day 7 – London – Dartford Marathon:
Sunday 23rd October 2011 – The day MORE scouts came.
08:40 at Dartford Train Station heading for London and Trafalgar Square the start line for the last leg of the 777 Challenge. Both of us stiff legged and more than ready for the culmination of the weeks effort. The support team had grown yet again with a crowd of Scouts and Leaders travelling up with us boosting our spirits. On arrival at the start line we were met by yet more supporters. The first 6 miles we were accompanied by Scouts from Early and Burne Troup who set off at blistering pace of 8 minute miles. After looping around Oxford Street and Hyde Park we ran back into Trafalgar Square having already totalled nearly 7 miles. Leaving our scout escort we continued across to the South Bank and through Docklands, for this stage I have one word and its painful. We were met at the top of Greenwich Park by more runners and support cyclists as we pushed on up the steep climb of Shooters Hill, we were willed on by shouts of encouragement. As we entered Welling, the 20 mile point, we were again joined by yet more scouts and leaders from the 5th Dartford. Next we passed through Bexleyheath and Crayford cheered on by groups of supporters who stopped traffic enabling us to pass unhindered. By this point people from the local pubs and shops we passed joined the groups of Scouts on the streets cheering us passed. We descended the final hill into Dartford the pace increasing as we knew the final stretch was ahead. On entering Central Park we headed for the bandstand and at the finish line we saw the welcoming party and our hearts lifted, at 15:13 on 23rd October 2011 we had completed 7 Marathons in 7 Countries in 7 Days all but one of which was under 5 hours, not bad.
I would like to thank Darren and Matt our immediate support team, for their immense efforts, unwavering support and patience in keeping us going when we were fed up. I would also like to say a big thanks to the 5th Dartford Scout Group for letting us use their banner to run under and the leaders, scouts and parents for supporting and running alongside us as well as all those who have backed us financially.
Brilliant effort and thank you.
Press……. please contact media@5thdartfordscouts.org.uk for high resolution pictures
Day 6 – France Marathon (Gravelines):
Saturday 22nd October 2011 – The day the scouts came.
After getting up at 0830 (a nice lay in!) we had a traditional French breakfast and after some confusion as whether to put coffeeor cereal in the breakfast bowl we moved to the town hall to meet with the Mayor and the local councillor. Alain from the Gravelines’ Scout Group was an excellent host, providing us with free accommodation and arranged local Scouts and local media to be at the start of the marathon. Scouts and leaders from the 5th Dartford Scout Group had also made the journey across the channel to run 6th leg. Alain provided a car to escort us around the marathon route and led the way out of the town. The car set off at an epic pace about 10mph and was quite cheeky to keep up with, but after a few miles we again settled into a lumbering stride and headed off around the docks towards Dunkirk. One of the Leaders, Keith, ran the whole distance with us and provided a welcome relief and change of conservation. It must be said that the scouts who met us in France really kept us mentally strong and they kept up a good pace keeping our minds focused away from the monotonous pain and the sheer boredom. Finishing under the castle gates we had time for a quick drink with the supporting French and 5th Scouts then headed directly for the tunnel, England, home and the final leg.
Twelve of 5th Dartford scouts travelled out to Gravelines to support Alex & Malcolm in their penultimate marathon. An early rise at 5am was called for with the two cars traveling by Euro Tunnel to meet with them by 10am. It was fantastic that Alain had also enlisted the help of the Mayor, twinning committee as well as Loon-Plage scouts to come and support the start. The majority of the scouts ran the first 5 miles and then the last 5 as well, with Keith completing the whole marathon with Alex and Malcolm. The route finished back in Gravelines town square, where a well deserved rest and a lemonade was enjoyed before returning home. I understand from the scouts taking part that nearly 500 in sponsorship money was raised.
Congratulation to all…
