In the December 11 issue of the Gravesham Scout Bulletin, Debbie Pearce – ADC Beavers (Gravesham), tells of how her Scouting career began at the 5th Dartford Scout Group way back in 1984 as an Assistant Venture Scout Leader under the wing of former GSL Dick Medcalf.
So how did you start in Scouting?
This was the question asked by Paul the other day – well if you sitting comfortably then I shall begin.
Many moons ago back in 1984 when I was but a mere young whipper snapper (hmm) and had just started my career in the London Probation service, my mum was also working for Probation but as a Community Service Officer in Bexleyheath and her boss was Dick Medcalfe (from whom I learnt some very dodgy drinking games whilst on various camps), who was the GSL at 5th Dartford – he happened to mention to my Mum that his Venture Scout Unit needed a female AVSL – my mum told me and the next step is a bit of a blur but I then suddenly found myself with an AVSL warrant and with a brilliant bunch of Venture Scouts in Dartford.
I took the reins as VSL in 1986 but was then drawn to the new and mad world of Beaver Scouting – always wanting to have been a primary school teacher this fulfilled lots of personal goals so I defected. I stayed at the 5th as an ABL until I moved to Bexleyheath in 1989, which I knew very well having spent all of my childhood living there and had attended the Methodist church Sunday school and went to Brownies and Guides at the 7th Bexleyheath attached to this church. Somehow when I was at church news got around that I was a BSL in Dartford and again the next is a blur as I then found myself starting the first Beaver Scout Colony at the 7th Bexleyheath (still going strong today hurrah) later in 1989. Having to learn 24 boys’ names in one stage was no mean feat I can tell you and when the Beavers were all invested including myself and the 2 ABL’s this was a night to remember. This was also the era when hats were part of the Scout uniform; I still have some very attractive photo’s!!! I stayed at 7th until 1995 when I moved to Cliffe and it became impossible to fit work, and a 5yr old daughter at school in Higham into the equation. I was always itching though to get back to scouting. Then one night in 2005 having then moved to Gravesend I was gazing out of one of my office window which looks over Woodlands Park ( no I am not a dodgy stalker ! ) and chatting to my daughter when I saw a colony of Beavers in the playground – (Sophia was 15 by now) you have never seen my legs move so fast I was out of the house and chatting to that leader in a flash – the colony were from Swanscombe and the leader suggested that I contacted the Gravesham DC via the Kent Scout website – I sent an email the next day and then Keith rang me and as they say the rest is history.
Scouting is now so in my blood that I cannot envisage it ever not being in my life and the roles that I have I am so very lucky to be supported by absolutely fantastic leaders and parents.
Happy Scouting – Debby