On Friday 22nd May, the leaders set off bright and early to Walton Firs campsite in Cobham to set up what was to be a very successful Jamboree camp indeed. The weather was the best we’d seen this year and our booty of awards was a fair haul too. The Fifth netted 1st place for both the over and under 14’s cardboard canoe race with a first and second place overall; and thanks to the Collins Cub Pack, the 5th also won the tug-o-war. Accreditation was also received with the 5th winning a third in the Cubs gun carriage race.

The overall camp atmosphere was bustling and just listening to the group at mealtimes it was clear the group were having a fab time. Thanks, as always, to the 5ths leadership team for “making it happen” for not only its own members, but also all the other scouts/cubs/beavers at the jamboree who enjoyed safe excitement on the canoing on the lake and on the pioneering zip-wire, which was built by the 5th’s Leaders.

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Jamboree On The Trail is an annual day for the World Scout Movement to hike together, whatever age and wherever they may be in the world. In their own way, everyone will be hiking the same direction: towards a better future through Scouting.

There was a fantastic turnout at Sevenoaks station at 08:30 this morning, with @ 100 Scouts, Leaders and parents turning up for the 17 mile Dartford District 2009 JOTT.  Along the way there were numerous pickup points and our numbers grew to staggering 667, which was a record breaker.    

Alas I only got to take a few photo’s as everyone was eager to crack on as opposed to posing for the camera, but I’ve captured some beautiful scenic pictures of the Darent Valley trail.  Everyone had a great time and aside from one splinter, from a gate overlooking the old Roman Villa at Lullingstone, there were no injuries.  

I’m looking forward to next years JOTT already, where I hope to see the 5th extend the start point to 20 miles – just to show everyone else that the 5th not only go the extra mile, but three. Anyone second that?

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Hi everyone,

Please click here to view footage of the current 5th Dartford Scout Headquaters construction way back 1959.

Thanks to Paul for supplying the footage, which is now available for all to see.

Monday 4th May was a busy day for the 5th, with a marquee hired out in Hextable park, which went up at @9am, with many hands assisting. The main event was of course the 6yd Target Shooting competition, which saw a good turnout and a well run, safe and fun day was had by all. There were several competitions consisting of Scouts (10 1/2 – 14 1/2) 6yd rifle, Explorers (14 1/2 – 18) 6yd rifle, Adult Male 6yd rifle, Adult Female 6yd rifle and this year we also had 10m rifle and 6yd pistol too. There were also some fun prises for closest to the secret number, and highest scoring family. There are too many winners to list them all in text, but please see the attached screenshots of the winners and scores. It should be noted that all instructors voluntarily excluded their scores from any prizes, although in my case it would have made no difference at all 😆

Well done to everyone who competed.

It started at 6.30 am so that I could have a bowl of porridge and honey (high in carbohydrates) 3 hours before the start. At 7.50 am I got to Dartford station (free travel for runners!!) and was greeted with a platform full of people carrying London Marathon bags. Why had I never seen these people when I’ve been training? By the time the train had arrived at Blackheath there was standing room only. I followed the queue of runners up onto Blackheath and entered into the Blue Start Zone. There are three starts Red, Blue and Green. Thought it a good time to visit the toilet, as there was quite a queue. Then had a sit down to take in the atmosphere and gave in my bag, which had a change of clothes at the appropriate lorry. Unfortunately, the PA announces that if you needed the toilet to start queuing or you’d miss the start. This obviously played on my mind and had the unwanted effect and I joined the queue!!! Emerged just in time to wander to the start and enter my allocated start zone of number 8. There was only 9 zones so I was right at the back so far back I didn’t hear the start gun/hooter. 11 minutes later I crossed the line and broke into a gentle trot and joined the runners from Green start.  I have never run with this amount of people before and it was daunting and exciting. Tripping on other’s heels or tripping up yourself was a real problem.  Also the amount of people watching and cheering was a new experience. It didn’t stop, both sides of the road until the end. 52 miles of people on the roads, on balconies, in offices, outside pubs, music everywhere, a wonderful atmosphere.  Most were holding out sweets for sugar energy or cut pieces of orange. I must have passed thousands and thousands of people.  

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As you are no doubt aware from other posts on this site, Keith Furlong – ASL Earley Troop has been training exceptionaly hard for the Flora London Marathon and in doing so, foregoing many personal comforts to raise money for the New Hall Fund.  I am pleased to report that Keith not only completed the Marathon, but did so in just 4 hrs and 20 minutes.  I hope you will all join me in not only congratulating Keith on this monumental achievement, but thanking him for picking up the gauntlet and well and truly running with it so that “The 5th” can continue to move forward and offer the quality of scouting that many generations have become accustomed to. 

Thank you Keith.

As soon as Keith has had a chance to relax and soak his undoubtedly sore feet and legs, we can hopefully expect a full account of his effort and what he actually went through to achieve what he has done.

It’s not to late!  If you haven’t yet sponsored Keith – perhaps this is the first you have heard of it – you can still sponsor, donate, contribute or just simply give – as little or as much as you can by clicking here.  Just because Keith has crossed the finish line does not mean we have reached our goal – please give to a local cause, for your children and the children in your community – thankyou.