So many of us back then joined the Scouts, Guides, Brownies, and when very little, the Beavers and  Cubs, which were such an important part of many of our lives… Well in truth they were a godsend for there were few organisations other than perhaps a youth club where young people could go and associate with others, where to have fun, play sports, be educated in the ways of life and the world we lived in, and perhaps above all to learn to feel the pride associated in being part of something so special. It was as if we were playing a part in life that made us truly worthwhile, a lesson that would help us to negotiate the often complicated pathways of our lives.

The small local halls or even sheds where the various groups held their meetings were almost sacrosanct and when the time came to sew our very first achievement badges onto our uniforms the surge of pride we felt was one of those amazing moments in life, and with each additional badge, so our pride and confidence grew.    I cast my mind back and smile a thank you to all the wonderful mums and dads who used to give so much of their precious time to us rowdy kids, for without them we would have all missed so much… Mind you, it wasn’t all plain and happy sailing for I recall how on my very first evening at Scouts our Scout Master ordered me to put on the  kettle to make tea… Well this being my first scouting assignment made me more than a little nervous but nevertheless I boldly sort of marched off to the little wooden kitchen where I carefully filled up the king sized kettle, plonked it on the old stove and then left it to get up steam ready for making the tea… Yes, I had done it… I wondered if I would get my first proficiency badge for making the tea, especially on my very first day in the Scouts, but sadly that wasn’t to be for I was always a child with a drifting mind, as was the case on this memorable occasion and as I waited for the kettle to boil, so I sat on the steps outside the kitchen door, to rest and dozily day dream in the warmth of the evening sun… Then suddenly the scream of  “Fire, fire, fire! from our Scout Master brought me back into the real world as he came charging into the now flaming kitchen… Oh my god, I’d only been in the Scouts for an hour and somehow I’d managed to set fire to their precious old wooden hut already, and now the whole place was going up in flames…”Everyone out… out, out” Screamed the Scout Master,  “and someone run to the fire station and get a fire engine here quickly!”