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The Conservatives’ proposals for a National Citizen Service
ByJohn MayYou may have picked up today’s campaign announcement by David Cameron of a proposed National Citizen Service, a two month summer programme for 16-year olds, involving both residential and at-home components. If the Conservative Party were to form the next government, the programme would be delivered by independent charities, social enterprises and businesses. The programme…
Forty Years Around the Campfire
ByJohn MayThere are some places where time behaves oddly. Gilwell Park is one of them. Today I went back for the 100th Gilwell Reunion — and realised, slightly alarmingly, that it is forty years since I attended my first one. I was 22 then. I should make clear that I haven’t been to every Reunion in…
Walking the Wall. Day 2
ByJohn MayDay 2. A gentle amble from Corbridge to Humshaugh with a visit to Chesters camp. The road out of Corbridge up to Port Gate follows the old Roman road that led to Scotland – it is straight, but undulating as it works its way up the hill, providing false brows and the opportunity to be…
A new term, a new beginning…
ByJohn MayIt’s the beginning of the school year, in England at least. 50 years ago, I was just starting school at Eaton House, on Eaton Square in Westminster – the same pre-prep school as Bear Grylls, as it happens, though he was there some time after me. My uniform included a green blazer, green cap and…
A Night with Oxfordshire Scouts
ByJohn MayThis evening, I had the enormous pleasure of joining Oxfordshire Scouts for their annual Adult Awards Dinner, held at the beautifully appointed Bicester Hotel and Spa. Nestled just outside Chesterton, it’s a rather lovely setting – part country retreat, part hive of activity – and it proved the perfect venue for a night of celebration,…
Kenya’s National Youth Service
ByJohn MayThere is much talk in the UK at the moment (and has been since the last election) about the creation of a National Citizenship Service for young people. Kenya got there first, nearly 50 years ago. Kenya’s National Youth Service was established on September 1st 1964, through an Act of Parliament. It was charged with…

