Day 4 – Twice Brewed to Gilsland Today was the day when, 33 years ago, one of the wheels fell off the cart. One of the team, Shep, had to drop out because he was “wimping about looking unfit”. (I clearly wasn’t quite as caring as I should have been.) I continued in my log…
Humshaugh to Twice Brewed I started the day with a bit of a detour, thanks to my longstanding friend and co-mischief maker, Gwyn Mckenzie. Gwyn is the ADC General Duties for Hadrian District (though I can’t think of her as anything other than National Akela to the UK’s Cub Scouts back in the nineties.). She…
Day 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…
33 years ago, five teenage Scouts did their DofE Gold expedition following Hadrian’s Wall and then heading into the Cheviots. I’ve just been rereading the log book I wrote at the time. This week, walking alone, I will be retracing our steps along the wall (though I’ll be sleeping in comfortable B&Bs rather than in…
Opening speech at the 10th Conference of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Regional Conference for Europe, the Mediterranean and Arab States – 11th September 2017, Hotel Pestana, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal. Your Royal Highnesses, Your Excellencies, members of the regional government of Madeira, distinguished guests, It is an absolute delight for us all to be…
I was honoured to receive the Bronze Wolf from the World Scouting today. The citation made me blush. CITATION FOR THE AWARD OF THE BRONZE WOLF CANDIDATE: John May Country: United Kingdom John May has dedicated his life to serving youth worldwide, not solely in Scouting but by creating opportunities for young people and mentoring…
On Monday evening, the President of the United States of America visited the National Jamboree of the country’s Boy Scouts. In making the visit, he was by no means the first one to do so and he won’t be the last. The President of the United States of America has been the “honorary president” of…
To the headteacher of East London Science School… Dear David On this warm and sunny Friday afternoon, I thought you might appreciate this short note as you get ready for the weekend. I have just shared a tube carriage with a party of your pupils who are on the way to the V&A…
“Ah, but I was so much older then I’m younger than that now” – Bob Dylan It now looks as though the result of the UK’s election could have been down to young people turning out in their droves to vote. Talk of a 72% turnout for 18 to 24-year-olds has been doing the…
It has the makings of an iconic and historic photograph. Lucie, a young Scout from the Czech Republic, squares up to a demonstrator at a march organized by the far-right. The spirit of youth; an unspoken commitment to peace; hope for the future. It’s perfect. Except for one thing. Enshrined within the constitution of…