At this year’s Group AGM an era ended as the current Group Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer retired after 19 years with The Group. Mike, Irene and Maureen, were presented with some lead crystal glasses, some flowers for the ladies and some whiskey for Mike as a thank you from The Group (and some shaving foam from Steve Padin – old joke!). They were also presented with Long Service Awards by Jackie Brocklehurst, ADC Cubs, in the DCs absence.

Three ex leaders also sent a few words of thanks and they are below –

Having spent several years as an assistant leader and 5 years as a Venture leader at Porthill I came to appreciate the work that the fund raising committee do.
Mike, Irene and Mo have now been members of the fund raising committee so long that they have out performed all of the tents that have ever been purchased!
Sorry, I meant; Mike, Irene and Mo have now been members of the fund raising committee so long that it is easy to take for granted the work that they have to put to raise the funds required for the group. They have continued to do this even though they have had no children involved for some time.
The leaders of the group already have their hands full in trying to run their individual sections, without the committee organising and running the fund raising the sections would not be able to offer the range of activities that they have over the years and at the price!
The individual sections will never be able to raise the funds that the committee does so either the activities will suffer or the parent’s purse. I really do hope for the future of the group that new blood will now take over and continue with the good work they have achieved over the years.

So what will the 3 members do now with their extra time? Well you have to ask them, but Mo … you could sort out my finances for me.

So from myself and past members, it’s a Very Big Thank You! You won’t be forgotten.

Gareth O’Donnell

The end of an era, probably the best span in the life of Porthill Scouts. Life as a Scout Leader or Assistant can be both hard and unrewarding. But in Porthill, it was hard, fun, enjoyable and a pleasure.
There were two reasons for this. The first was the quality of the boys (a right mixed bag!), but fun to be with, they were always prepared to have a go, with sometimes surprising results. The second and most important was the quality and commitment of The Group Executive Committee. Mike, Irene and Maureen, tireless at working for, organising and taking part in Christmas parties, discos, hoe downs, jumble sales, trips out, in fact anything to raise money for The Group. And it takes a lot. For mini buses, insurance, subs, equipment. I don’t know if anyone does know just how much money they have raised to keep the Group going.
Most group executives have the parents of Group members on it (and that’s how these three started), it’s just that they never stopped, even when their sons left the Group.
I know Steve Padin would say we would not here been so successful during his time as Scout Leader without these three old mouseketeers!
At my first annual camp as Leader, Hurricane Charlie smashed or lost most of our equipment. But, on returning, these three just started organising to replace all we had lost. The fun of their meetings, hoe-downs, parties and trips was an experience in it’s self. I still remember Steve Padin’s farewell party. He was multi-coloured and very sticky at the end.
The family camp at Kibblestone, great fun, charging around in the pitch dark, scaring the lads and girls to death, we were all wet, cold and tied up – some things you can only get away with in Scouting!
So to end, may I say a big thank you from all the Leaders, boys, The Burslem District (as was) officers and, of course, myself. You made the job easier and much more fun and the three of you deserve your retirement, so enjoy it.
Many, many thanks and God Bless you.

Kenneth Johnson

Pasadena California
17 March 2002

Dear Mike, Irene and Maureen,

You probably weren’t expecting to hear from me, but the Porthill Scout’s grapevine covers vast distances. When I heard that you had decided to retire, my first thought was, "Gosh, are they still organising jumble sales and trips to Blackpool illuminations (obviously yes)", followed by the realisation that it’s been nigh on twenty years, and that makes me, well, almost ancient.

I just wanted to say that I have some really wonderful memories of working with you (and, I must admit, I still have occasional nightmares about shaving). Anyway, Porthill Scouts wouldn’t be here without you and I just hope you all had as much fun as I did. You did a great job. Thanks!

Steve

See, our ex leaders get all over the world!

Finally, a little of their history and thanks from me –

At the beginning of 1983, 1st St. Andrew’s, Porthill Scout Group consisted of just a Cub Pack. Just before Easter that year, one of our old Cubs came forward with the offer of restarting the Scout Troop. This offer was taken up and the opportunity of starting up a Group Executive at the same time was taken.
After a bit of ‘persuasion’, the core positions of the committee of Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer were taken up by Mike Gritton, Irene O’Donnell and Maureen Lowndes respectively.
They were instrumental in helping the fledgling Scout Troop to raise the initial money needed for equipment such as award material, camping equipment etc. Since then the Group has started up a Venture Unit and Beaver Colony and Mike, Irene and Maureen have been there to help with all the start up costs and continue to help supply the sections with the equipment they needed.
In their time with the Group, they have managed to raise money to start up three new sections from scratch, buy and maintain a sizeable amount of equipment for meetings, camping equipment and buy and maintain three mini buses. They have also helped to organise and finance Group camps and a Scout camp in Germany.
They have achieved this by running trips to Blackpool, trips for Christmas shopping in Nottingham, hoe downs, line dances, jumble sales, quiz nights, BBQs, treasure hunts – the list is endless!
The three of them had thought the jobs were just for a couple of years, but they have been doing them for nineteen years and as they now no longer have sons in the Group (all long grown up and left Scouting), they have decided to ‘retire’.
Without their help and generous support, the group would not be in such a healthy state as it is today and many people over the last nineteen years would not have been able to enjoy all Scouting has to offer young people in the Porthill area.
We are sorry to lose them and thank them for all their hard work over the years.

Nick Wood 7/6/02