We hope that everyone had a great Christmas and new year. We’re all ready to start Scouting in 2018 and we have some exciting things planned for the year – watch this space!

All our sections are back this week at their normal meeting times –

• Scouts Tuesday (tomorrow)
• Drums Thursday
• Beavers and Cubs Friday

All the Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Leaders and adult helpers from 1st Porthill Scout Group would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

See you in 2018 (our 110th year!).

We’re very pleased to announce that two of our adult helpers and Leaders have recently been presented with awards recognising their work in Scouting.

Firstly our Treasurer, Kevin, has been awarded the 15 years service award. Kevin has been our treasurer all this time and, more recently, the District treasurer as well. Many people help the Group who are not Leaders and we are pleased when they get recognised, like Kevin, for all they do for our young people.

Secondly, our Beaver Leader, Rachael, has been awarded the  Chief Scout’s Commendation for Good Service. This is given in respect of not less than 5 years good service, which stands out. It should be regarded as the Chief Scout’s recognition of the very real contribution made to the Association by the individual concerned. Rachael was presented the award in front of the cast of the Burdi Boys Gang Show last week where she had the role of producer.

Congratulations to both Kevin and Rachael, we are very proud of you both!

Today our Beavers, Cubs and Scouts, along with Porthill’s Rainbows, Brownies and Guides, paid tribute to those who have been killed while serving in the armed forces, by parading through the streets of Bradwell and Porthill and taking part in an act of Remembrance at St. Andrews Church.
The parade started at St. Barnabas Church, Bradwell and was again led by our Drum Corps. The young people were joined by members of the congregation of St. Barnabas Church, our parish priest Fr. Chris Routledge, Assistant Curate Revd. Alison Hudson, lots of parents and a number of veterans.
The parade was watched by many people along the route.

The Beavers carried poppies with the names of the 23 Porthill Scouts who had been killed while serving in the First and Second World Wars (see our Remembrance Page).
At Porthill’s War Memorial, a wreath was laid by a Scout and Guide in memory of those killed in all wars. The police who had provided officers to ensure we were safe on the roads while parading, also placed a wreath on the Memorial. One of Porthill’s Borough Councillors, the Church and a local member of the Royal British Legion also place wreaths.
Thank you to all who came.
See more photos in the Gallery.

The Beavers made their own wreath and created a poem about Remembrance Day.

“When you go Home, tell them of us and say,
For your Tomorrow, we gave our Today”

John Maxwell Edmunds
1916

Our Scouts who were killed in The Great War and Second World War

We remember all killed in war and especially those Porthill Scouts killed serving their country.

Click here to see our online Memorial to our Scouts

Last weekend was the Group’s 5th (yes 5th!!) Family Camp, again held at Kibblestone.

Everyone arrived on the Friday evening, with some families having already put their tents up on the very wet Wednesday night. After everyone had settled in, it was time to open the camp and put everyone in their teams for the weekend. This time we had a spy theme, so the teams were MI5, MI6 & CIA! There was then a rather dark walk around the site. This was followed by one of Paul’s wide games. A quick supper was had then it was time for bed.

Breakfast was eaten and the teams were off to do their bases. There was fire lighting, a spy trail and making para cords. Bases continued after lunch and then another wide game but in in the daylight!

For tea, the tables were set out as if we were in a restaurant, complete with cocktails!

As the paracords had been so popular with the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts, the opportunity was taken to make some more. The teams were then tasked to make a tower that could hold an egg.

It was then time for the campfire. Unfortunately it had been raining for most of the afternoon, so a fire was made close to the Fox Glenn. When it came time to sing the rain had temporarily stopped so we were able to start outside. Sadly the rain returned, so we finished indoors.

Supper was followed by bed!

Sunday brought breakfast followed by the Annual general Meeting. Our guest this year was Vera, the District Commissioner. As well as the normal meeting items, the Cub of the Year and Scout of the Year Awards were presented followed by one of the Beavers being invested.

This marked the end of the camp and the team’s points from the weekend were announced and MI6 won!

Photos from the Friday

Photos from the Saturday

Photos from the Sunday

One hundred years ago today, three years into the Great War, Acting Bombardier Charles James Tilsley 313446, 2nd/1st (North Midland) Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery died age 20.

Charles was a Porthill Scout, and was the twelth of eighteen of our Scouts, that we know of, that were killed in the Great War.

You can read his full story here.

Charles James Tilsley b. Stoke 1897 – d. Belgium 1917.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

June and July were very, very, busy months for our Beavers, Cubs and Scouts (and their brilliant Leaders of Course!).

At the beginning of June the Cubs and Scouts went to Sherrat’s Wood camp site for a survival camp. They made shelters, slept in hammocks and learned how to cook on open fires.

More photos can be seen here and here.

The following week after the camp, the Cubs had a guest from Australia join them.

Then the week after that, the Beavers went climbing at Kilnworx in Burslem. This is an old church in Burslem that has been converted into an indoor climbing centre. The Beavers had a go on one of the climbing walls, did some bouldering and tried out the tight rope! Despite some of the Beavers being initially concerned about climbing so high, they all had a great time.

More photos can be seen here.

Then it was time for the County’s Big Camp! The Scouts went to Beaudesert camp site for a camp organised by Staffordshire County Scouts for all Scouts and Explorers from across Staffordshire. The theme of the camp was action spies and and the the Scouts were able to go abseiling and canoeing amongst other things. Being a County camp, we were with friends from our District, Newcastle, and Potteries North District.

More photos can be seen here.

At the same time as Big Camp was on, the Drums had been invited to play at Bakewell Carnival again. This was following on from their excellent, albeit wet, performance last year. The weather was much kinder to them this year and they performed in their usual excellent manner which gained them many compliments from members of the public!

More photos can be seen here.

The weekend after Big Camp and Bakewell Carnival was Newcastle District’s camp. This was the first whole District Camp for 10 years and it had a circus theme. All sections of the Group went to camp and for the first time, the Beavers slept in tents! Our Beavers, Cub and Scouts did juggling, diablo’s, plate spinning, tightrope walking, stilt walking, face painting, bouncy castles, axe throwing, crate stacking & assault courses!
On Saturday evening a grand parade was formed, led by our Drum Corp, and the whole camp ‘marched’ over to the traditional campfire outside the Training Centre!

More photos can be seen here, here & here!

On their last meeting before the summer holidays, and while the Beavers were having a party at the hall, the Cubs went to a rather rainy Westport Lake to have a walk around and then try to catch, with varying degrees of success, fish with nets!

More photos are here.

Finally, the Drums helped to open, and play at, the Bradwell Lodge Fun Day again. Although their numbers were down due to holidays, they performed brilliantly!

More photos can be seen here.

All our young people have had a brilliant summer and our Leaders and helpers have put a lot of time and effort into all these brilliant events. Thank you to them.

We hope everyone has a great summer and we’ll see you in the autumn!

One hundred years ago yesterday, more than two and a half years into the Great War, Private Clarence Cork, 4538 3rd, 5th, North Staffordshire Regiment died from wounds received in action aged 19.

Clarence was a Porthill Scout, and was the eleventh of eighteen of our Scouts, that we know of, that were killed in the Great War.

You can read his full story here.

Clarence Frederick Cork b. Wolstanton 1898 – d. Belguim 1917.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

Newcastle Lions Club are celebrating their 30th birthday this year. As part of their celebrations they are making donations to fund projects from local charities and organisations across the Borough.

Last night as part of a presentation evening, which was coincidentally on the exact 100th birthday of the Lions Club organisation, we were lucky enough to receive a cheque for £200.

This money is to go to fund the purchase of small individual cookers and cooking equipment so that our young people are able to have the opportunity to learn new skills and try new culinary experiences in a safe environment at our meeting place (as opposed to on camp).

As well as us, there were cheques presented to Kidsgrove Friendship Group, Silverdale Guides, The Lyme Trust, Lifeworks Staffordshire & Kidsgrove Care Solutions.

We would like to thank Newcastle Lions Club for their generosity.