Jan 07 2019
We hope that everyone had a great Christmas and new year. We’re all ready to start Scouting in 2019 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.
See you all soon.
Permanent link to this article: https://porthillscouts.org.uk/site/2019/01/07/were-back-in-2019/
Dec 21 2018
That’s it now for 2018!
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!
The Scouts return on Tuesday 8th January and the Beavers and Cubs on Friday 11th January 2019. See you then.
Permanent link to this article: https://porthillscouts.org.uk/site/2018/12/21/happy-christmas-to-all-3/
Dec 05 2018
One hundred years ago today, just under a month after the Armistice, Gunner Ebenezer Brough 805608, 231st Bde. H.Q., Royal Field Artillery died aged 21 years on 5th December 1918. As he died after the war had ended it is assumed he died of the influenza pandemic that spread across the world in 1918.
Ebenezer was a Porthill Scout, and was the last of eighteen of our Scouts, that we know of, that were killed in the Great War.
You can read Ebenezer’s full story here.
Ebenezer Brough b. 1897 in Longbridge Hayes – d. France 1918
Scouts from Porthill fought throughout the First World War including many of the famous battles: Mons, the Somme, Passchendaele and Gallipoli.
One of our Scouts was awarded the Military Cross for his bravery and another was awarded the Military Medal for his . Many of our Scouts fought in the War and eighteen, that we know of, did not return.
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.
Permanent link to this article: https://porthillscouts.org.uk/site/2018/12/05/1918-a-porthill-scout-dies-in-france-2/
Nov 22 2018
After the more serious events of the Remembrance Day parade, last weekend it was time for the Beavers and Cubs to have their Christmas Camp.
On arriving on the Saturday morning, the Beavers and Cubs were split up into teams. Some of them went straight into making Christmas decorations, mince pies and hot chocolate gifts while one group went to do some climbing at Kibblestone’s climbing wall. All the groups swapped around the activities during the day.
In the afternoon, after some entertainment, a full Christmas dinner was eaten followed by some party games. One of the games was to see which group could wrap up three empty boxes to put underneath the Christmas tree.
After the games it was time for the traditional campfire.
When the Beavers and Cubs returned from the campfire, they found the empty boxes they had wrapped had been changed by someone (Santa?) to presents for all of them!
By now it was time for the Beavers to go home, while the Cubs played some more games and then went to bed.
On Sunday morning the Cubs had their breakfast, packed up, played some more games and visited Kibblestone’s shop.
The camp closed at midday.
Permanent link to this article: https://porthillscouts.org.uk/site/2018/11/22/christmas-camp/
Nov 14 2018
Over the past weekend, members of the Group have taken part in events to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War and Remembrance Day.
On Saturday, St. Andrews Church held its second open day to celebrate the restoration of the War Memorial. Were were pleased to be joined by Newcastle District’s Deputy District Commissioner, Dave, who awarded two Chief Scout Gold Awards to 2 Scouts and two Long Service Awards to 2 members of our Executive Committee.
The Drums played at the beginning of the day and in their set, they played the tune ‘General Salute’. This was played in St. Andrews Church on the original Armistice Day in 1918 by the drum and bugles of our Scouts.
After the drums played, the War Memorial was rededicated by Rt Revd Geoff Annas, Bishop of Stafford with The Worshipful the Mayor of Newcastle-under-Lyme Councillor Gill Heesom in attendance as well. As part of the rededication, the names on the Memorial were read out by our GSL.
Photos can be seen in our gallery.
The Group also had on display, by our own War Memorial and commemorative window, information about all our Scouts killed in the First World War.
On Sunday, Remembrance Day itself, we paraded from Bradwell, stopping at the Porthill War Memorial for the Act of Remembrance and 2 minutes silence, then on the Wolstanton War Memorial, for another Act of Remembrance and finally to Basford. We were joined by the Basford and St. Wulstan’s Scouts, Centurion Explorers, Porthill and Wolstanton’s Guides and Bradwell’s Boys Brigade. We were also joined for the first part of the parade by an American WW2 3 ton truck! There were around 500 people on the parade which proved to be an amazing sight!
Permanent link to this article: https://porthillscouts.org.uk/site/2018/11/14/we-remembered/
Nov 11 2018
“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
Permanent link to this article: https://porthillscouts.org.uk/site/2018/11/11/1st-porthill-scout-group-remember-those-killed-in-war-the-centenary-of-the-end-of-ww1/
Oct 21 2018
Last Friday, the Cubs learnt to sign a rainbow and the Cub Scout Law!
Thanks to Beth for showing the Cubs how to sign.
Permanent link to this article: https://porthillscouts.org.uk/site/2018/10/21/2018-10-19-the-cubs-learn-to-sign/
Oct 16 2018
In September the Beavers had a camp at Barnswood. This year’s theme was the Wild West, so the Beavers made their own bandanas, (hobby) horses and played wild west games such as horse shoe throwing (with real horse shoes!), panning for gold and a shooting gallery.
In the evening, they dressed up in their wild west costumes in time for the traditional camp fire.
At the same time the Scouts were out on camp and they made their own shelters to sleep in on the Saturday night.
On Sunday, parents were invited out to the camp for a family day. They tried playing the games the Beavers had played the previous day and made their own family dream catchers. After a BBQ lunch it was time for the Group’s Annual General Meeting where the Group’s activities of the previous 12 months were recounted. The Cub of the Year and Scout of the Year awards were presented along with, for the first time, the Beaver of the Year award. Congratulations to the winners!
Permanent link to this article: https://porthillscouts.org.uk/site/2018/10/16/wild-west-shelters-family-day/
Oct 11 2018
One hundred years ago today, with only a month left of the First World War, Chaplain to the Forces 4th Class, Frederick Cleveland, 1/6th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment died of his wounds received in battle aged 30 years on 11th October 1918.
Frederick was a Porthill Scout, and was the seventeenth of eighteen of our Scouts, that we know of, that were killed in the Great War.
You can read his full story here.
Frederick Cleveland b. 1888 in London – d. France 1918.
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.
Permanent link to this article: https://porthillscouts.org.uk/site/2018/10/11/1918-a-porthill-scout-dies-in-france/
Oct 07 2018
Yesterday we took part in the WW1 Remembered Exhibition at St. Andrews Church. This was held to celebrate the restoration of Porthill’s War Memorial which is outside the Church.
There were exhibits of WW1 era artefacts by Geoff Mayer (who has written extensively on the Wolstanton War Memorial), the centenary of the RAF, the centenary of Suffragette movement gaining the vote for women, displays from Newcastle Museum and Lichfield Cathedral, the ‘There But Not There’ Tommy silhouettes, WW1 era poems were read and the Act It Out CIC company performed ‘Letters of War’ play. There were also individual displays on various people’s relatives who were killed in the war and a display of photos documenting the restoration of the War Memorial.
The highlight of the exhibition was a cascade of poppies above the high altar. These poppies had been made by many local people including our Beavers, Cubs and Scouts.
Our Drums played at the beginning of the day and the bugles played ‘Sunset’ in front of the poppies.
We had our own display of our Scouts who were killed in the Great War and we spoke to a number of people whose relatives were commemorated on the Memorial and showed them the Book of Remembrance. We were especially pleased to meet the family of one of our Scouts on the Memorial, Clarence Cork.
A lot of people from the Church put a lot of effort into the exhibition and huge thanks must go to them for their efforts.
The exhibition will be on again on 10th November 2018 from 10 – 4, when the Memorial will be rededicated by the Bishop of Stafford.
More photos are in the gallery.
Don’t forget all the information on the War Memorial is available here.
Permanent link to this article: https://porthillscouts.org.uk/site/2018/10/07/2018-10-06-ww1-remembered-exhibition-at-st-andrews-church/
Oct 05 2018
One hundred years ago today, over four years into the Great War and just over a month until its end, Private Colin Jackson 42435, 2nd Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment died aged 22 on 5th October 1918.
Colin was a Porthill Scout, and was the sixteenth of eighteen of our Scouts, that we know of, that were killed in the Great War.
You can read his full story here.
Colin Jackson b. 1896 in Wolstanton – d. Germany 1918.
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.
Permanent link to this article: https://porthillscouts.org.uk/site/2018/10/05/1918-a-porthill-scout-dies-in-germany/
Sep 23 2018
Yesterday in Newcastle town centre, it was the annual Food Fest and the Drums were there to entertain the shoppers. They were there as part of the District’s participation in the event to raise money for various Scouting activities and to raise awareness of Scouting in our local community.
As part of the day various Scouting awards were made, some by the Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire, Ian Dudson.
Our entire Drum Corps was awarded a District Commissioner’s Commendation for all the work they do to promote Scouting around our area and beyond. Many congratulations to all our talented drummers!
Becci, one of our Assistant Scout Leaders, was presented with her 5 year service award. Thanks to Becci for all her dedication!
Permanent link to this article: https://porthillscouts.org.uk/site/2018/09/23/newcastles-food-fest-and-awards/
Sep 19 2018
One hundred years ago yesterday, over four years into the Great War, Corporal Thomas Cork, 19027 13th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) was killed in France, aged 22.
Thomas was a Porthill Scout, and was the fifteenth of eighteen of our Scouts, that we know of, that were killed in the Great War.
You can read his full story here.
Thomas Horrocks Cork b. 1896 in Hinstock, Shropshire – d. France 1918.
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.
Permanent link to this article: https://porthillscouts.org.uk/site/2018/09/19/1918-a-porthill-scout-is-killed-in-france-3/
Sep 01 2018
We’re 110 years old young today!
Kind of…..
Back in 1908, the year after Baden-Powell’s successful camp on Brownsea Island, he wrote the book “Scouting for Boys”. Boys (and girls) read the book and started to form their own patrols.
Boys in Porthill probably started Scouting in the summer or autumn of 1908 and by the end of that year there were a number of Troops in North Staffordshire. A handwritten book called “Boy Scouts Organisation Register for The Potteries and District Boy Scouts Association” from the old Divisional archives seems to indicate the summer / autumn timescale is correct for us and there are 34 Scouts recorded in the Troop at that time. Our 1st Scoutmaster is recorded at a Scoutmaster’s meeting in its minutes in October 1908 and the Scouts played a football match in December 1908 recorded in the Evening Sentinel. So, the 1st September seems as good a date as any for our ‘official’ birthday!
You can read all about our history here.
Looking forward, our Drums are playing at Eyam Carnival today and our Beavers, Cubs and Scouts return from their summer holidays next week with packed programmes of exciting and adventurous activities for our young people!
Here’s to the next 110 years of Scouting in Porthill!
Permanent link to this article: https://porthillscouts.org.uk/site/2018/09/01/its-our-birthday/
Aug 30 2018
The world is currently going mad over the Baby Shark song. However, we at Porthill Scouts have been singing it for many years. You can see in the video below, the were Beavers singing it over 2½ years ago in 2016.
So, as you can see, where we lead, others follow! 😉
Permanent link to this article: https://porthillscouts.org.uk/site/2018/08/30/baby-shark-song-1st-porthill-leads-the-way/
