Scouting Memories

Robin was a boy scout many years ago at the Westown Scout Group when he was growing up in New Plymouth, and rekindled some of those memories yesterday, thanks to his scouting buddy Gary.  The post man delivered a BIG parcel from Gary yesterday and inside was the book “100 years of Scouting Memories – Scouting New Plymouth and North Taranaki”.

He spent a happy afternoon on the back deck engrossed in the book.  Robin, Gary and another friend John attended the scouting movement from cubs right through to Scouts.  He smiled over photos showing the three of them in their Scout Troop all dressed up in their uniforms with the scarf and woggle around their necks. 

The three friends  travelled to many Troup Camps and District Camps together, including one memorable 10 day Otago Jamboree right down in Waiora, Dunedin in 1962. This involved a train ride from New Plymouth to Wellington, going across on the Inter Island Ferry to Christchurch, and boarding another train to travel down to Waiora.  Imagine this trip with 1100 excited, mischievous and noisy youngsters.  He tells of a legendary pillow fight taking place on the way home on the last stage of the journey when there were only Taranaki boys remaining on the train which left the carriage looking like a snow storm had hit!  

That was the life – childhood friends together all having fun.  And learning valuable life skills along the way.  It’s good to have these happy childhood memories.

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