Afloat & At Camp

The need to be afloat has led to a wide range of craft being used over the years. From humble beginnings, consisting of subsidised outings in skiffs hired from Hamilton’s Boat Yard in Twickenham, we have progressed to a well-stocked boathouse full of our own boats. In the early forties it was even considered that a converted barge might be used as a HQ for the Group. Gigs, punts, whalers, dinghies and other wooden craft, many in various stages of disrepair have received the “kiss of life” from the Third. Pre-war days were difficult and new boats were out of the question. Boats were repaired using any materials that came readily to hand. Much credit must go to the Rovers and Scouters who used tar, copper sheeting, canvas, scrap wood and their skills to keep us afloat. Maintenance has always been part of boating and the skills learned in the days before fibreglass and steel became available were vital. In the days of Admiralty recognition up to the early fifties, standards of boating had to be high and regular inspections were made. We have participated in many of the major boating activities open to Scouts. A certificate for third place in the All England Boat Race of 1944 can be seen in the Ward Room of our present HQ. The low gunwaled Army whalers were very popular and when pulled by a good crew in full uniform provided an excellent advertisement for Sea Scouting. Our whalers were also used in the film “The Cruel Sea”.Although we are a Thameside Group the tidal effect of the river caused problems for mooring wooden craft, particularly whalers. For many years we moored boats off Isleworth Ait and in the fifties we moored by the Iron Bridge opposite the half tide lock. Our modern craft do not pose such problems and we are self-contained at our Base.

In 1935, Sea Scout Percy Blandford and helpers could be seen at the Schoolboys Own Exhibition constructing kayaks. These craft and others were often given trials on the Thames at Isleworth. In the mid fifties the Seniors turned their hand to canvas kayak building, using Percy Blandford designs, some of which survive today. Later fibreglass took over and dinghies and canoes quickly took shape. Polypropylene has now superseded these materials, providing durable and safe craft but unfortunately removing any possibility of members participating in their construction. These small craft have proved to be most popular as they enable members to learn river craft on a personal basis. They are also light and easily transported. Many camps now include boating. We compete in events such as the Arun Kayak Race and the Westminster Devizes Race and The Great River Race on the Thames. Scouts have considerable competition in regattas and races from clubs, companies and the armed services. To afford them any chance of success we have had to provide new types of small craft over the years. Purpose built boats of many types are still required for our boys and girls, together with transport to take them away from base. We must compete on level terms and keep The Third afloat.Boating occupies much of our time but Summer camp is still a focal point of our activities. A look at our camping record will show you many of the places we have pitched our tents and braved the worst that British or Overseas weather could throw at us. In the past, two weeks at camp was standard practice. It seemed that sitting on the camping gear in the back of a removal van and spending all day reaching that field in the middle of nowhere was all that was needed. Times have changed, with demands on leader time high and the expectations of the boys and girls much greater. Our camps now usually last for a week in the UK or a little longer for the more adventurous trips abroad such as recent expeditions to Iceland, the Czech Republic and Kandersteg in Switzerland.

A field in Wales is great fun but as the GSL has said “Our programme must attract and retain members”. We may have to look further afield to achieve this aim. Many children have travelled the world by the time they become a Beaver. Our scouting adventures must reflect this electronic age. Will we go on virtual reality camps with scouts all over the world without leaving our chair? Or will the smell and freshness of waking up to the dew soaked filed, and the sight of all those extra stars visible in the sky at camp fire deep in the night, still call us to that field far away?