Peter Geer winners!

The members of 3rd Ware who attended the parade

What a fantastic day! It all started with the Scouts meeting at Christ Church School and getting ready to take part in the community action. They were set the task of planting a display at the entrance to The Priory. There was a strict plan to follow and it will make an interesting display when it flowers. Make sure you go down and take a look, you will be pleasantly be surprised. You may like to know like to know we planted 1000 bedding plants in the "Centenary Bed". If we didn't get them all mixed up within a few weeks we should see a flowering tribute to the Centenary! If they did get mixed up we will describe it as an abstract!

Community work

Whilst they were doing this, Guides, Explorers, other Scout Troops and Leaders were all over town engaged in other community acts, from planting to cleaning to litter picking. Then it was back to the school for the service.

When they met in the school hall for their service, the rest of the Group joined other Cubs, Beavers, Brownies and Rainbows in Christ Church, Church Building. Here a service not only celebrated St. George but also included presentations  of the different things which had taken place in the District this year.

There were all manner of worthwhile activities from planting flowers with Ware in Bloom to our own fundraising for The Scouts in Gambia. I know I am biased but I thought our speakers presented their item very well.

Presentation in church

After the services the GSL invested our newest Leader and then we formed up ready to parade. It is always exciting to walk through the town and see how many people come out to witness the parade and today was no exception, the sun shone, we smiled and people waved!

Two Scouts, Rikki and me!

Once we reached the Priory the colour parties formed up at the front and the rest of us stood behind and listened to the speeches. We were privileged this year to have Rikki, the Scout County Commissioner attend our celebration and make a speech. I had got to meet him earlier in the day when we were gardening!

Can you see me?

After every section had renewed their promise David Geer gave a short speech and got ready to present the Peter Geer trophy. This is an award  which is presented every year to the Scout Group which has, percentage wise, had the most members take part in District events. It holds special meaning to 3rd Ware because Peter is an ex 3rd Ware Leader and his son attended our Group.

After his death his family instigated the award based on Peter’s philosophy that although it is great to win, taking part and making the most of the opportunities given is just as important, and our Group still stand by that and it is a trophy we have been fortunate to win several times in the past.

Eyes Right

So it was with great delight and surprise that we won again this year! Even Peter’s son seemed thrilled that his old Group had won it in their centenary year. Everyone in the Group and their parents gave a loud cheer and it was smiles all round.

After the presentations we all arranged ourselves for our annual Group photograph and then the Young People, who all still seemed to be smiling, went home.

Thank you to all the Young People and Leaders who represented us today and have turned out over the past 12 months to make us the most active Group in the District.