REFLECTIONS

ON A BUSY YEAR

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The past year has been a vital and eventful one for Scouting in Middlesbrough.

Membership has increased to more than 1,400, interest has grown (with accompanying record attendances at Local Association meetings) and new ground has been broken in many directions—not least in regard to the comparatively new field of Senior Scout activities.

Comes the spring and a young man's fancy, if he is a Scout, lightly turns to thoughts of camping, but last April the efforts of the 473,000 members of the Movement were concentrated on erasing Scouting's £22,000 national debt by means of a "Bob-a-Job" Week. More than {108 was earned by Middlesbrough's Scouts, Cubs, Scouters and Rovers.

May saw the Avenue Troop producing their fourth annual gang show, then in July came the event of the year—the visit of the Chief Scout, Lord Rowallan. During four crowded days in the North Riding, he lunched with Middlesbrough Rotary Club, attended a rally of Scouts and Cubs from a wide area in the Albert Park, and finally saw a great week-end rally and pageant in the grounds of Jervauix Abbey,

The Marton Scout Troop distinguished itself in October by carrying off the Dorman Shield in the district patrol camping competition, in the face of rivalry from 13 other troops, while there was a record number of entries for the Association's annual swimming gala, won by the 43rd (Salvation Army) Troop. Another aquatic success was achieved in the Sheard Life-Saving Cup competition, the Association team being narrowly beaten into second place by 1.25 points, with the 7th (Air Scouts) fourth.

Leaders of public life in the town helped to give a good send-off to the Association's annual dinner, revived in November for the first time since pre-war days.

A few weeks ago the 27th (Baptist) Group staged their own gang show, and about the same time a Patrol Leaders' Parliament was inaugurated. Then we arrived at " The Gang Steps Out "—the biggest task ever tackled by the Association.

Yes indeed, a busy year, but perhaps the most encouraging feature has been the increasing number of non-Scout people who have shown an interest in Scouting and lent their sympathy and support to the Association and to individual troops.