Proud 25th Bolton mark Remembrance Day 2016
Beavers 30th Birthday Celebrations
17 of our Beaver Scouts enjoyed a great day at Gulliver’s World along with hundreds of other Beavers from our district, on Saturday 1st October. This was in celebration of 30 years of Beaver Scouts.
Dinner Dance raises £1407 for the Group
 The mass of diners at the Georgian House |
On the 17th November the Group’s annual Dinner Dance was revived after an absence of quite a few years. Starting at 7:30pm the 130 guests enjoyed a slap up meal, a chance to win a number of excellent raffle prizes and then to let our hair down on the dance floor.
The evening marked Paul Mather’s last event with the Group after 15 years in his role of Scout Leader then Group Scout Leader. Paul is moving onto the role of District Commissioner for Bolton South District.
 Our loopy leaders/helpers dress up for the occassion! |
Andrew Haslam (AGSL) is also moving away from the area at the end of the year, and was presented with his 15 year Long Service award and also with a few mementoes of his time with the group.
Brian Taylor (ASL & Quartermaster) was also presented with his 15 year Long Service award, and Steven Fletcher (SL) was presented with his 5 year Long Service award.
The evening was a fantastic success with everyone dancing the night away and of course there were one or two sore heads in the morning!
Buxton Border Hike
 The 25th’s 3rd place team receive their trophies. |
As ever the annual Buxton Border Hike came around again in September and the Scout section entered three teams into the event. The troop has been entering Scout and Explorer Scout teams into the event now every year since 1993, so it’s become somewhat of a tradition for our Group over the years.
In total 24 teams entered the Border Hike (Scouts) with another 12 entering the John Bradbury Trophy (Explorer Scouts). Unfortunately due to injuries and general availability this year, we weren’t able to return to defend the John Bradbury Trophy, which our Explorer Scout team won back in 2006.
The Scouts competed in a 10 mile incident hike on Saturday, which involved navigating in teams of 4 to checkpoints on the walk where activities were completed. The winning teams are decided on a scoring system covering navigation skills, equipment carried, and the team’s performance on the activities. The hike was followed by the presentation ceremony on Sunday morning and we were thrilled to see that one of our teams took 3rd place!
We’ll almost certainly be back in 2008, probably in greater numbers too!
County Centenary Camp
 The 25th Cubs and Scouts on their last day of the camp |
On the last Bank Holiday weekend in May the Cubs, Scouts and leaders of the 25th Bolton attended the Greater Manchester North County Centenary Camp at Bibby’s Farm in Limbrick.
Over 1000 Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorer Scouts and leaders were on the campsite over the 4 days of the long weekend and many activities were held to celebrate the Centenary of Scouting, which started 100 years ago this year in the UK and since then has grown to be the world’s largest youth organisation with over 28 million members from all over the world today.
Explorer Scouts take 2nd Place in Bibby’s Farm Yomp, Scouts take 2nd place in Pike View Hike, Cubs win Pip Hartley Memorial Walk!
 Cubs with their trophies – 1st place! |
For the 6th year on the trot the 25th Bolton South have entered teams into the Pike View Hike events, which are similar in format to the Buxton Border Hike although are hosted much closer to home, in the West Pennine Moors.
 Scouts with their trophies – 2nd place! |
Although against record competition this year (a grand total of 56 team entered the competition), the young people of 25th proved that they were up to the task by taking prizes in all three events across the age ranges.
As ever, the teams will be back again in April 2008 to compete again with teams from all over the country joining them!
Explorer Scouts win John Bradbury Trophy, Scouts take 4th place in Border Hike!
 Explorer Scouts with their trophy |
Over the weekend of the 22nd – 24th September, the 25th Bolton Scouts & Explorer Scouts travelled down to Gradbach, at the heart of the “White Peak” area of the Peak District, for the 26th annual Border Hike and 4th annual John Bradbury Trophy events.
We’ve entered teams the Border Hike every year since 1993, so 2006 marked our 14th consecutive year on the trot. The events take the format of ‘incident hikes’, whereby the competitors navigate by themselves to checkpoints around a 10/13 mile course, completing various incidents as they arrive at checkpoints on the way. They are scored on their ability to navigate, their achievements on the checkpoints (and for the Explorer Scouts, an orienteering course must be completed en-route).
 The Border Hike teams 2006 |
With over 20 teams competing in both events which are run simultaneously, the two Scout teams took 4th and 19th places in the Border Hike (some room for improvement in our 19th placed team – but both teams were comparatively young!), and the Explorer Scout team took 1st place in the John Bradbury Trophy, winning a cheque for £80 for Unit funds, and the privilege of taking the trophy back home for a year.
We’ll be back next year to defend the title!