Once more Christmas is upon us and it is time to reflect on the past year. The Group have had a busy year. The Scouts have just come back from Walesby Camp – they had to choose the weekend when the gales and storms were here and they now know how to make a kite and fly it out of a hiking tent!!

The cubs are going to see a Pantomime, Dick Whittington, at the Meadowside Centre which I am sure they will all enjoy, and the District Beavers are holding their Christmas Party at the Headquarters, and of course they will be holding their usual Carol Services again in December.

The new Dove Valley Explorers Unit is going well, it is made up of Scouts who are 14 – 18 years old from Tutbury, Rolleston and Stretton.

November will be the last Car Boot of the year and we will start holding them again in January 2003. Also diary dates for 2003 , are our Carnival on May 11th and we are holding a “Proms in the Park” at the Headquarters in June. We do hope you will come and enjoy these two events.

As ever, we are seriously in need of assistance to help with running the Cubs and Beavers, and are also short of Leaders.

It has been a very good year and the Group wishes to thank you all who supported us during the year, the Jubilee Celebrations went extremely well, everyone joined in and we were glad to be a part of it. It just remains for me to say, on behalf of the Group, we hope you all have a Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.

Margaret Smedley

Congratulations go to our Group Scout Leader, Graham Jacks and his forthcoming bride Nicky who are getting married in July!!

At the moment we are busy getting everything ready for our annual Carnival on Sunday May 26th and which I know you will support. It is 25 years since the Rolleston Scout Group first launched its Carnival and this year we are celebrating it with Queen’s 50th Jubilee, so the theme is gold and silver. Also this year we have re-introduced our Carnival Princess who was chosen at the Family Disco Night in March, her name is Victoria Key, and her two attendants are Kathryn Reynolds and Heather Barrington. Our thanks go to all the girls who entered the competition, the judges had a hard task.

The Cubs took part in a Swimming Gala in March and out of the nine individual races we won two gold medals, three silver and two bronze. We then won the gold Medal in the Pack Relay. We were second in the 8 years cup section, first in the 9 years and joint 1st in the 10 years section, and guess what! we won the overall trophy; WELL DONE CUBS.

The sections are all very busy, the Scouts have just done a survival camp which went down very well. They are going to summer camp at Windermere and they are also doing their British Union Canoeing Certificate – good luck. The Cubs are holding a Patrol Camp at the Headquarters shortly.

Over the last six months 1st Rolleston Scout Group has become the biggest in the district, but we are still very short of leaders and are having to limit our numbers, so if you think you could help please give Graham Jacks or June Webb a ring on 543194 or 814582 respectively.

Now, don’t forget, if you need a Marquee or require a Hall for a special occasion please get in touch. The number to ring for marquees is 543194 and for the HQ is 814582.

Margaret Smedley, Chairman.

The year got off to a flying start, various activities are being planned and fund raising events are being organised. The January Car Boot Sale was a huge success and we hope you give us your support during the rest of the year. As you know these are held on the last Sunday morning of each month except August and December, but this year with Easter being early we are holding the March Car Boot on Sunday March 24th at 10am until 12noon so please make a note in your diaries.

On Saturday March 16th is a Rummage Sale, so please come along and support us, 2 – 4pm.

Of course, our main fund raising event is the Carnival. This year is our Silver Jubilee year and we shall certainly celebrate this – Silver and Gold will be the theme – our 25 years and the Queen’s 50 years Golden Jubilee. As a one-off we are re-introducing the “Carnival Princess” after some years. So please all you young girls who would like to be our Carnival Princess for 2002 come to our FAMILY DISCO on Saturday March 23rd, to be held at the Scout Headquarters, tickets on sale at a later date. Girls who wish to enter should be 8 by Carnival Day and no older than 14 by Jubilee Day – I’m sure some of you young ladies out there will love to enter this competition, and don’t forget the date of the Carnival – Sunday May 26th 2002.

Now, following on from our new Princess – WHERE ARE YOU NOW - what we would really like is for all the past Carnival Princesses to get in touch with the Scout Group and attend our Family Disco because you are the judges!! We would love all those who were voted Carnival Princess in the past and their attendants to get in touch with us and attend the Family Disco – come on, don’t be shy.

Now what are the Scouts up to – well they are going to Blackpool for a weekend camp! can’t be bad and they are also organising another camp for the summer. The Cubs have done very well, they came second in the District Table Tennis Championships – well done. There is a Road Safety Quiz in February and also a Swimming Gala in March, so come on lads, we’re all supporting you.

The new uniforms have arrived and look very smart. Also the Leaders are going to Stafford in March to learn all about the new Training scheme.

Now I know I write this in every Rollestonian, but we are short of Leaders and help – please, please, if you can spare a couple of hours a week and possibly some weekends then please give us a call, we shall be very pleased to hear from you.

If you wish to hire the Headquarters then please contact June Webb on 814582 and for Marquee hire – Graham Jacks on 543194.

M.A. Smedley, Chairman