Summary
In 1961, the 70th ventured much further afield than on any previous occasion for their Easter Camp. The venue was Pitlochry, and the campsite was Dunfallandy - the same campsite used for the troop’s summer camp of 1957. Possibly because of logistical problems and the fact that Bob Millar was not originally going to be present, the Court of Honour had decided that a maximum of only 8 Scouts could attend the camp. The Scouts were organised into two small patrols of 4 Scouts each. Although there were four leaders present, Ian McFarlane could only attend for a weekend due to work, while Bob Millar was recovering from flu and had to stay at the Fishers Hotel in Pitlochry, visiting the campsite during the day. Thus, John Nisbet and Ken Johnson were the only two Scouters who were present all the time.
Seal Patrol
T.L. Alistair Cram, Sec. Ronald Russell, Donald Hamilton and Ian McKinnon
Fox Patrol
P.L. Ronald Lind, Sec. Michael Nisbet, Billy Phillips (Wiffil or Wif) and Ian Paterson (Kipper or Kippar).
Leaders
S.M. R.K. Miller (Bob), A.S.M. John H. Nisbet, A.S.M. Kenneth. W. Johnson (Q.M.) and A.S.M. J.S. McFarlane.
The Scouts met at Gourock Railway station, collected the camping gear from the Left Luggage and loaded it onto the train. The train left on time, with Billy Phillips arriving with only a minute to spare. At Glasgow Central, all the camping equipment had to be transported to Buchanan Street Station. Fortunately, a relative of Ken Johnson organized transport for the transfer. The train then went to Perth, where it split into two. Fortunately, the Scouts and the equipment were in the correct half and safely reached Pitlochry, where a lorry was waiting to transport Scouts and equipment to the campsite. The tents were pitched and patrol sites were set up, as well as the flagpole and the latrines.
During the camp there were various hikes, such as a couple of night hikes south to Balinluig and north in the direction of Tummel Bridge, an ascent of Dunfallandy Hill (1343’) and a walk to the Black Spout Waterfall, all starting from the campsite. Camp games included ringstick. There was also various sessions of training and testing, especially on signalling (possibly as practice for a forthcoming signalling competition). Other camp activities included a swim in the river, a blindfold rope trail, a signaling competition between the patrols, and pioneering, which resulted in the construction of a monkey bridge and a ‘transporter’ (aerial runway). Free time usually involved the Scouts wandering into Pitlochry to visit places such as the dam, fish ladder, suspension bridge and the milk bar. There was also a visit to the cinema in Pitlochry to see ‘Doctor in Love’.
An unusual aspect of this camp was that the usual morning inspection included an inspection of the Scouters kitchen by the Patrol Leaders. The camp was visited by various parents such as Mr. & Mrs. McKinnon, Mr. & Mrs. Lind, Mr. & Mrs. Phillips, and Mr. & Mrs. Nisbet. The local District Commissioner, Mr. Barbour, also visited to inspect the camp and wrote ‘All ship-shape’ on the camp permit. Ken Johnson later commented that this could mean ‘all at sea.’ Towards the end of camp, Bob Millar and Alastair Cram made the traditional camp dumpling, while Billy Phillips made ‘cornflake cake’.
On the final day, the camp was struck and the Scouts returned home in the same manner as they had arrived – all except Ian Paterson who got a lift home in Bob Millar’s car.
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Click here to see the entry in the Troop Log covering the 1961 Easter Camp.
Click here to see an overview of Easter Camps.