TAYVALLICH

The information described below was obtained from the Troop Log (1963-66) and the Curlew Patrol Log covering the summer camp. The full log reports can be seen by clicking here for the troop log report and here for the patrol log report.

 

Attendance

Scouters : S.M. R.K. Miller (Bob);  A.S.M. Albert Runcie (Oz) and Alastair Cram (long weekend only)

 

Curlew Patrol: PL  Michael Nisbet (Nizz or Y.N.), Charles Davey, John Lyle, Roderick MacArthur, Jim Barr.

Bear Patrol: PL Ian Fraser (IF), Billy Gunn (Bang Bang), Philip Dalgleish, John Martin, James Ramage (weekend only), Alan Jeyes (weekend only)

Eagle Patrol: PL Billy Phillips (Wiffel), Gifford Lind, Gordon Paterson (Herring), David Flockhart (Bouncer), Douglas Clements, Robert Morrison.

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Summary

This was the second and last time that the troop camped at Carsaig Bay near Tayvallich. The first time was in 1962, but there are no records of that camp in the available log books.  The Scouts travelled to Ardrishaig on the Loch Fyne, then presumably hired a bus and/or lorry to take them and their camping equipment to the campsite. The campsite was most likely on a low ridge on the southern side of Carsaig Bay and involved carrying the gear 'up a hill' for about 'quarter of a mile'. Fortunately, the farmer lent the Scouts a wheelbarrow to help transport the kit up the hill. Unfortunately, the only photographs of the campsite were taken at a recce visit, probably in 1962, but these are consistent with the proposed location. 

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Day 1  Tuesday 6th August 1963

 

The Scouts met at 9.10 am on Gourock pier to catch the passenger ferry Loch Fyne to Ardrishaig. Once they had arrived at the campsite, they spent the rest of the day pitching tents and setting up kitchen shelters. There is clear evidence that Altar fires were constructed, along with a variety of camp gadgets (table, seats, plate rack, dixie rack, mug pole, knife, fork and spoon rack, fridge) . In the evening, campfire was held at the Curlew Patrol kitchen and a cake that had been baked by Ian Fraser's Mum was devoured.

Day 2  Wednesday 7th August 1963

The day started rather dismally with rain, but games of football and baseball were played down at the 'field'. The Eagles discovered a wasps' nest next to their kitchen shelter and Douglas Clements was stung. The main tasks today were to continue developing the patrol tents and to complete general tasks such as putting up a notice board, digging latrines (Jasper), organising the store tent, and setting up direction signs such that visitors would find the campsite. In the evening, there was a walk into Tayvallich by the road, returning to camp over the 'moors' which offered views over the Atlantic. Another campfire was held before retiring to pit.

Day 3   Thursday  8th August 1963

Games of baseball and football were played down at a field (which might have been the 'car park' identified elsewhere). Efforts were made to burn out the wasps nest close to the Eagle's shelter, but they appeared to be a general nuisance at other shelters. The Curlew Patrol had a bit of a crisis when part of their Altar fire collapsed, spilling embers and food on the ground. However, that did not deter the Scouts from eating the stew once it had been rescued. The Altar fire was also quickly repaired. The campfire this evening was held in the Eagle Patrol's kitchen shelter.

Day 4   Friday  9th August 1963

Friday was set aside for the Patrols to plan their own activities. Fortunately, the weather turned out nice. The Curlew and Bear Patrols went on a hike, while the Eagle Patrol hired a rowing boat in Tayvallich and set out to navigate the surrounding oceans. A complicated balancing act was required at the very start of the voyage in terms of the boat's stability. This involved finding the best position to place 'Bouncer' (David Flockhart). Apart from nearly losing an oar at the very start and a subsequent aerial atack from the local bird life, the patrol safely avoided all maritime hazards and came up with a song reflecting their adventurous voyage. Gordon Paterson was voted the best oarsman. Back at camp, an 'unofficial game' was played which probably involved the Curlews and Eagles trying to kidnap 'Yogi' from the Bear patrol. 'Yogi' was a toy bear that Ian Fraser (PL of the Bear Patrol ) had brought back from Blackpool and was probably using as a patrol mascot. The evening finished off with another campfire.

Day 5  Saturday 10th Aug 1963

Saturday involved catching the bus in order to spend the day in Lochgilphead. The Scouts 'did their own thing' and visited various places such as cafes, the pool hall, the putting green and other amusements. Some Scouts walked south to have a look at the lock gates marking the start of the Crinan Canal, while Gordon Paterson and John Lyle went to see part of the agricultural show. In the evening, everyone visited the cinema (the Empire Cinema) and watched two films ("Traitors" and "If a man Answers"). The cinema was described as a 'fleapit' and many of the Scouts might have been surprised to learn that the building had a rather grand past; it was originally built as part of the Empire Exhibition in 1938 at Bellahouston Park, such that the visiting public could view newsreels and other films. At the end of the exhibition, the cinema was dismantled and rebuilt in Lochgilphead, where it remained a cinema until 1990 when it beame a snooker hall, then a travel lodge. By the time the Scouts got back to Tayvallich, it was 11.30 p.m. and everyone got to pit by about midnight.

Day 6  Sunday 11th August

The day started rather drizzly, but the Curlew Patrol was heartened by the news that they were well ahead in the Patrol Championship. After inspection, a game of football was played and a large contingent of parents began arriving to visit the campsite and take their offspring out for a meal. As a result, about two thirds of the camp went out for the day. Later in the day, at 7p.m., the troop attended church service at Tayvallich with colours flying. In the evening, Scouts  constructed bivouacs and a few Scouts slept in them overnight. There was also a campfire where Alastair Cram's doughnut was consumed along with a couple of cakes that had probably been brought by parents. For one Scout, this all proved just a little too much, with Gordon Paterson being sick over John Lyle.

Day 7   Monday 12th August 1963

On Monday, one or two Scouts stayed in pit as they were feeling unwell. John Lyle also proceeded to wash the clothes that he had been wearing at campfire when Gordon Paterson had shared his stomach contents. The rest played football and baseball, after which more work was done on the bivouacs. Camp ovens were also started. Other Scouts worked on various tests towards the 2nd and 1st Class Badges. A swim was also organised and seemed to be the only such time during the camp. Unfortunately, it is not known where this took place, but it was reported to be quite warm, but not warm enough. The local District Commissioner also arrived to carry out his inspection of the camp. It was fortunate that Bob Miller had earlier discovered 'wandered' rubbish and duly penalised the offending patrol with a deduction of points. Later on in the evening, a night hike was organised, which was probably restricted to Scouters and PLs. The only person recorded as being on the hike was Michael Nisbet and, if it was anything like previous hikes, it probably did not finish until dawn.

Day 8  Tuesday 13th August 1963

The weather first thing did not look very promising. Nevertheless, games of rounders and football were played with 'Yogi' identified as one of the spectators. More work was carried out on developing the patrol kitchens and gadgets in order to earn more points towards the Patrol Championship. The competition was heating up with the Eagles trying to catch up on the Curlews. The Eagles prepared a set of steps up to their kitchen shelter, which duly impressed the Scouters. Further work was also done on the bivvies and the camp ovens, and some Scouts went searching for different types of fungi. Michael Nisbet and Ian Fraser had a go at building a 'transporter' (or aerial runway), but were not successful. In the evening,  Michael Nisbet and Ian Fraser attempted some mapping project, while Billy Phillips and his work gang started work on a monkey bridge. Gordon Paterson successfully managed to negotiate the bridge without mishap, but Bob Miller fell off twice. At the campfire that night, the Eagles performed their Patrol song.

Day 9  Wednesday 14th of August 1963

Wednesday turned out to be a very nice day. By the end of morning inspection, the Eagle patrol were only 9 points behind the Curlews in the Patrol Championship. After this, there was a game of football down at  the 'car park'. In the afternoon, some Scouts set off on an 8-mile hike and completed various projects, while others stayed in camp and baked things in their camp ovens. However, most of the Scouts were visiting an island with Bob Miller. This may have been the long narrow island just to the west of the mainland, as it could probably be reached on foot at low tide. As a result of this expedition, Bob started a collection of marine creatures. At campfire that night, two cakes were produced which Gordon Paterson had made in one of the camp ovens. These proved very tasty. Michael Nisbet was exceptionally tired at campfire and nearly fell asleep. This could well be evidence of a really late night hike on Day 7, from which Michael had still not fully recovered in terms of sleep.

Day 10  Thursday 15th of August 1963

Thursday dawned wet and dismal. After flagbreak and inspection, it was found that the Eagle Patrol had finally overtaken the Curlew Patrol in the Patrol Championship.  The troop set off to find the farmer as they had agreed to make hay as their service project - a means of providing some gratitude for being allowed to camp on the farmer's land. However, when they found the farmer, they were told that it was too wet to carry out the work. Therefore, football and baseball were played down at the 'car park'. After that, work started on dismantling the gadgets and kitchen shelter consructions (tables, stairs, altar fire, oven etc). In the evening, Bob produced one of his dumplings which was enjoyed during campfire. As an addendum, at some point during the 15th August, Michael Nisbet, Ian Fraser, Billy Phillips, Billy Gunn, and Gifford Lind helped a man who owned a dairy with his motor boat. As a result, the Scouts were treated to a free bottle of lemonade the next day in Ardrishaig.

Day 11   Friday 16th August 1963

The Scouts were woken by Bob at 7a.m. in the morning on this, the last day. Breakfast was prepared in the Scouters kitchen and the patrols visited in turn to get fed. Unfortunately, the weather was not kind and the final strike had to be carried out in the rain, such that all the equipment carried down the hill to the coast road was wet. Fortunately, a friend of the farmer had lent a wheelbarrow to make the work of transporting the gear slightly easier. The bus (presumably chartered from a local firm) arrived at 10.45 a.m. and was loaded up, then the troop set off in fine singing voice to Ardrishaig. After boarding the Loch Fyne. Bob Miller worked out the final score for the Patrol Championship and declared the Eagle Patrol as the winners. The G.S.M.'s cup had been presented earlier on Ardrishaig pier to Roderick MacArthur and Douglas Clement. During the sea voyage, the Scouts visited the Loch Fyne's restaurant and devoured many cups of tea and numerous platefuls of bread and fruit bread. Once the boat berthed at Gourock pier, the equipment was transported up to the church hall by van and car, before everyone went home at 6 p.m.