Summary
The following account is based on the photographs of the camp and the account provided in the Falcon Patrol Log.
Four patrols were present – the Falcons, Kingfishers, Curlews and Seagulls. Unfortunately, no list of those attending the camp has been found and so the following list of Scouts and Leaders is not definitive. At least 20 Scouts and 3 Scouters were present.
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Troop Leader: Billy Gunn
Patrol Leaders: David White (Falcon), Jim Barr (Curlew), John Lyle (Kingfisher), Alex Aitkenhead (Seagull)
Scouts: Peter Robertson (Second of Falcon), Robert Beattie, Robert Morrison, Charles Stewart (Falcon), Jimmy Duncan (Falcon), David Shearer, Gordon Morris (Falcon), John Martin, John Tait, Alan Anderson, Alex Christie, Stanley Anderson, Russell Reid, Duncan Malcolm, Kenneth McKenzie.
Scouters: GSM Bob Miller, SM Alastair Cram, ASM Robin Crawford.
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The Scouts met at Gourock Pier and took the RMS Loch Fyne to Tarbert via Dunoon, spotting the Maids of Bute when they sailed round the north end of Bute. Most of the Scouts took bikes to camp this year and cycled to the campsite. Mini vans took the equipment plus any Scouts who did not have bikes. It is assumed that the same campsite was used as in 1965 (and possibly 1964) The tents were then pitched as well as a marquee – the first mention of a marquee being used at summer camp. Work was then carried out on developing the patrol kitchens over the first three days.
Each day followed a pattern of the patrols making breakfast before flagbreak and inspection. There may also have been a Scouts Own most mornings. During the day, there were various activities and there was a campfire most evenings before retiring to pit. Training and testing also occurred throughout, such that Scouts could pass tests towards their Second Class and First Class Badges. This included Scouting skills such as as tracking, semaphore, identification of trees, cooking, and felling axe etc. Football seemed to be the main game played in camp.
On Sunday, the Troop attended Church service at the Church of Scotland in Tarbert. This included the Scouts marching to the Church, presumably with colours flying. After that, various parents turned up to visit their offspring with several Scouts being ‘carried off’ to be fed.
There were two visits to the cinema in Tarbert. On the first visit, the Scouts saw a documentary film describing the work of the Lifeboat Association, followed by the comedy “Doctor in Clover”. On the second visit, they say a Western called ‘Geronimo’s Revenge’ and a family comedy called ‘Monkey’s Uncle, both released by Walt Disney Productions.
As usual, there were a number of hikes. This included an evening hike and a patrol hike. The latter was led by the Patrol Leaders with no Scouters present. The Falcon and Kingfisher Patrols hiked together, as did the Curlew and Seagull patrols. The Falcon/Kingfishers hiked south to a bay near Whitehouse and investigated a couple of rowing boats. There was also a midnight hike involving the older Scouts which may have involved hiking to Skipness. Finally, there was a hike to visit a ruined chapel about a couple of miles south of the campsite. When they arrived, everyone carried out a bizarre ceremony before entering. This involved marching round the walls of the chapel with a hat on, then once without the hat. This ceremony may well have been devised by Bob Miller and was carried out during the visit of the prevcious year. The log report on the visit added that Ronald Russell was ‘doomed’ – possibly because he failed to complete the ‘ceremony’ properly.
There were perhaps less pioneering projects compared to previous camps, but an aerial runway was constructed that proved popular. Bob Miller also organized an interpatrol stunt that involved each patrol climbing a tree to fill a Dixie with water such that it would balance a bag filled with water. This was won by the Seagull patrol. There were also at least two swimming expeditions to West Loch Tarbert at the same spot used in 1964 and 1965.
Robin Crawford was in charge of First Aid during the camp. The most serious incident was when the cocoa being heated for campfire accidentally fell over and scalded John Lyle’s arm. Robin treated the injury and John visited the doctor the following day. As a result, he wore a sling for the rest of the camp.
An unusual event was the discovery of a baby squirrel by three of the Scouts. It seemed to become adopted as a camp mascot after that, and was photographed on top of a small totem pole (totie). Totie had been carved from a piece of wood obtained at a previous camp and, during the camp, many of the Scouts participated in a ceremonial ‘worship’ of ‘Totie’. Another strange activity was gnumph hunting by the younger Scouts, which involved the use of a branch to try and ensnare an invisible, mythical creature.
Finally, the camp could be claimed to be historic for a number of reasons.
* During the camp, there was a tea party held by the Scouters for those Scouts attending their first full Summer Camp. All those attending donned Scout uniform and this may have been the second such tea party (the first being in 1965), thus starting a tradition that lasted many future Summer Camps – the GSLs tea party. This suggests that this event was another of Bob Miller’s many innovations.
* This was the first summer camp with Alastair Cram as Scout Master and the last summer camp attended by Bob Millar.
* The camp also witnessed the promotion of Billy Gunn to Troop Leader and Patrol Leader David White to Patrol Leader. This is the only known occurrence of such promotions taking place at camp. There was also an interesting ‘ceremony’ of sorts. When Billy Gunn resigned as Patrol Leader of the Falcon to become Troop Leader, he transferred his sleeping bag and kit from the Patrol Tent to the Bell Tent.
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Click here to view the account of the camp provided in the Falcon Patrol Log.