Summary of Summer Camp at Kilwaughter Castle, Larne, 1967
ATTENDANCE
Scouters
SL Alistair Cram, VSL Donald Williamson, ASL Robin Crawford, JSL John Lyle (QM)
Senior Scouts
Tom Caldwell, PL Alex Aitkenhead (QM).
Curlew Patrol
PL Jimmy Duncan, APL Stewart Lee, Kenneth MacKenzie, John McMaster, John McCallum Mk I, Stanley Anderson, Roy Fraser.
Falcon Patrol
PL Peter Robertson, APL Gordon Morris, David White (Lone Scout), Peter Bennett, Ewan Dale, Andrew Duncan.
Kingfisher Patrol
PL John Martin, APL David Shearer, Alan Anderson, Andrew Watson, Brian Jagger, D. Gill, Robert Morrison (Lone Scout).
Seal Patrol
PL Gordon Paterson, APL Charlie Stewart, Graham Patrick, Alex Christie, Iain Anderson, John Dagleish, Graeme Lyle.
Tiger Patrol
PL Jim Barr, APL Malcolm Dale, J. Chivers, Graeme McBride, John Tait, Alan Crumlish, Duncan Malcolm
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​There were five patrols in camp, which are named according to their Patrol Leaders. Scouts from the Fox and Seagull Patrols were distributed around the other five patrols. There was no Seagull Patrol as Alex Aitkenhead (PL of the Seagull Patrol) took on the role of QM at summer camp. There was also no Seagull Patrol as Robert Beattie did not attend the camp. In total, there were 35 Scouts at the camp, representing 70% of the Troop .
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Overview
The 1967 summer camp at Kilwaughter Castle, near Larne was the first summer camp to be held outwith Scotland. Consequently, it was the most ambitious destination in the Troop's history up until that point and required significantly more planning in terms of transport and organisation. Moreover, it was Alistair Cram's first full Summer Camp in charge as Scout Leader. Although, he had been Scout Leader the previous year at West Loch Tarbert, it is likely that Bob Miller played a key role in organising the camp. Bob was also on hand to assist with the running of the camp. In 1967, Alastair was fully in charge.
Unfortunately, details of the 1967 Summer Camp are lacking. The Troop Log covering 1966-68 has been mislaid and so no written account of the camp has been unearthed to date. Therefore, information on the camp has been gained mainly from photographs taken by Robin Crawford, as well as personal recollections. In addition, the Court of Honour Minutes covering 1966-68 provide some additional information on the planning, if not the execution. Personal Scout record cards are also useful as they identify that the camp was in the vicinity of Kilwaughter Castle, which is a few miles southwest of Larne. Kilwaughter Castle itself still exists but is now a ruin. Indeed, it was probably already a ruin by 1967 as it had lain empty since the Second World War.
Three days prior to the camp, there was a meeting at Alistair Cram's home which involved Alistair himself, ASL Robin Crawford, Junior SL John Lyle, PLs Alex Aitkenhead, Jimmy Duncan, Jim Barr, Peter Robertson, John Martin and APL Charlie Stewart. John Lyle and Alex Aitkenhead would serve as QMs during the camp, without responsibility for any patrols. The following decisions were made.
On the 31st July, the Scouters and QMs would meet up at the Church Hall at 5.30 am, followed by the PLs at 5.45 am. The plan was to depart at 6.15 - 6.20 am. on a bus (presumably hired) to Stranraer in order to catch the 12 o'clock boat to Larne. This would require a speedy transfer of personal and camp equipment from the coach to the ferry. The ferry was due to arrive in Larne at 2.30 pm where a minibus and lorry would be waiting to transport Scouts and equipment to the campsite. There is a possibility that Donald Williamson took his small van across on the ferry, in which case it was probably loaded with tents and kitchen shelters. On arrival at the campsite, each Patrol was to immediately pitch its patrol tent and kitchen shelter, followed by the construction of altar fire, table, seating, gadgets, and wet pits (1 wet and 2 dry). Timber had been ordered in advance such that it would be ready to use on arrival. Photographs show that the campsite was in an open field with a small wood close by in which kitchen shelters were constructed. The exact location has yet to be determined. However, one possible location is a small wood next to a lake to the south of the ruined castle. As befitted 70th tradition, this was a 'wild campsite', meaning that there were no facilities to be had in terms of buildings, toilets, water taps etc. Therefore, each Patrol had to be totally self sufficient in terms of its sleeping and eating arrangements. All meals were to be cooked over wood fires unless the weather made that impossible. The exception was the main meal on the first day (Monday 31st July). This was cooked by the Scouters. There was a burn close to the campsite which provided water for washing during the camp, while drinking water was collected from a nearby farm.
The intention was to have the campsite fully set up by lunchtime on the second day. If that proved to be the case, then it was planned to visit Larne for the afternoon.
A minibus was hired (probably in Larne) that would allow the Scouts to go on several excursions. The main excursion was a day spent visiting the Giant's Causeway to the north. The Scouts also had access to kayaks during the camp. These must have been borrowed or hired (probably from a local Scout group) as the 70th did not possess any kayaks in 1967, and would have had difficulty transporting them to Ireland even if they did.
As far as activities are concerned, Scouts were to be given the option of doing 1st Class hikes or Duke of Edinburgh hikes during the camp, but it is not known whether anyone did that or not. It is also known what kind of activities took place in camp, although photographs show that a monkey bridge was built.
One of the more distasteful aspects of the camp involved the emptying of the toilets into the 'bog pit'. This was a daily task and was carried out by the Duty patrol for each day. It was also a rather tricky operation. The 'bog pit' had been dug up a slope amidst some bracken, and there was only one narrow path leading up to it. Inevitably, it became increasingly muddy and slippy as the camp went on. As a result, there were several unfortunate spillages when the Scouts involved lost their footing. Inevitably, this led to the even more distasteful task of clearing it all up, which only served to make the path even more treachorous.