Helping their Scouting friends in Solomons

Lancaster Guardian, June 1978

Assistant County Commissioner, Mr F H J Dahl (left) who received cheques last week towards Tess Pickford's Solomon Islands fund from Cub Scouts of the Lonsdale District

LONSDALE Cub Scouts have raised £287 to help Tess Pickford’s pioneering work to develop Scouting in the Solomon Islands.

The money mostly raised by the Cubs was officially handed over to the International Scouting Commission at the annual meeting of  Lonsdale District Scout Council last week. It was received by Mr H. J. Dahl, Assistant County Commissioner at the Community Centre, Bolton-le-Sands, specially decorated for the occasion with posters designed by the Cubs and with pictures sent from the Solomon Islands by Tess Pickford, ex-Guardian reporter.

Lonsdale District Commissioner Mr R. Sharrock reported to the meeting several other successes. Membership was again at a record level, with 817 Cub Scouts, 525 Scouts and 76 Venture Scouts, although the recruitment of leaders was a little more of a problem.

IMPROVED

He added that the Littledale Activities Centre had been improved for the use of handicapped people by the addition of a concrete path paid for out of the Queen’s Jubilee Fund.

He also noted the success of the district in county competitions notably in the winning of the Helme swimming shield.

The Scout and Guide Band continued to be in constant demand, and the two campsites were well used in the past year. The one at Silverhelme will have a £1,000 worth of improvements made to it in the coming year.

He ended by expressing best wishes to Mr J. Davey, retiring treasurer and by thanking Mrs D. Brown who had worked hard for Scouting in her work of selecting potential leaders.

Presentations were made to Philip Musgrave (1st Forton Group) who received the Silver Standard of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and to Mr Eric Wall who received the Silver Acorn Award for 21 years of distinguished service to Scouting locally and in the county.
Officials elected for the year were: R. Macdonald C.B.E. M.C., president; P. Pearson, chairman; P. S. Gedge, secretary; Dr J. A T. Ellis, treasurer; Mrs J. Wall, Mrs P. M. Moeckell, F. Barnby, R. Dixon, P. Hewitt, J. Jollëy G. Magee, H. Marsden, A. Nisbett, K. Westall, J. Wilkinson, (executive Committee); A. Nisbett, auditor; R. C. Penhale, hon solicitor.