Out but looking the part

 In view of my comments last time regarding tidiness and having a distinctive uniform, here's proof it doesn't have to be as hit or miss as it currently is where older leaders may use more suasion to get their packs out looking smart in current uniform and others who tend not to bother much with that at all so as as they've got on what they have to.

That's 1981, in Scotland at camp so there will be more casual periods like for playing football where you may get muddy but at other times their expected to be in uniform even if the cap, then a feature of it isn't being worn.

Of course you need to be prepared to make temporary consessions in extreme hot or cold weather as children's welfare matters but generally you expect them to turn up smart in full uniform.

If they could do that back then, where is the problem now?

The train visit

While technically this photo leaves much to be desired with burnt out highlights and the like nonetheless this is a favourite of mine from the British Rail days where these Cubs are at  a station and seeing close up a electric locomotive in the then Blue and Yellow livery of BR.

For good or ill I saw many trains like this being taken to stations and railway works open days and this may well of been taken with some knowledge of railway staff given how close they are to the track.

Trains as the initiated know are a mixed experience with me as they apply to my own boyhood so you might well ask what would of I of thought of Akela had proposed such as visit.

I almost certainly of gone because things you'd see could help toward completing badges the thing was as we saw earlier this year I do find trains very interesting to the point if done right I can really enjoy it.

A concluding note: This week my cub shorts came in charcoal grey with a similar leg length allowing for a good foot and bit height difference from what I was around nine or ten to today and yes I feel a lot different. A whole lot younger!

Tent Inspection

Source: norlington3 colour restored by me.

Going to camp which like most things is currently off, in the past would of involved more making it as while the site was there, there was rather less use of purpose built accommodation and I think it wasn't until around the very early 1970's restrictions on the Cubs camping out became stricter.

Before then and afterwards for those over nine and a half the Cub slept in his tent that would with sometimes a bit of help as needed putting down the groundsheet and erecting the remainder.

Here we have the other element of it, the Wolf Cubs who are from Surrey are required to stand to attention for tent inspection by their Leader as they will be judge on it not only for just putting them up but also for tidiness in this nineteen fifties photograph unusually in colour. 

Apart from having a great time, they are learning to responsible boys.

The Traditional Scout

Source: gakya additional processing by me

This is the Traditional Scout, the one I always had time for in full uniform where each and every item of it was designed for a purpose and has a symbolism that doesn't fall for fashion as scouting uniform was never about that.

It was all about practicality so we wear shorts to avoiding the damaging and muddying that happens if you wear longs in say erecting a tent and we keep our legs warm with thick proper long socks.

We are trusted to use a long sharp knife having learned how to use it so it is held in a leather holster on our belt for ease of access.

It is a uniform for the more mature Scout that builds up on what he wore as a Wolf Cub.