Bramhall News - written by local people

EXCITING 2009 FOR 1ST BRAMHALL SCOUT GROUP!

Where do you go to have fun if you are a young person living in Bramhall? The answer quite simply is 1st Bramhall Scout Group which is due to celebrate its 100 years of Scouting in 2009 when all sorts of events are being planned by a “Centenary Planning Group”.

These range from open evenings to promote the various sections which offer first class activities for all age groups in April and  “Celebration 100” an evening of fun for all the family at the Acton Court Hotel again in April. This is followed by a group camp (with parents invited) in Yorkshire the 2nd May Bank Holiday weekend.   June will see Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and hopefully Explorers from the District XBU unit which uses the Bramley Centre as its headquarters taking part in a Boundary Trail, a relay event on foot
round the borough’s boundary!

July sees the Scouts/Explorers and Leaders invited to an International Camp in Denmark as guests of Toflund Frie Rovfugle Scouts – an event to really foster international links.  Also in July the group are hosting the Kwahadi Indian dancers of Amarillo Texas who will perform locally as part of their European Tour.  They are all members of a Scout Group  and very much looking forward to coming to stay with us here in Bramhall.

In October,Cubs, Scouts and Explorers will spend a weekend in London at Baden-Powell House to learn more about the world wide movement and to enjoy the excitement of our capital  city.  In November the groups Centenary Bonfire will be held at Hillbrook Grange.  As a final flourish to the year there will be a black tie dinner at the Deanwater Hotel to celebrate the 100 years of scouting when ex scouts are being invited back to reminisce over the old days and to see how the group has developed.  This dinner is being organised by Andrew Corrie who was Scout Leader until March of this year when he took over the role of County Commissioner for Greater Manchester East Scouts.  He has remained in close touch with the group as Centenary Co-ordinator.  Andrew looks forward along with the leaders to seeing many familiar faces at the dinner on 14th November. 2009.

2009 will be a tremendous year for Scouting at lst Bramhall and Sally Massey Group Scout Leader hopes it will lead to new members of the various sections and parental involvement with people who are keen for their youngsters to make new friends and develop their skills and confidence.  So – 1st Bramhall is “The Place to Be!!”.  Places are available in the Beaver Section, 6-8 year olds, Cub Scouts 8-10 and a half and Scouts from 10 and a half to 14 and a half from September.  Explorers – 14 and a half upwards meet on Tuesday evenings and this unit is now firmly established and busy having fun and doing Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

As a focus to this special year funds will be raised to replace the Group’s mini-bus and to provide money for those who may not otherwise be able to make international scouting visits.  A Centenary Book is being produced and the hope is that local businesses will help us celebrate our record of offering first class scouting to local youngsters.   Anyone wishing for more details of these events or who would like their children to join the group please contact Group Scout Leader, Sally Massey on 0161 439 1496 e.mail
johnandsally@tiscali.co.uk.

(The Bramley Centre, adjacent to Bramhall Health Centre on Bramley Close offers good accommodation for those wishing to take up a letting opportunity.  It has a catering kitchen, smaller kitchen, large hall and various committee rooms – e.mail Lettings Manager Julie Bottomley at
juliebottomley@yahoo.co.uk for details)