22nd May 2009. Spring Bank Camp at Drum Hill.

Leaders - Trig, Rachael, Prof, Annette, Garry
Scouts - William B, Edward B, Edward P, Adam B, Jordan W, Andrew L, Austin W, Brendan, James T
Guides - Jessica A, Sophie A, Laura, Olivia T, Helena, Gabby, Christina
Explorers - Thomas F, Joe P, Tim A, Jim, Ian, Tom, Michael

Friday 22nd - Up to Drum Hill for 6pm. We are camping on the scout field by the flag pole. We have baked potatoes with cheese and beans for supper at 10pm. Settle into the party tent from midnight onwards to wait for them to go to sleep. The May bugs start to fly. I kill about 20 with a tennis racket. Most of the tents are quiet by about 1am. We go to bed at 2am.

Saturday 23rd - Me and Garry cook the usual breakfast, sausages, bacon, scrabbled eggs and beans. Set up a few things round camp, volley ball, etc. Darren comes over with a new gas light. We have a choice of chicken curry or spaghetti bolognese for tea, the curry goes very well. We all eat on the tables outside. They all go off to the Disco in the evening. Go and catch the last couple of records at the Disco, I don't recognise either of them. See a few of the scouts dancing. As soon as Daren goes Brian Counter turns up. He is hunted down by security when he stays after 10:30pm. Everyone is asleep a lot earlier than last night.

Sunday 24th - Usual breakfast, they cannot tell that the Coco pops are fake. The weather really hots up and I sit outside and make a couple of woggles. For the first time in my camping career we have a fridge at camp, in fact two. We put them both on. We all sit outside to eat lunch. In the evening I drive over to Pete's to get food for tea. We cook roast beef, mash and vegetables. The scouts have the usual plan to try and get Rachael gunged, but forget to hand in the form, as usual. Have apple pie and custard when they get back from the Talent show.

22nd May 2008. Spring Bank Camp at Drum Hill.

Leaders - Trig, Paul L, Jeanette, Rachael, Prof, Annette

Scouts - Toby K, Callum R, Jack S, Tim A, William B, Edward B, Jordan W, Adam B.

Friday 23rd - Up to Drum Hill for about 6pm after picking up a bag of Knifeton's potatoes on the way, I am the first one there. We are camping on Freds field with great views over Derby. There are 19 cubs and 10 explorers. Annette and Rachael sort out the kitchen. The kids have hot chocolate at about 10pm. Late on Pete tells me that he used to deliver Davenports beer using a horse and cart, I can picture him doing it and I am taken in.

Saturday 24th - I do some rather good scrambled egg for breakfast, with bacon. After doing breakfast, I sit outside with Pete with binoculars watching the planes. We watch an Air ambulance circle round a couple of times and then land. It is for some lad who has fell out of a tree and broken his leg. Me and Pete in particular catch quite a lot of sun. Have potatoes, peas and fish fingers for tea. Hot chocolate later.

Sunday 25th - I cook omelette for breakfast, rather good. Paul goes off after breakfast for a walk round Carsington. The roof blows off the Party tent roof at about noon. Tie a few ropes on it. Good team work on get it fixed. Have Smash, carrots, peas, cauif and roast beef warmed by gravy. Large debate about which pan to use to mash the potatoes. Early night, in bed for about midnight, leave the explorers up.

Monday 26th - Run out of eggs for the eggy bread, the explorers are not happy. The cubs go off to activities. Rather windy but no rain. Start taking the tents down from about 10pm. Move one cooker into the Party tent, for burghers and sausage. We all have to work hard to get everything away. Lots of help from the parents. I am the last to leave, at about 3pm. Down to the hut to pack away and then home.

25th July 2007. Centenary Camp at Drum Hill.

25th May 2007. Spring Bank Camp at Drum Hill

Leaders - Trig, Rachael, Prof and Annette
Scouts - Tim A, Jack M, Matt P, Elliot W, Ben
Cubs - Freddy, Andrew, George K, George KP, Daniel, Harry, Jordan, Edward P, Edward B

Friday 25th - Pick up Annette and Rachael and up to Drum Hill for just before 7pm. We are camped right over by the golf course. We do soup and bread for supper. We have to stay up till 3am to check that the scouts and cubs are asleep.

Saturday 26th - Up for 7am to get the breakfast on. Bacon, scrambled egg and beans. Fairly sunny in the morning, sit outside drinking tea after they have gone to activities. Offer teas or coffees to a few passing golfers. Have to stop Pete from shouting out 'four' a few times. Pat comes up for the day. Fish fingers, new potatoes, peas and sweet corn for tea. We all go to the Disco for a while, the scouts almost dance a little bit. Go down to the bar with Annette and Rachael to claim our free pint. Sue Sandars stays with us for the night.

Sunday 27th - Lots of rain in the night. Get up at 8am, have a quick look in the scout tent and Tim presents me with a bottle of special warm lemonade. Very good Roast Beef, gravy, new potatoes and peas for tea. We all watch the Marque party for a while. Take Annette back at about 10pm, to go and watch Derby on Monday. When I get back Trig shows me a little puzzle to do with fitting 8 pieces of a jigsaw together to form a snake. It says on it "A challenge for intelligent people" and it certainly is! The cubs have been trying all night. I stay up till 3am trying to finish the puzzle, get some good theories but cannot complete it. In the end I have to confiscate it to prevent myself staying up all night.

Monday 28th - Wake up at 6am due to noise from an adjacent scout troop. Lie in bed listening to the rain till 7.30am, get up and put the kettle on etc. Bacon, eggy bread and beans for breakfast, the scout go to flag break to see William get presented with necker for the Brownsea Island camp by Dave Mac. William nips in for a bit of camp breakfast. We miss the entry time for the Mucky Race but they let us enter a scout team, Jack, Elliot, Tim and Matt and a cub team, George K, Freddy, Andrew and Jordan after time. Both teams enjoy the event, the cubs win their catagory. Lots of parents all turn up to help put the tents down. Dry for part of the packing away. The tents all have to be hung in the scout hut to dry. Home for a bath and a shave. Spend one more hour on the Anaconda puzzle using the same ideas as last night and solve it. Text Pete and he tells me that he has remembered that two other people have done it already! Derby win at Wembley.

10th Novemeber 2006. Taddington Expedition.

Prof, Annette, Glenn Rhodes, Charles Pollard, Thomas Beard

Friday 10th - Arrive - More here

18th August 2006. Walesby Camp.

Leaders - Rachael, Prof, Annette
Scouts - Thomas F, Glenn R, Tim A, Callum R, Alex MS, Callum H, Jack M

Friday 18th - Leave work straight from lunch. Pick up Rachael, go to hut. Drop off the food and then I go to get gas, end up at the garage by the Pentagon. Pack the trailer, lift it onto Pete's car and the handle falls off. Drive to Kilburn to fix it. Pete and Rachael then set off up the A38. I pack some stuff and set off after them at 4pm. Just after Alfreton Pete's car over heats and Rachael phones me. I put four bottles of lager in the radiator. He starts it and loads of white smoke comes out. His calls his lad Paul to come and get him. Me and Rachael drive on up to Walesby. The parents have been since 4pm and have gone to McD's. Drive to the camp site, arrive at about 5.30pm. We can find nobody around to check us in so I ring the emergency bell. Staff come running from all directions. We choose a site well away from everyone else. Just start setting up in the rain when me and Pete realise that there is loads of stuff in his boot on the A38. I drive back to get it, get there for about 8.30pm. Get Annette and Thomas at the same time. The parents and Rachael have done a fine job of setting everything up. Fantastic calm starry night. Scouts go to bed for 11ish. We have to stay up till 2am waiting for them to go to sleep.

Saturday 19th - Bacon, eggs, beans for breakfast. Go down to archery for 11am. Seems an incredibly small course but ends up being a good fun hour. Move straight to the 45 foot climbing wall. All the scouts have a go, most get to the top. I have a go and get to the top. The instructors make me sing I'm a little tea pot on the way down. Back for lunch and then Annette and I set up the peg finding game, they don't go round the course very fast. Since the chicken is still frozen we have pasta bolognaise. After tea go to the camp fire from 7 till 8. Doesn't seem that good at the time but the songs stick in our minds ( particularly Jack ) for a few days. Baby jaws. Polar bears. Disco from 9-11, leaders have to wait in the camp bar. Back for biscuits and hot drinks.

Sunday 20th - Heavy rain wakes me up at 4.10am. Bit of a slow start in the morning. Glen and Alex do sausages and boiled eggs for breakfast. When I try to crack my egg it seems to be made of rubber. We all have to rush to be ready for the bus to Church. Annette does not go and Rachael suddenly declares that she does not feel very well. I have to borrow her shirt. Wait for the bus to Church from 10 till quarter past, but no show. Decide that we have been scammed. Take them on a walk by the river, have a look at Robin Hood's cave. Have sandwiches for lunch and then we all walk down to the lake for 2pm kayak session. Whilst Trish, the instructor, is giving the briefing I seem to have a problem listening to which hand to hold the paddle in, the girls find it funny. On the way back the girls grab a BBQ from another site to take it to ours. We all go collecting wood. It takes a long time to get a good fire going. I cook the chops on the fire with Annette. Rachael cooks the potatoes, etc in the tent.

Monday 21st - Heavy rain from 5am. Get up early and cook a little quicker than yesterday. Get down to the lake for the Raft building. All the scouts have a go and Annette also. They have to tie four barrels and poles together. Both rafts collapse in the water, lots of splashing around for two hours. We all go back for a shower. We all do the 1 hour orienteering course, some of them walk round. Rachael, Annette and I walk round but we cannot find the second clue. Chicken curry for tea, goes down very well. Nip out to Tesco in Ollerton to get a few things. Pete Dixon and Paul Lambkin turn up at about 7pm. Paul gets lots of wood and we have a big fire and lots of jokes and singing.

Tuesday 22nd - Good weather. Pack up from the start, about ready by noon. Ring Robert Taylor to ask if he can pick us up. Invest Alex. Most scouts leave at about 2pm. My car will not start, ring Robert to ask if he can get some jump leads. Back to the hut for about 6.30. Mrs Rhodes helps us unpack. Done for 7.30pm.

26th May 2006. Spring Bank Camp.

Friday 26th - Arrive

Saturday 27th - Take part in the Power Ball race with Annette, Ian and Paul Lambkin. Lubna, Nabila, Beccy and Lee come up to visit. Late on Charles tells Annette that there is a sheep wandering round camp. Annette creeps up on it and captures it, before realising that it is made of pot. She vows revenge!

Sunday 28th - Scouts win the KeyMaster competition.

Monday 29th - We have a couple of teams in the Mucky race. Parents turn up at 3pm, raining. Lot of hanging around to wait for the tents to dry. Don't get away till about 6pm.

18th June 2004. Gradbach Mill "I'm a scout, get me out of here !" Camp. Rachael, Adam, Annette and Prof are leaders.

23rd May 2003. Spring Bank Camp at Drum Hill.

Leaders, TBC.

Scouts, Thomas Fitchett, James Arter, James Sandars, Karl Markham, Kelly Paternosta.

Friday 23rd May - Lots of rain during the day. Drive up to Drum Hill at 6pm. We have 5 The leaders stay up till 2am waiting for the scouts to go to sleep.

Saturday 24th May - The cubs are all awake for 6am. The weather becomes very nice from the afternoon onwards. Watch the scouts do lots of activities.

Sunday 25th May - Visitors day, nip out to get a gas bottle later. Do the crate skating again, get 30.

Monday 26th May - Fantastic weather all day. We have about four closing ceremonies. Leave at about 5pm.

31st May 2002. Spring Bank Camp at Drum Hill.

Friday 31st May - Meet at the bottom of Station Road at 6pm, lots of scout parents are there. Lots of time waiting around. Get up to Drum Hill for about 7.30pm. We have 4 scouts and there are 11 cubs. Helen and Peter Taylor are there with Anna Barlow and Jane as assistants. Pete Dixon comes up for the evening. Stay up till 2am to ensure that the scouts get to sleep.

Saturday 1st June - Hot weather all day. Do some crate staking.

Sunday 2nd June - At 5pm we have a street party along the main camp walkway. The weather breaks at about 7pm, good timing.

Monday 3rd June - A little rain all day. The scouts and cubs enter in the 'Mucky race' This involves getting very muddy and wet.

26th Oct 2001. Camp at Drum Hill.

Friday 26th October - Leave work at 2.30pm. Do five trips up to Drum Hill to get all the gear up there using my car. The scouts turn up at 5pm. Nip home to get some things. Enjoy burning loads of wood.

Saturday 27th October - Take Rachael into work for the morning. Me and Andy do some axe work and prepare a lot of wood. We take them for a walk down to Moor lane to explore the site. Have our first go on the Assault course, I get first place. Have a good time round the camp-fire till late on.

Sunday 28th October - The hour goes back, all the scouts get up at 7.30am. I go and do the Windmill Dash, pick up three cooked chickens from Morrisons on the way back. Michael beats my time on the assault course so I have to have another go and smash his time with 1:22. Very tired in the evening.

28th May 1994. Spring Bank Camp at Drum Hill. Me, Tom Davis, Phil Drury, Jo Middleton, Dominic Jones, Tim Smith are there with the cubs.

June 11th 1993 Group camp at John Lee camp site.

Feb 1991 - Weekend Camp at Lee Bridge with Rich Martin, Paul Furmston, William Bugg, Chinney, Andy Gregory, Charlie Binns.

Friday 22nd - Drive up to Lea Bridge in Belper Van and put the tents up while the sun shines. Get lots of fire wood and start the fire. Cook on the gas rings due to heavy rain. Leave a large log on the fire. They have an early night and tell ghost stories.

Saturday 23rd - Cook breakfast on the fire. Walk along the river and up to Crich. Crich stand is shut due to the high wind. Get some essential supplies, i.e. tea bags. Walk along the top to Holloway, very windy. Cook chicken, bacon and baked potatoes on the fire. Have toast and marshmallows to follow. Stay up late talking.

Sunday 24th - Rain in the morning. The fire is still alive. Cook a large breakfast and get packed up. Leave at 3pm.

Aug 27th 1989. Back Packing with Flod, Lee Pollard and Mark Ecob.

Sunday 27th - Pick up Flod and Bunce at 2pm, go up to the Scout hut to get some stuff. Drive to Belper and catch the bus at 4.15 to Buxton. First try the camp site south of Buxton, this is full so we have to walk up to Cold Springs farm again, get there for 8pm after stoping in town for food. Put up the tents and then walk back to the Sun Inn.

Monday 28th - Wake up to a beautiful sunny morning, lie in till 9am. I cook bacon and eggs for breakfast. Get away by 11am, head south. Go over Hollins Cross. Camp at the Butchers Arms in Reaps Moor for the first time.

Tuesday 29th - Wake at 9am to steady rain, Flod cooks breakfast and I wash. We don't get out of the tents till noon. They want to go straight to the pub but I make them walk to Hartington, stay there for a while. Walk past the campsite where Flod stayed last time that he was in Hartington. Camp at Endon Cottage. Beef burghers, peas and rice for tea cooked by Bunce. Walk to the 'Duke of Devonshire' in the evening. Walk back playing the alphabet game.

Wednesday 30th - Wake up at 9am, off at 11am after a good breakfast. Walk all the way down the Manifold valley. Stop at Wetton Mill cafe for a cup of tea. Get to Waterhouses for about 3pm, just miss the bus, have to wait till 4.55 for the next one. Bunce is worried about missing a football game. Get into Derby for 5.45 and then get a taxi to Breadsall Village, Bunce just makes it.

May 27th 1989. Back Packing with Lee Pollard and Mark Ecob.

Saturday 27th - Pick up Lee and Bunce at 10.30am, drive up to Asda to buy some food. Catch the Transpeak at 2.15 up to Buxton. Walk up to Cold Springs farm. Walk back into Buxton in the evening for chips.

Sunday 28th - Get up at 7.30am, cook breakfast and break camp. On the move for 9am, go via the White Hall centre and Chapel-en-le-Frith to Peak Forrest for lunch. Walk over to Castleton and have a long rest. Push on over Hollins Cross to Edale. All the campsites are very full. Steak, chips and peas for tea. Walk down to the Nags Head later, packed solid.

Monday 29th - Walk up onto Hollins Cross and then along to Loose Hill and then Win Hill. Pass by the Yorkshire Bridge. Walk across to a very nice campsite in Hope. Walk into Hope later, go to the Old Hall and the Cheshire Cheese.

Tuesday 30th - Get up at 8.30, have a slow breakfast, walk along the river to Hathersage, have a late dinner and then catch the train to Sheffield.

October 1988. Drury-Lowe. Our one and only attempt at a camping competition.

May 27th 1988 Bense gets his Chief Scouts award, the pinnacle of our achievements.

April 30th to May 1st 1988. Survival weekend at Drum Hill, Robert Benson, Anthony Daykin, Jimmy Knifton. They built a bivi in the woods using sticks and leaves.

Jan 17th 1988 24 hour Dragons and Dungeons

May 23rd to 26th 1987. Drum Hill trip with 168th. Me, Dave Elks, Robert Benson, Mark Benson, Lee Pollard, Matt Lister, Jamie Widdop, Jimmy Knifton, Charlie Binns, Jonathan Jupp, Anthony Daykin.

May 24th 1986. Drum Hill trip. Dave Elks, Matt Lister, Lee Pollard, Roger Godber, Jamie Widdop, Mark Pollard, Jimmy Knifton, Jonny Davis, Jonny Hammond. I didn't go

March 29th 1986. Wetton Mill trip. Me, Dave Elks, Kevin Clarke. Matt Lister, Jurgen ( Dutch friend of Matt ), Jamie Widdop, Mark Antill, Roger Godber, Jamie Widdop, Mark Pollard, Jimmy Knifton.

Saturday 29th - Meet at 8.45am. Me, Min, Mr Antill and My parents all take cars. Get all packed for 9.10am. Matt Lister decides that he has to go home to get a Dutch language guide. Put up the tents in bright sunshine. The scouts run around exploring and then we take then for a walk down to Thor's cave. After we get back the weather worsens to a heavy storm. Beef burghers followed by steam puddings for tea. Dave arrives at 7pm.

Sunday 30th - Wake up and are surprised by a heavy frost. Breakfast of sausage and eggs. Go for a walk by 10am. By this time there is half an inch of snow. Walk up the disused railway to Hulme End. The PL's navigate us back over the ridge. Back for 2.15pm. One by one we lower the scouts down a muddy 20 foot hole on a sticht plate and then drag them. Three lads from Biddulph who were camping near by also get lowered down the hole. Have a campfire sing song ( without the fire ), Matt Lister's birthday.

Monday 31st - Try to find some good abseiling places. Find a good place, very steep. Send a few of them down a steep muddy bank first. Decide not to do the big one due to wet rocks and large snow flakes. Mr Antill comes round to pick Mark up. Go for a cup of tea in the cafe, wait till it is empty first and then pile in, buy them all drinks. Mrs Lister and Jurgens parents turn up to take them home. Cannelloni for tea. The picture shows Mark Pollard after he had just fallen over in the mud for the second time. We all stay in the big brown tent and play Dungeons and Dragons. Play till 3.30am.

Tuesday 1st - Sausages for breakfast, sausages for lunch ( about 7 each ) Pack the tents away in reasonable weather. Mr Antill comes back to help us get the gear home.

June 1985. Drum Hill trip. Me, Dave Elks, Min, Robert Benson, Mark Benson, Matt Lister, Jonathan Jupp, Dave Jerram, Jonny Davis, Jamie Widdop, Mark Pollard, Jimmy Knifton.

Friday 14th - Scouts go on combined maneuvers with Chester Green. Take all the stuff up in the car. A few build bivis in the woods and sleep out.

Saturday 15th - Get up at 7.30am, cook their breakfast. They play games most of the day, rounders mainly. Cook spag bol for tea, a few complaints. Take them for a wide game in the woods. Go down to the Coach with Baz. They are still running around when we get back.

Sunday 16th - Up early, Chester Green lot go off to church. Set off various groups on an initiative hike staring from Drum Hill. I pretend to be a parachutist stuck in a tree and they have to rescue me. They make their way to the Pill boxes above Hazelwood for a wide game.

October 6th 1984 Drum Hill trip

July 1st 1983 Drum Hill trip with 168th Chester Green scouts.

Summer 1975 I go with Little Eaton scouts to the Back Dane house near Gradbach. To get there we are loaded onto the back of an open lorry. We have to crawl under some tarpaulin on the back for protection. On the way there we stop outside a pub. The leaders go in and tell the scouts that they are going in to ask for directions. After we have waited for over half an hour I can remember thinking to myself 'It must be a very difficult place to find!'. I realise years later that they just went in for a drink. I use a similar plan when we take the scouts to Alport Hut. We would stop at the 'Yorkshire Bridge' and tell the scouts that we were nipping in to get the hut key. William Bug later told me that it took him quite a while to realise that the hut did not have a lock.