Post by JEM on Aug 4, 2008 18:00:45 GMT
ARDUDWY ADVENTURER
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CAMP CHRONICLE
CAMP DIARY AUGUST 22nd - 29th 1998
1st Saffron Walden Boys’ Brigade Company Camp 1998 at the West Midlands District Camping Centre Dyffryn Ardudwy, Gwynedd, Mid Wales
DAY ONE. Saturday Aug 22nd.
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Car No 1 with Mission Commander, C.O. Mike Turner and the advance party staff , Lynda and Kathryn Turner. & Rachel Brown arrived on Friday evening
Cars Nos. 2, 3 and 4, and Mini-bus 1 with it’s satellite attached ( Cambridge Hired Trailer) & Mini-bus 2 travelled down on Sat morning.
Car 2 Geoff our Maintenance officer, Rosemary, our Financial Director (Camp Treasurer & Camp Banker), and Stephen Timms.
Car 3 Paul and Jill Player, our Camp Cooks.
Car 4 Ged Pearce our Chaplain and his wife Sue, our Music Co-ordinator
Mini-bus 1 driven by Cliff Goodwin accompanied by his wife Glenys who were our Quartermasters, and by Lieut. Simon Pickhaver our First Aid Officer and Inspection Officer, Staff Sgt Nathaniel Felgate (William) our Fire Officer, with Tent Commander James Cottam (Tent 1) with Darren Player and Scott Cordall, Tent Commander Ryan Cordall (Tent 2) with Matthew Player and Barnaby Linscott, and Tent Commander David Timms(Tent 3) with Nigel Timms and Kieran Egerton
Mini-bus 2 driven by Arthur Coote, it being his vehicle, accompanied by his wife Elaine Coote, who managed the Tuck Shop, and with John Maddams (Mr Madds) our Diarist and Concert Director, Andrew Willitt (Andy), Lyndsey Coote, Rachel Morton and Elizabeth Brown(Liz).
Car No 5 Andrew Heinrich (Heiny) Canvass Inspector remained at Walden until early Monday morning.
Arriving at the common Rosemary saluted Mr Madds, hoping that she would get a good comment in the Camp Diary. He was ready for any weather, wearing a raincoat and a floppy sun hat and warning that a Red Sky in the morning was a shepherd’s warning. He had been saying for weeks that we should have camped in Norfolk this year as all the wet weather of this summer hit Wales first and petered out to nothing by the time in reached East Anglia. (In fact both areas this week had similar weather). Malcolm Brown who was present with his wife Colleen having brought Rachel and Liz down said that a red sky at night is a shepherd’s delight, and there had been a beautiful red sun set. Several other people similarly saluted although the only serving officer present was Simon-no-pen-handy-Pickhaver who was in charge of the Register but had forgotten to bring a biro.
Barnaby’s mother handed him over to Simon’s custody saying “ thank you this camp is very good value.” That was before we started!
The Convoy left Saffron Walden Common just after 6.30am taking the way North via Windmill Hill towards the Motorway network. Mini-bus One leading the way. Arthur tailed him closely in case anyone tried to nick the trailer with all our clothes in. Cliff had some difficulty adjusting to driving a minibus with a trailer. He is used to Eddy Stobart Haulage lorries and Bus Coaches.
The members of Tent 4, introduced us to their mascots, Dopey(Lyndsey), Nick(Liz)
and Brian (from TV’s Zebody) (Rachel).
7.40am Rachel Morton started breakfasting on Crisps.
8.00am Blue skies have appeared but we reckon the lead vehicle has been hijacked. 8.10am Oh no it’s in a lay-by in Leicestershire on the hard shoulder. Have they broken down.? No Cliff is struggling with the trailer load.
8.25am As we neared Rugby in Warwickshire, Chocolate eclairs kept fattening up Andy. Off the M5 we stopped at a services point with a Burger Bar cum Little Chef.
The Gents loos at the former were out of order so we had to queue for the loo at the Little Chef. Then we queued there for coffee. So Cliff decided to have breakfast, a European Special; William and Mr Madds took similar action. All 3 had platefuls of bacon, fried egg, sausages, fried potatoes and fried bread. Arthur on a health diet sat and watched. A delay in serving us meant we left half an hour late. Next stop was at a petrol filling station. At the first pump the hose did not stretch far enough along Arthur’s vehicle. So he moved the bus to another pump only to be greeted
with a notice “Out of Order”. Later on David Timms’ unsettled stomach gave us another chance to stretch our legs as he found a waste bin to deposit his sick bag in. Others of his party suggested that this was brought on by what he had bought at the services stop.
At 12.20pm we were passing through valleys of mysterious hills, overcast by dark brooding clouds, peppered with white sheep with blue crosses on their backs, and cattle laying on the ground and at 12.25pm we entered Gwynedd. Later as Arthur rounded a bend he nearly collided with a stationery Cliff who had stopped so someone could irrigate a ditch. About 12.35pm Cliff had a job getting Mini-bus One through the Brendon Pass and we thought Mini-bus Two might have to give them a push, or we’d all have to get out and push. The sunshine was dappling the hills most beautifully and the views were superb, and the roads lined with ferns. About 1.30 we arrived at the Camp site and had our sandwiches in the Barn before unloading the trailer and moving into our tents. Mr Madds and Andy got told off by the C.O. for isolating themselves from the other staff tents. They were assigned there by Simon Pickhaver as their tent was tent 7 and following the order of boys and girls tents Simon was right. It just meant they were as far as anybody from the loos. It was easier for Mr Madds to find and avoided him straying into the wrong tent.
Eventually after settling in, Mike led a party to the beach. Some were reluctant to go, but most eventually arrived there. Mr Madds stopped on the way at the Caravan Park shop to buy about 40 postcards which with others bought in Barmouth were sent by Neptune to reach about 60 former Proper C.H.A.R.L.I.E.S. (ex- campers) who have camped with us across the years, accompanied by a special 4 page A5 message as from the 15th Assembly of the order. A few mad hardy souls went swimming, while others paddled, and some dug a large hole. Arthur at 49 and Cliff at 58, felt too far over the hill for anything more than sunbathing. Several lads then had to go dune climbing. At least they all kept within a reasonable distance of Mike and Mr Madds roving eyes.
We returned to Camp for an excellent meal of toad in the hole, (Sausages in a Yorkshire pudding), Carrots, Peas and potatoes followed by Iced Cream and fruit thingytail. For which the cooks were applauded. We were advised to hand over our wealth to Rosemary to open the Camp Bank and then take the money out to spend at Elaine’s Tuck Shop in the small dormitory. We were advised that a warning of Fire would be Nathaniel running around yelling “Fire, Fire “ and then we should gather by the gates to the road for roll call of the Camp Register. So we were unprepared when the Fire Alarm bells sounded and when we all got to the gate Nathaniel had forgotten the Register, so Simon had to go back into the supposed blazing inferno to find the register. When Tuck shop was opened Rachel Brown and Kathryn spent £6 to corner the market of a container of 300 sweets originally intended to be sold separately.
All Campers then gathered on the parade ground for the Traditional Rounders Match with Mr Madds scoring. Ryan’s team scored 12 and Cliff’s team scored 5.
William and Kathryn sounded Sunset Retreat, but the Sun refused to set. Later, after dark, and after “Lights Out” for our camp, 51st Birmingham in the next field sounded Sunset Retreat, and then a few moments later the next camp up the lane sounded it on trumpets. We thought it was time to get up again.
At Evening Prayers in the chapel with the swing-back cinema seats, Ged read John 1 v 1-9, We were urged to be still and pray. We sang “Shine, Jesus, shine!” Our orchestra was brilliant. Rosemary, Geoff, Ged, Sue & Rachel. Ged introduced us to the BB Song Book supplement. A special selection, illustrated by Phil we believe. Ged showed us his visual aid, two broom sticks tied together with a window sash cord.
He said that at school he often got his sums wrong in which case he got a X but if right then he got a / tick. He said that the closer we come to God, the more we become aware how wrong we are but the X makes all the difference as it comes apart and does things, as we would learn during the coming week. we then sang “LORD, I lift your Name on high”.(No 10). This was followed by a new song, especially chosen for us by Phil “Teach me to Dance”( No 3).
We then returned to the Barn for cocoa and then to bed (Ha, Ha). Ged asked for a hedgehog. Clive offered to go and catch one, when Ged discovered that William had not brought his glove puppet. The staff met for evening prayers and a discussion about ferrets. Mike and Lynda were on Night Watch duty so most of us wearily went to our sleeping bags, About 3am it began to rain heavily ..
DAY TWO Sunday. August 23rd
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Up with the lark. Andy first person up, followed by Mr Madds and then by Simon and William working together. Paul and Jill were up next, with Paul unable to find the key to unlock the Barn. Simon was Officer of the Day and did it well, but nobody had mentioned where the red arm band was not or that we were wearing a Glengarry, (John’s usually) He learnt at the end of the day. Still he managed well enough without them. We were met with a long cold shower, it rained almost non-stop for 13 hours or more from 3am in the morning till 4.30 in the afternoon. Simon’s tent was well damp and William’s sleeping bag had to be pegged up to dry in the barn. Similarly Kathryn suffered, and water had penetrated all the boys tents causing damp sleeping kit. This was caused by the direction of the wind blowing through their ridge tents instead of against them. Nevertheless the boys rose at Reveille and some of them prepared for Tent Inspection. The result TENT 1. 86% TENT 2 . 82% and TENT 3. 76%. Some tent commanders were trying to do it all themselves without properly delegating jobs to other boys. Geoff warned Rosemary and Mr Madds about the Sign of the Duck banners on the beams which were a shade low. We took good note, but Mr Madds later banged his head on the archway that was not displaying a warning.
We enjoyed the excellent porridge or Co-op Cornflakes and a fried breakfast, toast and marmalade, and coffee or tea. After fatigues some of us played cards or dominoes until it was time for Morning Prayers.
We sang “Meekness and Majesty” ( No.5) followed by a prayer of thanksgiving and then we sang “I want to serve the purpose of God in my generation”. (No 7).
Ged referred to a much earlier camping situation, 2 camps in fact on opposite hillsides. The Israelites and the Philistines. They were there to do battle, but the Israelites were running scared because the other side had a giant of a man as their champion. Ged reckoned it was someone a bit like Cliff, strong sturdy tall, but much more aggressive. There champion called Goliath was 9 feet tall. Ged put his two broomsticks together to define 9 feet, and came up with about 7½ feet.
“Give me a man to fight with “ was Goliath’s taunt as he stood their defying Israel and Israel’s God. Young David the son of Jesse of Bethlehem arrived at the Israeli camp with food for his brothers. Some of the soldiers told him about Goliath and the threats he was making and that the king had offered a large sum of money and one of whose daughters as wife to any man who would stand against Goliath.
David was upset by the cowardice of his own side whinging and whining and the disgrace of it towards God. They had forgotten that they were the chosen people of God and He would defend them. David said “I’ll go. God will win!” Rejecting heavy armour David went into battle using the weapon he had already killed both a lion and a bear with when they had attacked his father’s sheep, a sling and some pebbles, reckoned as being about the size of cricket balls and travelling from a sling at about 100 miles an hour.
David’s determination was that the whole world should know that there is a God in Israel and the battle belonged to the LORD. We too can get help from the LORD. What ever trouble we face we can ask God to help and He will make all the difference.
We then sang “ In Heavenly armour we’ll enter the land, the battle belongs to the LORD” (No 25) and after prayers we sang “ Show your power O Lord” (No 28) and “We shall stand with our feet on the rock” (No 31).
After our morning worship as the rain poured down we sat in the Barn, thankful that we had it to sit in, playing bogut ( a word game), scrabble, dominoes or cards. Ryan using a set of questions belonging to Matthew which he had had as a present quizzed Mr Madds and was surprised at how knowledgeable he was although for one or two he had to ask the learned people, like Geoff, Arthur and Simon.
We all ate a hearty lunch of chicken, stuffing, 3 vegetables, and peach trifle or fruit thingytail. We had just about finished when the Smoke Alarm in the barn dining area went off John and Arthur attempted to stop it and appeared to have been successful but about 10 minutes later all the Smoke Alarms throughout the complex went off went off. Cliff and Geoff and Simon went into action, and eventually the Warden came to investigate and call the provider to send someone out to deal with the problem, and the battery operated back up system was turned off.
The rain having eased a bit, the C.O. decided to send us to Barmouth. So minibus One and Two sped south along the wet roads to this little seaside town on the estuary of the Mawddach and we parked on the seafront.
The windswept beach was populated by a couple of walkers and a dog, although further along the front as we drove in to town a group of about 5 bathers were seen in the surf. We made for the fair ground much of which was shut up with tarpaulin covers but the Dodgems were in operation with about 3 or4 cars in use so one of our 3 groups indulged 30 shillings. (£1.50) for a bumpy ride.
Although called Dodgems with a notice on display warning “Do not collide head on” Andy seized the wheel and drove my car round the circuit the wrong way colliding with every car in sight, and each tome I thought my lunch was coming up. When we returned on our way back to the transport Cliff’s group was having a go, so the Dodgems staff had a better day than they would have had.
Most members of the public appeared to be shopping and we joined them. Arthur was searching for a children’s Bingo set so we could use it as a wet day activity, but I do not think we found one. It was sad to see that at least 4 of the Church buildings had been closed and reopened, 3 as bargain shops and 1 as an Art Exhibition hall. We bought gifts for folk back home and postcards and a beach ball. Another of our groups also bought a beach ball. Great minds thinking alike.. Returning to the vehicles about 20 people were spotted on the beach. We returned to camp as the clouds parted and the sun shone through and back on site a bit of football was played.
After an enjoyable tea we had Band practice in the court yard with a bit of improvisation as Andrew Heinrich had not yet arrived at camp and we was supposed to be bringing the drum sticks. However wooden sthingys were put into service and Cliff suggested sawing up Ged’s broom handles but this temptation was resisted.
After a good bash and blow we went onto the camp parade ground and played Cricket with Arthur bowling and Mr Madds scoring. Matt’s team scored 51 Darren’s 44 so we called it a draw. Sue hair dried herself after the Match.
For Choral evensong we sang, “Jesus is the Name we honour”. and “ Shine Jesus Shine”. We plan camps because God wants us to do so. Some times our plans have to be changed like when it’s wet. But God is unchanging, steadfast and faithful. I think this was led by Rosemary. .
David Timms had lost a hair grip and kept telling us. What does he use a hair grip for. The C.O. was trying to repair his submergible wrist watch which he wore in the shower. Various night patrols guarded us from the level crossing ( Simon, Will and John about 1am) to the beach( Will, Kathryn and Rachel, got back just after midnight) and around the camp site .
Two tents previously laced up became unlaced before 12.30am but if there was an alien about he decided not to abduct David and his friends. According to a conversation in one tent interesting things can be downloaded from the Internet which Interpol are trying to deal with. What began as a bright star filled sky soon clouded over and by 1am the wind was getting up.
The night watch had a friendly chat with the Centre’s 2 cats, and a tent commander out for a stroll. Before we retired for a peaceful night. And as Cliff had said earlier “only wake me in an extreme emergency
DAY 3 MONDAY. AUGUST 24th
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We had a breezy night. The tents were still standing at 3am and when I got up again at 6. Timmy or is it Tiger had visited Arthur’s tent at 1.30am Is that where he went after our conversation with him. He also visited Cliff and Glenys, we were told Cliff kicked it out so it sought refuge with Mike, poor little thing. Arthur did not see it quite that way.
Kathryn played Reveille as Simon and Will were dead to the world. Arthur and Elaine began fortifying their tent, with bits of wood from the fireplace at the Centre, and stone from the natural stone walls, to make it cat-proof. Inspection Results [1] 81% [2] 82% [3] 84%. “Thought for the Day” was led by Mike and Lynda .
We sang “Give thanks” (No 24) we gave thanks there has been no rain. Apart from it raining cats! Ged urged us to ask “Who am I” against time and space. In fact God has a plan for each of us. We also sang “ Jesus put a song into our hearts”. Groups of campers went canoeing and climbing. Heiny had a bit of a fright when he fell 10 feet.
I spent a blissful hour on my own, monarch of all I could survey, the Camping Centre whose Warden had left me in sole charge, and the Camp site as Andy had gone off shopping with Mike. and. I had my command position near the chapel guarding both entrances writing my postcards and a song for the concert. Here I was accompanied by several sparrows, a great tit, and a robin, A bull finch was chirruping away close by.
Mike arrived back in a flat spin, he’d lost his mobile phone, we felt marooned!...He found it later. Later Cliff and Glenys returned bringing David and Heather Yule with them having been to Barmouth together. David and heather had travelled over the mountains from their coffee shop bringing us home made scones. .
Later Ged and Sue sat outside their tent in the sunshine. It got quite hot. I had retreated to a cool veranda. By early afternoon Paul and Jill were back preparing a meal Rosemary and Stephen were playing on the field. Most of the boys and young officers were away mountaineering or canoeing.
As Officer of the Day I walked the boundaries of our domain up to the only trees on the field by the babbling brook now in full flood. The weekend rains caused localised flooding in our part of Wales.
Eric Hudson from Brigade Headquarters, and a local inspecting officer a friend of Malcolm’s apparently called, but Mike was away. I dealt with them.
The Climbers and Canoeists returned all very wet and muddy . or dirty and sore. We delayed tea as it was all hands to the washing machine to wash garments and get them on my washing line across the court yard to dry in the evening sunshine.
We ate well again Shepherds Pie, followed by peaches, and scones for some.
After tea I think we played cricket again between Cliff’s team with 65 and Elizabeth’s. With 68 Another tie.
Monday’s Cricket Match
Elizabeth’s Team
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Matthew 6
James 10
Barnaby 9
Nigel 5
Rachel 6
Lyndsey 9
Heiny 15
Elizabeth 8
TOTAL 68
Cliff’s Team
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Ryan 2
Scott 7
David 3
Kieran 3
Elaine 5
Cliff 11
Geoff 11
Will 10
Darren 13
Total 65
At Evening Prayers, we sang “Teach me to dance” we thought about a modern mugging, and the ideas from the story of the Good Samaritan., Luke 10v 25. Who is my neighbour? Go and do likewise. The broom handles became a crucifix and then an empty cross. Faith in Jesus keeps us safe, not through our own efforts. To go to Heaven, through Jesus Christ, is the only way. God sent Jesus to make a way. We sang “Freely, Freely we have received, freely, freely, give”. f
The C.O. and the O of D vied with each other in sartorial nonsense to keep warm Mr Madds got out his balaclava and gloves. It was a cold starry night again.
DAY 4 TUESDAY AUGUST 25th
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Tent inspection [1] 83% [2] 80% [3] 75%. Arthur and Elaine leading “Thought for the day” urged us to join God’s team. Today we could have sung
“The rains came down, and the floods came up, and we all got wet” for that is what happened. This was the day we went to Harlech Castle It poured in torrent. We had a lovely view of the rain clouds from the battlements. We noted that it had no roof so the Welsh must have run out of money. Is that why they joined England?. Heiny and Arthur gave guided tours, but from very different historical viewpoints Heiny’s seemed pro-English. Arthur with Welsh blood in his veins told us the Welsh version how the English had never succeeded in conquering the castle. Then they did not need to, they built it! Arthur missed that . I did not make much difference really we still got jolly wet. After sheltering in the Castle bookshop, we besieged a small cafe, which we proceeded to take over forcing the locals to shift for themselves.
From there some of us took Arthur’s short cut to the car park, through the rain forest.
How convenient it is to have a “local” for a guide, but I don’t think he had been here lately. We returned to a lovely meal of fish, or turkey burger, beans, sweet corn followed by bread pudding.
After Lunch any and Matt tried their hand at putting together a model of the castle. Some folks went for a free swim. Others played card games, word games or fought each other with “toy” swords. Elizabeth had bought a Sheep money box to save up to buy a sheep. I suppose that is to help keep the Manse lawns cut, save old Malcolm a job with the mower. The sheep strayed a bit. Others played their musical instruments.
DAY 5 WEDNESDAY AUGUST 26th
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The new broom( Arthur) in charge today appeared to be angling for promotion, chivvying everyone to tidy up as the barn was beginning to look like a jumble sale after the crowds had gone.. The Junior staff particularly came under fire and all their gear disappeared out of sight and out of mind, but it only took them a few minutes to get it all back more untidy than ever Mr Madds tried to sweeten him up (creep!) by obtaining flowers to grace his table, from the byre on the far side of the site which was in full flood. Monbretia growing wild in abundance, and other wild flowers of the field that townsfolk mistakenly call weeds. What looks better than a nice bright dandelion. The Tidy Team had to double up.
John (Mr Madds) led “Thought for the Day” and with volunteers holding up the pictures he spoke about bees living in a hive, they all have different jobs, There are guard bees, undertaker bees, collector bees, plasterer bees, fanner bees and scout bees. Similarly we at camp all have different jobs to do for the good of us all. So with life, God has a job, as part of His grand design for everyone here and if you don’t yet know what it is He will one day make it clear to you. We sang
“I the LORD of sea and Sky”
After prayers some played rummy. Our First Aider dealt with a wasp sting. A West Indian friend called seeking some one on the site next door. Some of our folk went riding. Barnaby fell off.
We had a cricket match that seemed to go on all day as everyone on camp was wheeled in to try to beat the top scorer, Mr Madds who managed to get 18, he normally gets a duck. It was Arthur’s year for the duck and Elaine got one too. Matt Player managed finally to equalise with 18 but then he too was out. For lunch we had pork chops, stuffing, 3 veg followed by apple crumble.
In the afternoon we made for the hills to seek some shade. Mr Madds went to
post the last of the postcards in the village and found us via a twitchell up the side of the cemetery. Over the hills we moved among the sheep and the dragons caves slipping and sliding with the CO using a small gauge map with Heiny trying to find the way. Heiny kept take free lance photography shots of the river having learnt that a photographer can make as much selling the right kind of photo as Heiny can make in a week. James went lame, assisted first with a Band-Aid, then no socks, just in his boots and finally barefooted. He seemed in a lot of discomfiture and it slowed him down, but he was the first into the cooling waters of the stream when we all arrived at the picnic area. Ryan, Matt, Kieran did not waste time in donning trunks and joining him swinging across the pool from a rope from a tree. Gradually the madness spread. Elizabeth went wading, until Mike went out on the rope and into the water fully clothed to raise money for the Camp Appeal for the BMS for refitting Yakusu Hospital as had been described to us by mr Madds earlier in the week..
David kicked the football in the river and then hazarded his life to retrieve it for it only cost £3. Mr Madds thereafter tackled the ball several times to turn it from the river but finally Scott booted it back in and William waded out to rescue it. Cliff, Glenys and Sue arrived in the mini-bus with the food . and most of us visited the waterfall Simon checked out James’s foot and back and we had a happy ride home. Back in the loo someone was popular for causing quite an aroma and we had to open all the windows. After tea and cakes the Band practised in the courtyard with Andy Willitt on the tambourine after Mike had found him a different shirt as the slogan he was advertising was a bit rude. An officer from the Birmingham camp joined in on th trumpet. We had quite an audience from passers by in the lane. The Band played Sunset Retreat Groups played rummy, noughts and crosses or just practised sleeping.
Ged woke us up at evening prayers and we sang “God is our Father”, Ged reminded us Jesus was a real person, a proven fact of history, seen by many eyewitnesses. Amongst the Gospel writers was Dr Luke, he interviewed many people who actually knew Jesus personally. Great crowds followed Jesus. He was a sensation and he did sensational things. Ged told us about Jesus and his fishermen friends and using his broomhandles as oars he made them again into a cross Jesus urged them then and us now not to be afraid of anything but trust him to help. Peter ‘s life was changed and he like several of them changed their oars to a cross of service as a leader of Christ’s people in the years ahead. We sang “Rejoice, Rejoice, Christ is in you”.
For lights out Kathryn learnt High G. Several of our girls chatted up a group of 51st Birmingham BB boys across the dividing wall.
DAY 6 THURSDAY AUGUST 27th
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A cold start to the day with a heavy dew and a lot of folk still recovering from the Long “March” yesterday found it hard to get up. But 70% of the population share that problem. The cats visited Jill’s tent. For breakfast we had lovely waffles, eggs and bacon. Inspection results Tent 1 80% Tent 2 85% Tent 3 78%h
Heiny gave us the “Thought for the Day”. With 5 days gone what is the hardest thing to do at camp? Stay awake till 1am.? Sleep with a cat? Swing on a rope across a river? The LORD says “Don’t worry, trust me!” Trust in ropes and in 3 companions is what I had to do on Monday when I fell 10 feet climbing. Some things let us down , but God doesn’t. God says that He will trust us, and protect us in danger. Daniel was arrested because of his faith in God, and thrown into gaol and into a den of lions, Daniel did not stand a chance, yet the lions left him alone. We all know it is not always so easy but you / we have got to trust God completely with our lives not just in emergencies. We closed with “You are the Rock”
Various groups set out. There were The Walkers and Sue spent 3 hours awaiting their return. She thought them lost. Still she had a nice rest. Regarding The Climbers. James hurt his elbow this time and Barnaby grazed his knee, but the mountain suffered no irreparable damage. The Canoeists found it rather cold and muddy and Darren did not much like having to jump into a canoe from a bridge. But they came through unscathed and smiling. Even Nigel learned from the experience. Ryan was unable to go climbing as he was ill. We are told he had had 5 helpings of Waffles. Still he recovered pretty quickly. Some of us played Mallet Ball hitting a large beach ball around the field with a tent mallet. Will this new game make the Olympics? We doubt it. Elaine, Arthur, Paul, Cliff and Jill went putting. Jill did a hole in 1 thanks to Arthur moving his foot the ball ricocheting down the hole. Kathryn was pleased with her exam results. We received a letter from the Honeymooners, Emma and Andy, (Mr & Mrs Andrew Turner) with special greetings to the first time campers and to Andy Willitt. The Camp Appeal stands at £42 now. At tea we had guests an West Indian officer and two boys , Dalton, Richard and Jo. from a Birmingham company that had closed down They joined in our evening game of rounders.
At Prayers Ryan welcomed us at the door as at each service, giving out the books with a smile and a welcome. Ged thought about the day. Up Everest and along the Amazon basin. First time abseiling. First or third time still doesn’t make it any easier. Canoeists , no sane people would do that. All wet and cold in a dirty river. We sang Cliff’s request “Be still for the presence of the LORD the Holy one is here”. Ged had got tired moving the video tripod about throughout the week Arthur had volunteered to carry the case. From that we moved to 4 friends carrying a paralysed man and letting him down through a roof to the feet of Jesus as mentioned in Marks’ Gospel. Their faith was rewarded. How much did those men love that man? They cared so much The equipment weighed a bit. Are we prepared to make that kind of sacrifice, Jesus loved us that much. We had our coffee and went to our beds tired and happy, except the girls chatting up the boys from Brum, quite a nice sensible bunch, both the bunch of boys, and the bunch of girls. They included Harriet and Daniel, . They come from a Methodist Church.
Cliff, Glenys and John played Rummy until 12.15 and then walked up the lane to find the 3 musketeers. They returned about 12.30 marching briskly down the lane. Well they have done us all proud this week so they deserved a break.
DAY SIX FRIDAY. AUGUST 28th
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Strange. Arthur Coote is officer of the Day again, is this promotion? No he was standing in temporary as Mike was laying out a tent for inspection to show how it really should be done.. The 3 musketeers made their position very clear. On their tent was pinned a notice. “DO NOT DISTURB for Reveille”
Mr Madds went to the beach as marker for the Camp Fun Run. Andy Willitt started the race off using Mr Madds’s water cannon, and then sprayed the front runners on their return to cool them down. First back was Simon Pickhaver. Followed 13 seconds later by Andrew Heinrich, and then 24 seconds later by Darren Player. Cliff in the Veterans class was a creditable 13th in 23 minutes 6 seconds. 2 apparently had a piggy back so were disqualified. The shame of it. Joel, our young West Indian friend from the Caravan came 8th but it brought on an asthma attack. Brave lad for taking part.
THE CAMP FUN RUN 1998
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Simon Pickhaver 13.28
Andrew Heinrich 13.41
Darren Player lst Boy 14.05
Scott Cordall 2nd Boy 14.58
James Cottam 3rd Boy 15.11
David Timms 15.44
Matthew Player 16.17
Joel Williams 17.03
Kieran Egerton 20.30
Ryan Cordall 22.54
Cliff Goodwin 23.06
Inspection Tent One 85% Tent 2 82% Tent 3 78%. Mike’s kit was described by the Inspecting Officer as a shambles.(How dare he?. He’s not coming next year!) he said there was wet kit in the in the bag. Mike said that was Lynda’s. Why do the women always end up with the blame?.
Sue Pearce led “Thought for the Day” and we sang “Only by grace can we enter” .Sue had a black rubbish bag with various rubbish in it. She referred to life at Windsor and the way they sort out the rubbish into salvageable kinds, plastics, glass, tins, paper, and kitchen waste for composting.
Sue demonstrated that she was the biggest bit of rubbish of the lot. Just as compost does not stay in it’s original form but has to be broken down into a fine useable soil, so we have to be broken down to the size God can use. We cannot afford to stagnate. To fit in with his plans for us we have to change. We have to be born again, we have to start again, to become something beautiful for Jesus. and acceptable in God’s Kingdom. If we are to be as fine compost it is in order that we shall grow, and be used to help others to grow into something fruitful for God. We closed with singing “All I once held dear, built my life upon, I have counted lost , spent and worthless now , compared with this ”Knowing you Jesus knowing you, there is no greater thing”. I
Much of today was free time with various sorties in to town for gifts for those back home. John and Andy slipped into Barmouth to get some photocopying done and buy some material for the evening performance. They visited several ladies clothes shops seeking the right dress, at the right price, and the staff were quite chuffed that their garment was going to aid such a worthy charity as the B.B. The duplicating done on one side at a shop that then ran out of toner was finished off at an Estate agent’s whose manageress knew Saffron Walden well and was happy to give BB a cheap rate. Most people relaxed in the afternoon or practised their concert items around the camp site. After tea it got underway.
Neptune’s Royal Command Performance
THE ARDUDWY REVIEW 1998 The Bill
1 Introduction John with pressed men David, Kieran, Stephen, Nigel holding up illustrations
2 12.53 Round One James, Ryan, Matthew, Darren & victims
3 THE PRESENT. A poem about the cat Arthur and Elaine
4 Ticket to ride Ged
5 Guys and Dolls Can Can Lyndsey, Rachel Morton, Liz Brown, Barnaby and Scott
Interval to replace the withdrawn item The Casualty Numbers were drawn from Nepp’s hat against Numbers on papers for each member of the audience and prizes distributed by David, Kieran, and Scott who would have taken part in The Casualty. Our answer to the lottery.
6 Kit e kat another poem about the cat by Mr Madds
7 Observations of a First time full time camper Sue
8 The Barn Dance by Andy, Sue, Jed, audience
9 12.53 Final round as for 2 plus survivors
10 Arthur’s Games, Arthur, audience and victims
11 Mini Jinx Olympics Lyndsey, Rachel Morton, Liz
12 Kitchen Capers Paul, Cliff, Glenys. Jill
13 T C I Friday Andrew, (Heiny) Nathaniel (William) Simon, Kathryn, & Rachel Brown
14 Maestro of Magic Andy and Cliff
15 The C .O. ’s SONG written by a group Sung by Mike
16 Neptune The Reading of the Certificate by the CO. New Campers sign the Roll by Mike and John(Mr Madds
17 The Presentations by Mike
Mr Madds sang between acts “Puff the Magic Dragon lived by the sea at a little place called Dyffryn Ardudwy ”. But the audience did not rise to it and it was a bit tedious and dated!.
Neptune having been marginalised in recent years got the job this year of opening and closing the curtains. Actually he sorted out the programme and then got his good friend, and former Court Attendant, Arthur, to be Compere.
Apparently Neptune has turned English nationalist as he had a blue brimmed white top hat with the red cross of St George on it. Either he’s joined the Red Cross or he was hoping to see England win the world Cup or the Euro Cup, any cup would do. Some hopes.
Actually he was a member of England’s premier national patriotic society, The Royal Society of St George that raises money for charities and promotes English heritage, culture, history, language and literature, world-wide.
Items were many and varied as usual and Arthur’s games were absolutely hilarious and involved a great deal of energy and ingenuity on the part of the participants. I think from memory the Heiny won, if he didn’t he certainly deserved to.
Towards the end Neptune welcomed the First year Campers and they signed the Roll of Campers from 1981 onwards. This represented the 15th gathering of our order of proper CHARLIES. After the concert we had refreshments on hamburgers.
Nathaniel was taken ill during the concert after his act and was sick. He had to be put to bed and on Saturday was taken home by Ged in his car , his mates packing up his possessions. He reckons it was something he drunk. That is river water the day before when canoeing. He recovered in a day or two. He was hoping to serve with “Time for God” in the Birmingham area.
Sue’s Observations of a First full time Camper
To attend camp must like damp bedding and alternate wet and dry days
Good weather all the time is no good to an expert camper.
A good camper loves cats.
Games These are serious. When you are “in” you are “out” on the field
Only when Arthur says are you “out” or “in” depending what game you are playing.
John’s runs are the ones to be beaten.
Women only bat when Arthur says so
and you are never “out” on a first ball
especially if you are Elaine.
Captain can never be found when needed
just like the Chaplain, especially
if it’s washing up time.
Chaplains job is very serious and takes a great deal of thought
with your eyes shut and has not to be disturbed
at such times.
Cliff is to be honoured and cared for at all times.
Never upset Cliff as your life may depend on him
in the mini bus.
Glenys’s tent is the yard stick we all measure
our tents by and fail miserably
( I hear she has her hoover in the bus!)
The boys in tents 1, 2, 3, are the only ones
who can wash without towels.
Do they have hot air dryers?
If something is lost it’s bound to be found on the Junior staff table
under the invaluable rubbish, sorry, camp equipment,
needed for the smooth running of the Camp
Wet clothing, towels and tea towels must be hidden
so that the women on the camp can have
their daily excitement of finding it & drying it
(We do like our fun)
Bugle calls must be different every day
to confuse first time campers or we must camp next to
another BB Camp who can’t tell the time and you get an echo.
THE C. O, ’s SONG composed by a group of people and sung by him to the tune of “Much Binding in the Marsh”.
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
A crowd of Campers travelled down to Wales
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
They travelled up the hills and down the dales.
Two mini-buses took them there and several little cars.
They took their Tuck shop with them, so many chocolate bars
The drivers of the mini-buses really have been stars.
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
The Player’s have been feeding up the Campers
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
They even provided picnic hampers
Cliff has been helping, he doe the shopping too.
He peels the veg and drives the bus What more could he do?
Perhaps next year he’ll bring a brush so he can clean the Loo!
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
Our camp site is right by Dyffryn station
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
We’ve all enjoyed the beauty of Creation
At night we’ve been visited by a black and furry puss
He sat on Arthur’s sleeping head, poor Arthur made a fuss.
He gathered up his sleeping bag and spent the night in his bus
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
A train, took us up to Harlech Castle
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
It rained so hard we wrapped ourselves like parcels
We climbed to the battlement to get a better view
But when we got to the top it was raining up there too
So we all took refuge in a cafe led by ged and Sue
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
Some brave campers spent the day at the rock face
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
Beth led them up to the right place
they climbed the rocks and abseiled down it really was quite steep
Andrew Heinrich scared them all by falling down 10 feet
But Simon’s fear was worse still. Would he have enough to eat.
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
Some went canoeing in the water
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
They learned a lot all doing what they ought a
They paddled up the estuary - all that muscle power,
But when they scraped the mud off they did not smell like flowers.
They even persuaded Nigel to almost take a shower
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
Wasps have been patrolling our camp site
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
Giving sweet eaters quite a fright
James was stung on the arm - it didn’t spoil his games
He hurt his foot on the walk so went barefoot down the lanes.
And who scraped his elbow when rock climbing? Yes! Our James!
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
Inter camp relations have been blooming
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
Is this the result of all the grooming?
Our campers are so friendly affection soon grows
Walls between camp sites- no problems can they pose.
Now Lyndsey is the owner of a beautiful red rose!
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
Our week together is nearly at a close
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
Where will we camp next year-who knows?
If this has been your first camp, we hope you’ve had some fun
and will want to come again next year whether in rain or sun
and tell your mates about it so they’ll want to come,
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
After refreshments we gathered in the Chapel for a Service of worship, Matt was also unwell.
We sang The Servant King “From Heaven He came” Ged told us about Tom. He was one of a gang, they did a lot of crazy things and got into all sorts of scrapes, then the leader got arrested, and executed. Tom took it very hard. News reached them that somehow their leader had defied death and pulled through. Other members of the gang rejoiced but Tom would not believe unless he could see the wounds in the living body of his leader, a few days later he had the opportunity, and then he believed but Jesus said “Happy are those who do not see yet believe”. He was referring to the millions that would join that gang down the centuries and who still await the leader’s return to wind up human affairs and usher in God’s Kingdom rule on Earth.
Ged said “Jesus is my LORD, my GOD. Put Him first. He loves the people I really care about. He offers us new life, new hope. Only Jesus can bring us into God’s presence. Jesus is very real to me. He slowly became real to me 25 years ago. He scared me to bits. Jesus stands at the door of your life today and knocks. He wants to bring you before God as his brother and friend, He knocked and I ignored Him.
I did not understand or know much. I had a free choice. I thank God that I opened the door. It was the real beginning of my life. He became my LORD and my Saviour.
He wants to become that to you. We sang. “My Jesus, my Saviour”.
Ged said “We are gathered here. Some of us know Jesus well. Some trust Him. Some seek Him.
Keep an open mind about Jesus. I grew up in total ignorance of Jesus. Some have suffered greatly because they know Jesus
Ged invited us to a celebration. He took a loaf of bread and he said ”I see this loaf of bread and I remember Jesus died for me. Share this amongst you. The wine reminds me of the Promise I have made to You. ”. we were then all invited up to be prayed for by Ged and Sue, or Arthur and Elaine. or Mike and Lynda. Most people shared in the loaf We closed by singing “LORD we lift your name on high”.
While we were at Communion more cars of the South Staffs Battalion arrived some towing caravans which they parked in the Courtyard car park making it difficult for our drivers to get in and out of their cars. From two of the cars or caravanns cables had been run across the pathway to the women’s Toilet and shower block and into the Gents loo along the floor past each cubicle into the electrical area next to the showers and into the Wall socket. They were overloading the socket and they left the door of that area unlocked and the cables were a potential danger to anyone tripping over them. Cliff, Paul, Geoff were quite incensed about this and the fact that an advance guard of allegedly about 50 had descended upon us instead of the normal 4.
Mr Madds being a bit mad about it too wrote the recalcients an unsigned letter to the effect that their action contravened Brigade Regulations, Insurance Regulations, Health & Safety Regulations, British Government Regulations and European Regulations and that the cables should either be suitably covered or hoisted to a safe level over the heads of anyone wishing to use the toilets.
He then disconnected the cables and he and Geoff moved them right back to the caravans and stuck the note in the middle of them.
Checking an hour or so later Mr Madds found about 10 of them and the Centre Warden in earnest conversation and another hour later the note and the cables had disappeared.
Most of the advance party whom we met the next day we friendly people and included quite a lot of boys and girls of Company Section age, they had a lot of additional tents to erect. Their Cook who was up early with our officers shaving was a friendly jovial chap too.
Some of them were apparently a bit noisy around midnight and our C.O. had occasion to ask them to tone it down a bit. When I retired about 1am there was some noise coming from their circus marquee but nothing disturbing.
I recall their arrival one year at Bembridge on the Friday in the empty field opposite. I thought it was a fair coming or some kind of tournament, so many cars, vans, tents like an army preparing for battle. Our agent in the South Staffs Battalion has reported back to us since their version of events that evening. Some of the SS folk are a shade rough and ready.
DAY EIGHT Saturday August 29th
==============================
We rose and had breakfast. We received a “Thank You” card from Dalton, Joel and Richard. We packed up and we sold off the remaining Tuck Shop tuck and closed the Camp Bank. We Packed up, loaded the transport and tidied up the site and we had a fine old time sluicing and brushing all the ground sheets and putting them out to dry.
At morning prayers we sang “Shine, Jesus shine”, we considered clearing up, but we should always make time for God. Give thanks. Simon Peter was a fisherman . Jesus described him as The Rock on which I will build my Church. He meant actually Peter’s faith was the rock on which he would build his Church, as others joined Peter in believing that he was the Messiah, the anointed son of God. { not just on Peter which is the argument for having the Bishop of Rome as Pope supposedly being a successor of Peter). Like him we have an inheritance that can never fade, but if we go on with God, we each must bear our personal cross daily. That is we must surrender our own will to doing what He wants us to do. Are we ready for that? We sang once again. “Teach me to Dance”. After a final Sunset Retreat in the hot sunshine we climbed aboard and set forth East for home. The Mini buses stopped for a time at a picnic area and for those who slept we soon arrived home.
DAY NINE Sunday August 30th
===========================
A goodly number of us met for the Campers Service on Sunday morning.
By way of introduction we sang “Only by Grace” and “To be in Thy Presence”
Mike welcomed everyone
We sang “Jesus is the Name we honour”
Arthur and Elaine led prayers of thanksgiving.
Ryan testified to what camp was like. New friends. New faces. Had a great time. He gave out the books at the services.
We sang “Teach me to dance”
Then Andy Heinrich made some comments from his experience on the mountain side when he fell 10 feet, how we have to trust people. people who hold ropes, canoe instructors, night duty staff, those who prepare our food, drivers, and so on. Sometimes they may let us down. But we have to trust God all the time like Daniel did. God wont let us down. If he seems to it is because He is actually with us sharing and enduring the experience with us.
The offering was collected and received during it the music group played “Give Thanks” and after it had been received we sang that.
Sue shared some comments
We sang “ You are my all in all”
Mike made some comments
We sang “I, the LORD of sea and sky”
John led our prayers of Intercession for the BB Family, for Nathaniel, for Cliff out on the road in his haulage vehicle, for Paul about his duties, for Dalton, Joel and Richard from Birmingham that they might find a new Company to join. For Daniel and his mates of the 51st Birmingham Company, for the 200 campers of the South Staffs Battalion now using the site. Then we prayed for the people of Wales, the Christians at Dyffryn Ardudwy, for all the 187 Proper CHARLIES where ever they are today. and for all the 320 boys who have been members of our company since 1980
For all the leaders and members of all out youth organisations. For Yakusu Hospital Congo the project of our Camp appeal.
Then we sang “In Heavenly armour”
Ged spoke. Of mop handles, of David and Goliath, David leader of the army of Israel
David the King, and of another greater king, who bought our freedom on a Cross
This week we have looked at the Cross and at our personal cross
We remember the paralysed man and the faith of his friends.
We sang “My Jesus, my Saviour”
The Benediction
We adjourned for refreshments. Simon operated the overhead projector.
And so the diary of Camp ’98 ends,
See you at East Runton Norfolk next year or at Bembridge Isle of Wight in AD 2000
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CAMP CHRONICLE
CAMP DIARY AUGUST 22nd - 29th 1998
1st Saffron Walden Boys’ Brigade Company Camp 1998 at the West Midlands District Camping Centre Dyffryn Ardudwy, Gwynedd, Mid Wales
DAY ONE. Saturday Aug 22nd.
====================
Car No 1 with Mission Commander, C.O. Mike Turner and the advance party staff , Lynda and Kathryn Turner. & Rachel Brown arrived on Friday evening
Cars Nos. 2, 3 and 4, and Mini-bus 1 with it’s satellite attached ( Cambridge Hired Trailer) & Mini-bus 2 travelled down on Sat morning.
Car 2 Geoff our Maintenance officer, Rosemary, our Financial Director (Camp Treasurer & Camp Banker), and Stephen Timms.
Car 3 Paul and Jill Player, our Camp Cooks.
Car 4 Ged Pearce our Chaplain and his wife Sue, our Music Co-ordinator
Mini-bus 1 driven by Cliff Goodwin accompanied by his wife Glenys who were our Quartermasters, and by Lieut. Simon Pickhaver our First Aid Officer and Inspection Officer, Staff Sgt Nathaniel Felgate (William) our Fire Officer, with Tent Commander James Cottam (Tent 1) with Darren Player and Scott Cordall, Tent Commander Ryan Cordall (Tent 2) with Matthew Player and Barnaby Linscott, and Tent Commander David Timms(Tent 3) with Nigel Timms and Kieran Egerton
Mini-bus 2 driven by Arthur Coote, it being his vehicle, accompanied by his wife Elaine Coote, who managed the Tuck Shop, and with John Maddams (Mr Madds) our Diarist and Concert Director, Andrew Willitt (Andy), Lyndsey Coote, Rachel Morton and Elizabeth Brown(Liz).
Car No 5 Andrew Heinrich (Heiny) Canvass Inspector remained at Walden until early Monday morning.
Arriving at the common Rosemary saluted Mr Madds, hoping that she would get a good comment in the Camp Diary. He was ready for any weather, wearing a raincoat and a floppy sun hat and warning that a Red Sky in the morning was a shepherd’s warning. He had been saying for weeks that we should have camped in Norfolk this year as all the wet weather of this summer hit Wales first and petered out to nothing by the time in reached East Anglia. (In fact both areas this week had similar weather). Malcolm Brown who was present with his wife Colleen having brought Rachel and Liz down said that a red sky at night is a shepherd’s delight, and there had been a beautiful red sun set. Several other people similarly saluted although the only serving officer present was Simon-no-pen-handy-Pickhaver who was in charge of the Register but had forgotten to bring a biro.
Barnaby’s mother handed him over to Simon’s custody saying “ thank you this camp is very good value.” That was before we started!
The Convoy left Saffron Walden Common just after 6.30am taking the way North via Windmill Hill towards the Motorway network. Mini-bus One leading the way. Arthur tailed him closely in case anyone tried to nick the trailer with all our clothes in. Cliff had some difficulty adjusting to driving a minibus with a trailer. He is used to Eddy Stobart Haulage lorries and Bus Coaches.
The members of Tent 4, introduced us to their mascots, Dopey(Lyndsey), Nick(Liz)
and Brian (from TV’s Zebody) (Rachel).
7.40am Rachel Morton started breakfasting on Crisps.
8.00am Blue skies have appeared but we reckon the lead vehicle has been hijacked. 8.10am Oh no it’s in a lay-by in Leicestershire on the hard shoulder. Have they broken down.? No Cliff is struggling with the trailer load.
8.25am As we neared Rugby in Warwickshire, Chocolate eclairs kept fattening up Andy. Off the M5 we stopped at a services point with a Burger Bar cum Little Chef.
The Gents loos at the former were out of order so we had to queue for the loo at the Little Chef. Then we queued there for coffee. So Cliff decided to have breakfast, a European Special; William and Mr Madds took similar action. All 3 had platefuls of bacon, fried egg, sausages, fried potatoes and fried bread. Arthur on a health diet sat and watched. A delay in serving us meant we left half an hour late. Next stop was at a petrol filling station. At the first pump the hose did not stretch far enough along Arthur’s vehicle. So he moved the bus to another pump only to be greeted
with a notice “Out of Order”. Later on David Timms’ unsettled stomach gave us another chance to stretch our legs as he found a waste bin to deposit his sick bag in. Others of his party suggested that this was brought on by what he had bought at the services stop.
At 12.20pm we were passing through valleys of mysterious hills, overcast by dark brooding clouds, peppered with white sheep with blue crosses on their backs, and cattle laying on the ground and at 12.25pm we entered Gwynedd. Later as Arthur rounded a bend he nearly collided with a stationery Cliff who had stopped so someone could irrigate a ditch. About 12.35pm Cliff had a job getting Mini-bus One through the Brendon Pass and we thought Mini-bus Two might have to give them a push, or we’d all have to get out and push. The sunshine was dappling the hills most beautifully and the views were superb, and the roads lined with ferns. About 1.30 we arrived at the Camp site and had our sandwiches in the Barn before unloading the trailer and moving into our tents. Mr Madds and Andy got told off by the C.O. for isolating themselves from the other staff tents. They were assigned there by Simon Pickhaver as their tent was tent 7 and following the order of boys and girls tents Simon was right. It just meant they were as far as anybody from the loos. It was easier for Mr Madds to find and avoided him straying into the wrong tent.
Eventually after settling in, Mike led a party to the beach. Some were reluctant to go, but most eventually arrived there. Mr Madds stopped on the way at the Caravan Park shop to buy about 40 postcards which with others bought in Barmouth were sent by Neptune to reach about 60 former Proper C.H.A.R.L.I.E.S. (ex- campers) who have camped with us across the years, accompanied by a special 4 page A5 message as from the 15th Assembly of the order. A few mad hardy souls went swimming, while others paddled, and some dug a large hole. Arthur at 49 and Cliff at 58, felt too far over the hill for anything more than sunbathing. Several lads then had to go dune climbing. At least they all kept within a reasonable distance of Mike and Mr Madds roving eyes.
We returned to Camp for an excellent meal of toad in the hole, (Sausages in a Yorkshire pudding), Carrots, Peas and potatoes followed by Iced Cream and fruit thingytail. For which the cooks were applauded. We were advised to hand over our wealth to Rosemary to open the Camp Bank and then take the money out to spend at Elaine’s Tuck Shop in the small dormitory. We were advised that a warning of Fire would be Nathaniel running around yelling “Fire, Fire “ and then we should gather by the gates to the road for roll call of the Camp Register. So we were unprepared when the Fire Alarm bells sounded and when we all got to the gate Nathaniel had forgotten the Register, so Simon had to go back into the supposed blazing inferno to find the register. When Tuck shop was opened Rachel Brown and Kathryn spent £6 to corner the market of a container of 300 sweets originally intended to be sold separately.
All Campers then gathered on the parade ground for the Traditional Rounders Match with Mr Madds scoring. Ryan’s team scored 12 and Cliff’s team scored 5.
William and Kathryn sounded Sunset Retreat, but the Sun refused to set. Later, after dark, and after “Lights Out” for our camp, 51st Birmingham in the next field sounded Sunset Retreat, and then a few moments later the next camp up the lane sounded it on trumpets. We thought it was time to get up again.
At Evening Prayers in the chapel with the swing-back cinema seats, Ged read John 1 v 1-9, We were urged to be still and pray. We sang “Shine, Jesus, shine!” Our orchestra was brilliant. Rosemary, Geoff, Ged, Sue & Rachel. Ged introduced us to the BB Song Book supplement. A special selection, illustrated by Phil we believe. Ged showed us his visual aid, two broom sticks tied together with a window sash cord.
He said that at school he often got his sums wrong in which case he got a X but if right then he got a / tick. He said that the closer we come to God, the more we become aware how wrong we are but the X makes all the difference as it comes apart and does things, as we would learn during the coming week. we then sang “LORD, I lift your Name on high”.(No 10). This was followed by a new song, especially chosen for us by Phil “Teach me to Dance”( No 3).
We then returned to the Barn for cocoa and then to bed (Ha, Ha). Ged asked for a hedgehog. Clive offered to go and catch one, when Ged discovered that William had not brought his glove puppet. The staff met for evening prayers and a discussion about ferrets. Mike and Lynda were on Night Watch duty so most of us wearily went to our sleeping bags, About 3am it began to rain heavily ..
DAY TWO Sunday. August 23rd
================================
Up with the lark. Andy first person up, followed by Mr Madds and then by Simon and William working together. Paul and Jill were up next, with Paul unable to find the key to unlock the Barn. Simon was Officer of the Day and did it well, but nobody had mentioned where the red arm band was not or that we were wearing a Glengarry, (John’s usually) He learnt at the end of the day. Still he managed well enough without them. We were met with a long cold shower, it rained almost non-stop for 13 hours or more from 3am in the morning till 4.30 in the afternoon. Simon’s tent was well damp and William’s sleeping bag had to be pegged up to dry in the barn. Similarly Kathryn suffered, and water had penetrated all the boys tents causing damp sleeping kit. This was caused by the direction of the wind blowing through their ridge tents instead of against them. Nevertheless the boys rose at Reveille and some of them prepared for Tent Inspection. The result TENT 1. 86% TENT 2 . 82% and TENT 3. 76%. Some tent commanders were trying to do it all themselves without properly delegating jobs to other boys. Geoff warned Rosemary and Mr Madds about the Sign of the Duck banners on the beams which were a shade low. We took good note, but Mr Madds later banged his head on the archway that was not displaying a warning.
We enjoyed the excellent porridge or Co-op Cornflakes and a fried breakfast, toast and marmalade, and coffee or tea. After fatigues some of us played cards or dominoes until it was time for Morning Prayers.
We sang “Meekness and Majesty” ( No.5) followed by a prayer of thanksgiving and then we sang “I want to serve the purpose of God in my generation”. (No 7).
Ged referred to a much earlier camping situation, 2 camps in fact on opposite hillsides. The Israelites and the Philistines. They were there to do battle, but the Israelites were running scared because the other side had a giant of a man as their champion. Ged reckoned it was someone a bit like Cliff, strong sturdy tall, but much more aggressive. There champion called Goliath was 9 feet tall. Ged put his two broomsticks together to define 9 feet, and came up with about 7½ feet.
“Give me a man to fight with “ was Goliath’s taunt as he stood their defying Israel and Israel’s God. Young David the son of Jesse of Bethlehem arrived at the Israeli camp with food for his brothers. Some of the soldiers told him about Goliath and the threats he was making and that the king had offered a large sum of money and one of whose daughters as wife to any man who would stand against Goliath.
David was upset by the cowardice of his own side whinging and whining and the disgrace of it towards God. They had forgotten that they were the chosen people of God and He would defend them. David said “I’ll go. God will win!” Rejecting heavy armour David went into battle using the weapon he had already killed both a lion and a bear with when they had attacked his father’s sheep, a sling and some pebbles, reckoned as being about the size of cricket balls and travelling from a sling at about 100 miles an hour.
David’s determination was that the whole world should know that there is a God in Israel and the battle belonged to the LORD. We too can get help from the LORD. What ever trouble we face we can ask God to help and He will make all the difference.
We then sang “ In Heavenly armour we’ll enter the land, the battle belongs to the LORD” (No 25) and after prayers we sang “ Show your power O Lord” (No 28) and “We shall stand with our feet on the rock” (No 31).
After our morning worship as the rain poured down we sat in the Barn, thankful that we had it to sit in, playing bogut ( a word game), scrabble, dominoes or cards. Ryan using a set of questions belonging to Matthew which he had had as a present quizzed Mr Madds and was surprised at how knowledgeable he was although for one or two he had to ask the learned people, like Geoff, Arthur and Simon.
We all ate a hearty lunch of chicken, stuffing, 3 vegetables, and peach trifle or fruit thingytail. We had just about finished when the Smoke Alarm in the barn dining area went off John and Arthur attempted to stop it and appeared to have been successful but about 10 minutes later all the Smoke Alarms throughout the complex went off went off. Cliff and Geoff and Simon went into action, and eventually the Warden came to investigate and call the provider to send someone out to deal with the problem, and the battery operated back up system was turned off.
The rain having eased a bit, the C.O. decided to send us to Barmouth. So minibus One and Two sped south along the wet roads to this little seaside town on the estuary of the Mawddach and we parked on the seafront.
The windswept beach was populated by a couple of walkers and a dog, although further along the front as we drove in to town a group of about 5 bathers were seen in the surf. We made for the fair ground much of which was shut up with tarpaulin covers but the Dodgems were in operation with about 3 or4 cars in use so one of our 3 groups indulged 30 shillings. (£1.50) for a bumpy ride.
Although called Dodgems with a notice on display warning “Do not collide head on” Andy seized the wheel and drove my car round the circuit the wrong way colliding with every car in sight, and each tome I thought my lunch was coming up. When we returned on our way back to the transport Cliff’s group was having a go, so the Dodgems staff had a better day than they would have had.
Most members of the public appeared to be shopping and we joined them. Arthur was searching for a children’s Bingo set so we could use it as a wet day activity, but I do not think we found one. It was sad to see that at least 4 of the Church buildings had been closed and reopened, 3 as bargain shops and 1 as an Art Exhibition hall. We bought gifts for folk back home and postcards and a beach ball. Another of our groups also bought a beach ball. Great minds thinking alike.. Returning to the vehicles about 20 people were spotted on the beach. We returned to camp as the clouds parted and the sun shone through and back on site a bit of football was played.
After an enjoyable tea we had Band practice in the court yard with a bit of improvisation as Andrew Heinrich had not yet arrived at camp and we was supposed to be bringing the drum sticks. However wooden sthingys were put into service and Cliff suggested sawing up Ged’s broom handles but this temptation was resisted.
After a good bash and blow we went onto the camp parade ground and played Cricket with Arthur bowling and Mr Madds scoring. Matt’s team scored 51 Darren’s 44 so we called it a draw. Sue hair dried herself after the Match.
For Choral evensong we sang, “Jesus is the Name we honour”. and “ Shine Jesus Shine”. We plan camps because God wants us to do so. Some times our plans have to be changed like when it’s wet. But God is unchanging, steadfast and faithful. I think this was led by Rosemary. .
David Timms had lost a hair grip and kept telling us. What does he use a hair grip for. The C.O. was trying to repair his submergible wrist watch which he wore in the shower. Various night patrols guarded us from the level crossing ( Simon, Will and John about 1am) to the beach( Will, Kathryn and Rachel, got back just after midnight) and around the camp site .
Two tents previously laced up became unlaced before 12.30am but if there was an alien about he decided not to abduct David and his friends. According to a conversation in one tent interesting things can be downloaded from the Internet which Interpol are trying to deal with. What began as a bright star filled sky soon clouded over and by 1am the wind was getting up.
The night watch had a friendly chat with the Centre’s 2 cats, and a tent commander out for a stroll. Before we retired for a peaceful night. And as Cliff had said earlier “only wake me in an extreme emergency
DAY 3 MONDAY. AUGUST 24th
=======================
We had a breezy night. The tents were still standing at 3am and when I got up again at 6. Timmy or is it Tiger had visited Arthur’s tent at 1.30am Is that where he went after our conversation with him. He also visited Cliff and Glenys, we were told Cliff kicked it out so it sought refuge with Mike, poor little thing. Arthur did not see it quite that way.
Kathryn played Reveille as Simon and Will were dead to the world. Arthur and Elaine began fortifying their tent, with bits of wood from the fireplace at the Centre, and stone from the natural stone walls, to make it cat-proof. Inspection Results [1] 81% [2] 82% [3] 84%. “Thought for the Day” was led by Mike and Lynda .
We sang “Give thanks” (No 24) we gave thanks there has been no rain. Apart from it raining cats! Ged urged us to ask “Who am I” against time and space. In fact God has a plan for each of us. We also sang “ Jesus put a song into our hearts”. Groups of campers went canoeing and climbing. Heiny had a bit of a fright when he fell 10 feet.
I spent a blissful hour on my own, monarch of all I could survey, the Camping Centre whose Warden had left me in sole charge, and the Camp site as Andy had gone off shopping with Mike. and. I had my command position near the chapel guarding both entrances writing my postcards and a song for the concert. Here I was accompanied by several sparrows, a great tit, and a robin, A bull finch was chirruping away close by.
Mike arrived back in a flat spin, he’d lost his mobile phone, we felt marooned!...He found it later. Later Cliff and Glenys returned bringing David and Heather Yule with them having been to Barmouth together. David and heather had travelled over the mountains from their coffee shop bringing us home made scones. .
Later Ged and Sue sat outside their tent in the sunshine. It got quite hot. I had retreated to a cool veranda. By early afternoon Paul and Jill were back preparing a meal Rosemary and Stephen were playing on the field. Most of the boys and young officers were away mountaineering or canoeing.
As Officer of the Day I walked the boundaries of our domain up to the only trees on the field by the babbling brook now in full flood. The weekend rains caused localised flooding in our part of Wales.
Eric Hudson from Brigade Headquarters, and a local inspecting officer a friend of Malcolm’s apparently called, but Mike was away. I dealt with them.
The Climbers and Canoeists returned all very wet and muddy . or dirty and sore. We delayed tea as it was all hands to the washing machine to wash garments and get them on my washing line across the court yard to dry in the evening sunshine.
We ate well again Shepherds Pie, followed by peaches, and scones for some.
After tea I think we played cricket again between Cliff’s team with 65 and Elizabeth’s. With 68 Another tie.
Monday’s Cricket Match
Elizabeth’s Team
==============
Matthew 6
James 10
Barnaby 9
Nigel 5
Rachel 6
Lyndsey 9
Heiny 15
Elizabeth 8
TOTAL 68
Cliff’s Team
=========
Ryan 2
Scott 7
David 3
Kieran 3
Elaine 5
Cliff 11
Geoff 11
Will 10
Darren 13
Total 65
At Evening Prayers, we sang “Teach me to dance” we thought about a modern mugging, and the ideas from the story of the Good Samaritan., Luke 10v 25. Who is my neighbour? Go and do likewise. The broom handles became a crucifix and then an empty cross. Faith in Jesus keeps us safe, not through our own efforts. To go to Heaven, through Jesus Christ, is the only way. God sent Jesus to make a way. We sang “Freely, Freely we have received, freely, freely, give”. f
The C.O. and the O of D vied with each other in sartorial nonsense to keep warm Mr Madds got out his balaclava and gloves. It was a cold starry night again.
DAY 4 TUESDAY AUGUST 25th
==========================
Tent inspection [1] 83% [2] 80% [3] 75%. Arthur and Elaine leading “Thought for the day” urged us to join God’s team. Today we could have sung
“The rains came down, and the floods came up, and we all got wet” for that is what happened. This was the day we went to Harlech Castle It poured in torrent. We had a lovely view of the rain clouds from the battlements. We noted that it had no roof so the Welsh must have run out of money. Is that why they joined England?. Heiny and Arthur gave guided tours, but from very different historical viewpoints Heiny’s seemed pro-English. Arthur with Welsh blood in his veins told us the Welsh version how the English had never succeeded in conquering the castle. Then they did not need to, they built it! Arthur missed that . I did not make much difference really we still got jolly wet. After sheltering in the Castle bookshop, we besieged a small cafe, which we proceeded to take over forcing the locals to shift for themselves.
From there some of us took Arthur’s short cut to the car park, through the rain forest.
How convenient it is to have a “local” for a guide, but I don’t think he had been here lately. We returned to a lovely meal of fish, or turkey burger, beans, sweet corn followed by bread pudding.
After Lunch any and Matt tried their hand at putting together a model of the castle. Some folks went for a free swim. Others played card games, word games or fought each other with “toy” swords. Elizabeth had bought a Sheep money box to save up to buy a sheep. I suppose that is to help keep the Manse lawns cut, save old Malcolm a job with the mower. The sheep strayed a bit. Others played their musical instruments.
DAY 5 WEDNESDAY AUGUST 26th
===============================
The new broom( Arthur) in charge today appeared to be angling for promotion, chivvying everyone to tidy up as the barn was beginning to look like a jumble sale after the crowds had gone.. The Junior staff particularly came under fire and all their gear disappeared out of sight and out of mind, but it only took them a few minutes to get it all back more untidy than ever Mr Madds tried to sweeten him up (creep!) by obtaining flowers to grace his table, from the byre on the far side of the site which was in full flood. Monbretia growing wild in abundance, and other wild flowers of the field that townsfolk mistakenly call weeds. What looks better than a nice bright dandelion. The Tidy Team had to double up.
John (Mr Madds) led “Thought for the Day” and with volunteers holding up the pictures he spoke about bees living in a hive, they all have different jobs, There are guard bees, undertaker bees, collector bees, plasterer bees, fanner bees and scout bees. Similarly we at camp all have different jobs to do for the good of us all. So with life, God has a job, as part of His grand design for everyone here and if you don’t yet know what it is He will one day make it clear to you. We sang
“I the LORD of sea and Sky”
After prayers some played rummy. Our First Aider dealt with a wasp sting. A West Indian friend called seeking some one on the site next door. Some of our folk went riding. Barnaby fell off.
We had a cricket match that seemed to go on all day as everyone on camp was wheeled in to try to beat the top scorer, Mr Madds who managed to get 18, he normally gets a duck. It was Arthur’s year for the duck and Elaine got one too. Matt Player managed finally to equalise with 18 but then he too was out. For lunch we had pork chops, stuffing, 3 veg followed by apple crumble.
In the afternoon we made for the hills to seek some shade. Mr Madds went to
post the last of the postcards in the village and found us via a twitchell up the side of the cemetery. Over the hills we moved among the sheep and the dragons caves slipping and sliding with the CO using a small gauge map with Heiny trying to find the way. Heiny kept take free lance photography shots of the river having learnt that a photographer can make as much selling the right kind of photo as Heiny can make in a week. James went lame, assisted first with a Band-Aid, then no socks, just in his boots and finally barefooted. He seemed in a lot of discomfiture and it slowed him down, but he was the first into the cooling waters of the stream when we all arrived at the picnic area. Ryan, Matt, Kieran did not waste time in donning trunks and joining him swinging across the pool from a rope from a tree. Gradually the madness spread. Elizabeth went wading, until Mike went out on the rope and into the water fully clothed to raise money for the Camp Appeal for the BMS for refitting Yakusu Hospital as had been described to us by mr Madds earlier in the week..
David kicked the football in the river and then hazarded his life to retrieve it for it only cost £3. Mr Madds thereafter tackled the ball several times to turn it from the river but finally Scott booted it back in and William waded out to rescue it. Cliff, Glenys and Sue arrived in the mini-bus with the food . and most of us visited the waterfall Simon checked out James’s foot and back and we had a happy ride home. Back in the loo someone was popular for causing quite an aroma and we had to open all the windows. After tea and cakes the Band practised in the courtyard with Andy Willitt on the tambourine after Mike had found him a different shirt as the slogan he was advertising was a bit rude. An officer from the Birmingham camp joined in on th trumpet. We had quite an audience from passers by in the lane. The Band played Sunset Retreat Groups played rummy, noughts and crosses or just practised sleeping.
Ged woke us up at evening prayers and we sang “God is our Father”, Ged reminded us Jesus was a real person, a proven fact of history, seen by many eyewitnesses. Amongst the Gospel writers was Dr Luke, he interviewed many people who actually knew Jesus personally. Great crowds followed Jesus. He was a sensation and he did sensational things. Ged told us about Jesus and his fishermen friends and using his broomhandles as oars he made them again into a cross Jesus urged them then and us now not to be afraid of anything but trust him to help. Peter ‘s life was changed and he like several of them changed their oars to a cross of service as a leader of Christ’s people in the years ahead. We sang “Rejoice, Rejoice, Christ is in you”.
For lights out Kathryn learnt High G. Several of our girls chatted up a group of 51st Birmingham BB boys across the dividing wall.
DAY 6 THURSDAY AUGUST 27th
=============================
A cold start to the day with a heavy dew and a lot of folk still recovering from the Long “March” yesterday found it hard to get up. But 70% of the population share that problem. The cats visited Jill’s tent. For breakfast we had lovely waffles, eggs and bacon. Inspection results Tent 1 80% Tent 2 85% Tent 3 78%h
Heiny gave us the “Thought for the Day”. With 5 days gone what is the hardest thing to do at camp? Stay awake till 1am.? Sleep with a cat? Swing on a rope across a river? The LORD says “Don’t worry, trust me!” Trust in ropes and in 3 companions is what I had to do on Monday when I fell 10 feet climbing. Some things let us down , but God doesn’t. God says that He will trust us, and protect us in danger. Daniel was arrested because of his faith in God, and thrown into gaol and into a den of lions, Daniel did not stand a chance, yet the lions left him alone. We all know it is not always so easy but you / we have got to trust God completely with our lives not just in emergencies. We closed with “You are the Rock”
Various groups set out. There were The Walkers and Sue spent 3 hours awaiting their return. She thought them lost. Still she had a nice rest. Regarding The Climbers. James hurt his elbow this time and Barnaby grazed his knee, but the mountain suffered no irreparable damage. The Canoeists found it rather cold and muddy and Darren did not much like having to jump into a canoe from a bridge. But they came through unscathed and smiling. Even Nigel learned from the experience. Ryan was unable to go climbing as he was ill. We are told he had had 5 helpings of Waffles. Still he recovered pretty quickly. Some of us played Mallet Ball hitting a large beach ball around the field with a tent mallet. Will this new game make the Olympics? We doubt it. Elaine, Arthur, Paul, Cliff and Jill went putting. Jill did a hole in 1 thanks to Arthur moving his foot the ball ricocheting down the hole. Kathryn was pleased with her exam results. We received a letter from the Honeymooners, Emma and Andy, (Mr & Mrs Andrew Turner) with special greetings to the first time campers and to Andy Willitt. The Camp Appeal stands at £42 now. At tea we had guests an West Indian officer and two boys , Dalton, Richard and Jo. from a Birmingham company that had closed down They joined in our evening game of rounders.
At Prayers Ryan welcomed us at the door as at each service, giving out the books with a smile and a welcome. Ged thought about the day. Up Everest and along the Amazon basin. First time abseiling. First or third time still doesn’t make it any easier. Canoeists , no sane people would do that. All wet and cold in a dirty river. We sang Cliff’s request “Be still for the presence of the LORD the Holy one is here”. Ged had got tired moving the video tripod about throughout the week Arthur had volunteered to carry the case. From that we moved to 4 friends carrying a paralysed man and letting him down through a roof to the feet of Jesus as mentioned in Marks’ Gospel. Their faith was rewarded. How much did those men love that man? They cared so much The equipment weighed a bit. Are we prepared to make that kind of sacrifice, Jesus loved us that much. We had our coffee and went to our beds tired and happy, except the girls chatting up the boys from Brum, quite a nice sensible bunch, both the bunch of boys, and the bunch of girls. They included Harriet and Daniel, . They come from a Methodist Church.
Cliff, Glenys and John played Rummy until 12.15 and then walked up the lane to find the 3 musketeers. They returned about 12.30 marching briskly down the lane. Well they have done us all proud this week so they deserved a break.
DAY SIX FRIDAY. AUGUST 28th
========================
Strange. Arthur Coote is officer of the Day again, is this promotion? No he was standing in temporary as Mike was laying out a tent for inspection to show how it really should be done.. The 3 musketeers made their position very clear. On their tent was pinned a notice. “DO NOT DISTURB for Reveille”
Mr Madds went to the beach as marker for the Camp Fun Run. Andy Willitt started the race off using Mr Madds’s water cannon, and then sprayed the front runners on their return to cool them down. First back was Simon Pickhaver. Followed 13 seconds later by Andrew Heinrich, and then 24 seconds later by Darren Player. Cliff in the Veterans class was a creditable 13th in 23 minutes 6 seconds. 2 apparently had a piggy back so were disqualified. The shame of it. Joel, our young West Indian friend from the Caravan came 8th but it brought on an asthma attack. Brave lad for taking part.
THE CAMP FUN RUN 1998
########################
Simon Pickhaver 13.28
Andrew Heinrich 13.41
Darren Player lst Boy 14.05
Scott Cordall 2nd Boy 14.58
James Cottam 3rd Boy 15.11
David Timms 15.44
Matthew Player 16.17
Joel Williams 17.03
Kieran Egerton 20.30
Ryan Cordall 22.54
Cliff Goodwin 23.06
Inspection Tent One 85% Tent 2 82% Tent 3 78%. Mike’s kit was described by the Inspecting Officer as a shambles.(How dare he?. He’s not coming next year!) he said there was wet kit in the in the bag. Mike said that was Lynda’s. Why do the women always end up with the blame?.
Sue Pearce led “Thought for the Day” and we sang “Only by grace can we enter” .Sue had a black rubbish bag with various rubbish in it. She referred to life at Windsor and the way they sort out the rubbish into salvageable kinds, plastics, glass, tins, paper, and kitchen waste for composting.
Sue demonstrated that she was the biggest bit of rubbish of the lot. Just as compost does not stay in it’s original form but has to be broken down into a fine useable soil, so we have to be broken down to the size God can use. We cannot afford to stagnate. To fit in with his plans for us we have to change. We have to be born again, we have to start again, to become something beautiful for Jesus. and acceptable in God’s Kingdom. If we are to be as fine compost it is in order that we shall grow, and be used to help others to grow into something fruitful for God. We closed with singing “All I once held dear, built my life upon, I have counted lost , spent and worthless now , compared with this ”Knowing you Jesus knowing you, there is no greater thing”. I
Much of today was free time with various sorties in to town for gifts for those back home. John and Andy slipped into Barmouth to get some photocopying done and buy some material for the evening performance. They visited several ladies clothes shops seeking the right dress, at the right price, and the staff were quite chuffed that their garment was going to aid such a worthy charity as the B.B. The duplicating done on one side at a shop that then ran out of toner was finished off at an Estate agent’s whose manageress knew Saffron Walden well and was happy to give BB a cheap rate. Most people relaxed in the afternoon or practised their concert items around the camp site. After tea it got underway.
Neptune’s Royal Command Performance
THE ARDUDWY REVIEW 1998 The Bill
1 Introduction John with pressed men David, Kieran, Stephen, Nigel holding up illustrations
2 12.53 Round One James, Ryan, Matthew, Darren & victims
3 THE PRESENT. A poem about the cat Arthur and Elaine
4 Ticket to ride Ged
5 Guys and Dolls Can Can Lyndsey, Rachel Morton, Liz Brown, Barnaby and Scott
Interval to replace the withdrawn item The Casualty Numbers were drawn from Nepp’s hat against Numbers on papers for each member of the audience and prizes distributed by David, Kieran, and Scott who would have taken part in The Casualty. Our answer to the lottery.
6 Kit e kat another poem about the cat by Mr Madds
7 Observations of a First time full time camper Sue
8 The Barn Dance by Andy, Sue, Jed, audience
9 12.53 Final round as for 2 plus survivors
10 Arthur’s Games, Arthur, audience and victims
11 Mini Jinx Olympics Lyndsey, Rachel Morton, Liz
12 Kitchen Capers Paul, Cliff, Glenys. Jill
13 T C I Friday Andrew, (Heiny) Nathaniel (William) Simon, Kathryn, & Rachel Brown
14 Maestro of Magic Andy and Cliff
15 The C .O. ’s SONG written by a group Sung by Mike
16 Neptune The Reading of the Certificate by the CO. New Campers sign the Roll by Mike and John(Mr Madds
17 The Presentations by Mike
Mr Madds sang between acts “Puff the Magic Dragon lived by the sea at a little place called Dyffryn Ardudwy ”. But the audience did not rise to it and it was a bit tedious and dated!.
Neptune having been marginalised in recent years got the job this year of opening and closing the curtains. Actually he sorted out the programme and then got his good friend, and former Court Attendant, Arthur, to be Compere.
Apparently Neptune has turned English nationalist as he had a blue brimmed white top hat with the red cross of St George on it. Either he’s joined the Red Cross or he was hoping to see England win the world Cup or the Euro Cup, any cup would do. Some hopes.
Actually he was a member of England’s premier national patriotic society, The Royal Society of St George that raises money for charities and promotes English heritage, culture, history, language and literature, world-wide.
Items were many and varied as usual and Arthur’s games were absolutely hilarious and involved a great deal of energy and ingenuity on the part of the participants. I think from memory the Heiny won, if he didn’t he certainly deserved to.
Towards the end Neptune welcomed the First year Campers and they signed the Roll of Campers from 1981 onwards. This represented the 15th gathering of our order of proper CHARLIES. After the concert we had refreshments on hamburgers.
Nathaniel was taken ill during the concert after his act and was sick. He had to be put to bed and on Saturday was taken home by Ged in his car , his mates packing up his possessions. He reckons it was something he drunk. That is river water the day before when canoeing. He recovered in a day or two. He was hoping to serve with “Time for God” in the Birmingham area.
Sue’s Observations of a First full time Camper
To attend camp must like damp bedding and alternate wet and dry days
Good weather all the time is no good to an expert camper.
A good camper loves cats.
Games These are serious. When you are “in” you are “out” on the field
Only when Arthur says are you “out” or “in” depending what game you are playing.
John’s runs are the ones to be beaten.
Women only bat when Arthur says so
and you are never “out” on a first ball
especially if you are Elaine.
Captain can never be found when needed
just like the Chaplain, especially
if it’s washing up time.
Chaplains job is very serious and takes a great deal of thought
with your eyes shut and has not to be disturbed
at such times.
Cliff is to be honoured and cared for at all times.
Never upset Cliff as your life may depend on him
in the mini bus.
Glenys’s tent is the yard stick we all measure
our tents by and fail miserably
( I hear she has her hoover in the bus!)
The boys in tents 1, 2, 3, are the only ones
who can wash without towels.
Do they have hot air dryers?
If something is lost it’s bound to be found on the Junior staff table
under the invaluable rubbish, sorry, camp equipment,
needed for the smooth running of the Camp
Wet clothing, towels and tea towels must be hidden
so that the women on the camp can have
their daily excitement of finding it & drying it
(We do like our fun)
Bugle calls must be different every day
to confuse first time campers or we must camp next to
another BB Camp who can’t tell the time and you get an echo.
THE C. O, ’s SONG composed by a group of people and sung by him to the tune of “Much Binding in the Marsh”.
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
A crowd of Campers travelled down to Wales
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
They travelled up the hills and down the dales.
Two mini-buses took them there and several little cars.
They took their Tuck shop with them, so many chocolate bars
The drivers of the mini-buses really have been stars.
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
The Player’s have been feeding up the Campers
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
They even provided picnic hampers
Cliff has been helping, he doe the shopping too.
He peels the veg and drives the bus What more could he do?
Perhaps next year he’ll bring a brush so he can clean the Loo!
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
Our camp site is right by Dyffryn station
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
We’ve all enjoyed the beauty of Creation
At night we’ve been visited by a black and furry puss
He sat on Arthur’s sleeping head, poor Arthur made a fuss.
He gathered up his sleeping bag and spent the night in his bus
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
A train, took us up to Harlech Castle
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
It rained so hard we wrapped ourselves like parcels
We climbed to the battlement to get a better view
But when we got to the top it was raining up there too
So we all took refuge in a cafe led by ged and Sue
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
Some brave campers spent the day at the rock face
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
Beth led them up to the right place
they climbed the rocks and abseiled down it really was quite steep
Andrew Heinrich scared them all by falling down 10 feet
But Simon’s fear was worse still. Would he have enough to eat.
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
Some went canoeing in the water
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
They learned a lot all doing what they ought a
They paddled up the estuary - all that muscle power,
But when they scraped the mud off they did not smell like flowers.
They even persuaded Nigel to almost take a shower
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
Wasps have been patrolling our camp site
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
Giving sweet eaters quite a fright
James was stung on the arm - it didn’t spoil his games
He hurt his foot on the walk so went barefoot down the lanes.
And who scraped his elbow when rock climbing? Yes! Our James!
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
Inter camp relations have been blooming
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
Is this the result of all the grooming?
Our campers are so friendly affection soon grows
Walls between camp sites- no problems can they pose.
Now Lyndsey is the owner of a beautiful red rose!
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
Our week together is nearly at a close
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
Where will we camp next year-who knows?
If this has been your first camp, we hope you’ve had some fun
and will want to come again next year whether in rain or sun
and tell your mates about it so they’ll want to come,
AT MUCH DYFFRYN ARDUDWY BY THE SEA
After refreshments we gathered in the Chapel for a Service of worship, Matt was also unwell.
We sang The Servant King “From Heaven He came” Ged told us about Tom. He was one of a gang, they did a lot of crazy things and got into all sorts of scrapes, then the leader got arrested, and executed. Tom took it very hard. News reached them that somehow their leader had defied death and pulled through. Other members of the gang rejoiced but Tom would not believe unless he could see the wounds in the living body of his leader, a few days later he had the opportunity, and then he believed but Jesus said “Happy are those who do not see yet believe”. He was referring to the millions that would join that gang down the centuries and who still await the leader’s return to wind up human affairs and usher in God’s Kingdom rule on Earth.
Ged said “Jesus is my LORD, my GOD. Put Him first. He loves the people I really care about. He offers us new life, new hope. Only Jesus can bring us into God’s presence. Jesus is very real to me. He slowly became real to me 25 years ago. He scared me to bits. Jesus stands at the door of your life today and knocks. He wants to bring you before God as his brother and friend, He knocked and I ignored Him.
I did not understand or know much. I had a free choice. I thank God that I opened the door. It was the real beginning of my life. He became my LORD and my Saviour.
He wants to become that to you. We sang. “My Jesus, my Saviour”.
Ged said “We are gathered here. Some of us know Jesus well. Some trust Him. Some seek Him.
Keep an open mind about Jesus. I grew up in total ignorance of Jesus. Some have suffered greatly because they know Jesus
Ged invited us to a celebration. He took a loaf of bread and he said ”I see this loaf of bread and I remember Jesus died for me. Share this amongst you. The wine reminds me of the Promise I have made to You. ”. we were then all invited up to be prayed for by Ged and Sue, or Arthur and Elaine. or Mike and Lynda. Most people shared in the loaf We closed by singing “LORD we lift your name on high”.
While we were at Communion more cars of the South Staffs Battalion arrived some towing caravans which they parked in the Courtyard car park making it difficult for our drivers to get in and out of their cars. From two of the cars or caravanns cables had been run across the pathway to the women’s Toilet and shower block and into the Gents loo along the floor past each cubicle into the electrical area next to the showers and into the Wall socket. They were overloading the socket and they left the door of that area unlocked and the cables were a potential danger to anyone tripping over them. Cliff, Paul, Geoff were quite incensed about this and the fact that an advance guard of allegedly about 50 had descended upon us instead of the normal 4.
Mr Madds being a bit mad about it too wrote the recalcients an unsigned letter to the effect that their action contravened Brigade Regulations, Insurance Regulations, Health & Safety Regulations, British Government Regulations and European Regulations and that the cables should either be suitably covered or hoisted to a safe level over the heads of anyone wishing to use the toilets.
He then disconnected the cables and he and Geoff moved them right back to the caravans and stuck the note in the middle of them.
Checking an hour or so later Mr Madds found about 10 of them and the Centre Warden in earnest conversation and another hour later the note and the cables had disappeared.
Most of the advance party whom we met the next day we friendly people and included quite a lot of boys and girls of Company Section age, they had a lot of additional tents to erect. Their Cook who was up early with our officers shaving was a friendly jovial chap too.
Some of them were apparently a bit noisy around midnight and our C.O. had occasion to ask them to tone it down a bit. When I retired about 1am there was some noise coming from their circus marquee but nothing disturbing.
I recall their arrival one year at Bembridge on the Friday in the empty field opposite. I thought it was a fair coming or some kind of tournament, so many cars, vans, tents like an army preparing for battle. Our agent in the South Staffs Battalion has reported back to us since their version of events that evening. Some of the SS folk are a shade rough and ready.
DAY EIGHT Saturday August 29th
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We rose and had breakfast. We received a “Thank You” card from Dalton, Joel and Richard. We packed up and we sold off the remaining Tuck Shop tuck and closed the Camp Bank. We Packed up, loaded the transport and tidied up the site and we had a fine old time sluicing and brushing all the ground sheets and putting them out to dry.
At morning prayers we sang “Shine, Jesus shine”, we considered clearing up, but we should always make time for God. Give thanks. Simon Peter was a fisherman . Jesus described him as The Rock on which I will build my Church. He meant actually Peter’s faith was the rock on which he would build his Church, as others joined Peter in believing that he was the Messiah, the anointed son of God. { not just on Peter which is the argument for having the Bishop of Rome as Pope supposedly being a successor of Peter). Like him we have an inheritance that can never fade, but if we go on with God, we each must bear our personal cross daily. That is we must surrender our own will to doing what He wants us to do. Are we ready for that? We sang once again. “Teach me to Dance”. After a final Sunset Retreat in the hot sunshine we climbed aboard and set forth East for home. The Mini buses stopped for a time at a picnic area and for those who slept we soon arrived home.
DAY NINE Sunday August 30th
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A goodly number of us met for the Campers Service on Sunday morning.
By way of introduction we sang “Only by Grace” and “To be in Thy Presence”
Mike welcomed everyone
We sang “Jesus is the Name we honour”
Arthur and Elaine led prayers of thanksgiving.
Ryan testified to what camp was like. New friends. New faces. Had a great time. He gave out the books at the services.
We sang “Teach me to dance”
Then Andy Heinrich made some comments from his experience on the mountain side when he fell 10 feet, how we have to trust people. people who hold ropes, canoe instructors, night duty staff, those who prepare our food, drivers, and so on. Sometimes they may let us down. But we have to trust God all the time like Daniel did. God wont let us down. If he seems to it is because He is actually with us sharing and enduring the experience with us.
The offering was collected and received during it the music group played “Give Thanks” and after it had been received we sang that.
Sue shared some comments
We sang “ You are my all in all”
Mike made some comments
We sang “I, the LORD of sea and sky”
John led our prayers of Intercession for the BB Family, for Nathaniel, for Cliff out on the road in his haulage vehicle, for Paul about his duties, for Dalton, Joel and Richard from Birmingham that they might find a new Company to join. For Daniel and his mates of the 51st Birmingham Company, for the 200 campers of the South Staffs Battalion now using the site. Then we prayed for the people of Wales, the Christians at Dyffryn Ardudwy, for all the 187 Proper CHARLIES where ever they are today. and for all the 320 boys who have been members of our company since 1980
For all the leaders and members of all out youth organisations. For Yakusu Hospital Congo the project of our Camp appeal.
Then we sang “In Heavenly armour”
Ged spoke. Of mop handles, of David and Goliath, David leader of the army of Israel
David the King, and of another greater king, who bought our freedom on a Cross
This week we have looked at the Cross and at our personal cross
We remember the paralysed man and the faith of his friends.
We sang “My Jesus, my Saviour”
The Benediction
We adjourned for refreshments. Simon operated the overhead projector.
And so the diary of Camp ’98 ends,
See you at East Runton Norfolk next year or at Bembridge Isle of Wight in AD 2000