Sidcup Scouts

Leaders cycle length of Britain for charity.

Two Explorer Scout Leaders from Sidcup’s K2 Unit, Kevin Tilney and Andrew Goulding, who are also members of the Downe Activity Centre 1^st Weekend Crew, have completed a charity fund raising cycle ride from John O’Groats to Land’s End. The 1,021 mile journey took 15 days and raised over £2,800 for the Alzheimer’s Society and Parkinson’s UK.

Andy and Kev didn’t cycle state-of-the-art touring bikes; instead ‘fixed wheel’ bikes with no gears or brakes were used. So to come to a halt, you stop peddling.

Hills become more difficult because there are no gears to help ease the ascent, furthermore you must also peddle downhill. Given that 8.3 miles of the trip were uphill and a further 8.4 miles downhill, this is quite a remarkable achievement.

More impressively, Andy and Kev had no support team following them, so they had to carry 8 kilos of equipment on their bikes. The ride was hard work but good fun, with only one major incident. Just a few days into their journey on route to Stirling disaster struck as Kev’s handle bar snapped! This is where the Scouting skill of pioneering came in useful. A branch was found, whittled down to fit inside the handle bar and made secure with two jubilee clips and a D-lock. With the nearest bike shop 27 miles away, the repair held up.

But where did they get their energy from? By eating between 6,000 and 8,000 calories a day, the same as 16 Big Macs and a medium coke! Finally, what are Andy and Kev’s plans for the future? “Rest and recover! We’ve got an Explorer Scout Unit to run next week!”

Details of the rest of their route can be found at: mapmytracks.com/andrewjgoulding.

To donate, please visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/andyandkev .

Pictures on gallery page.

George Kenwood

Think You Know Scouting? Think again

New President for Kemnal’s Own Scout Group has been 74 years in Scouting.

It was party time at the headquarters of Kemnal’s Own Scout Group on 8^th October when John Bilke was installed as the new president.

John first set foot in the Scout hut at Kemnal’s Own Scout Group in 1949. After being a Cub and a Scout in Edinburgh from the age of 8, John came to Sidcup and offered his services as Assistant Scout Leader at the age of 21. Since then he has taken on many positions within the group, including Scout leader, Group Scout Leader and Executive Committee Chairman and his wife Edna was Cub Leader for a number of years. Now, 74 years after joining the movement and 61 years after those first faltering steps into the world of Kemnal’s Own Scout Group, he takes on the role of their President.

At a ceremony on 8^th October at a party at the Group’s headquarters in Partridge Road, Sidcup, attended by past Scouts, Leaders, and friends, and Leaders and members of the sections of the Scout and Guiding Movements, John was presented with a certificate of thanks from Bear Grylls the Chief Scout and a badge of thanks from the Scout Association in recognition of services to Scouting.

Also present were the volunteer helpers who work behind the scenes with events such as jumble sales and Christmas fairs, catering, maintenance and fund raising.  Milly Money aged 94 found herself the centre of attraction. Milly has been helping out with the Group for many years, and still finds the time and energy to attend fund raising events.

View photos.

Derek Hope,Kent Photonews-Sidcup.