Centenary Dinner - Toast to the Ninth
Lord Smith of Finsbury, aka Chris Smith, proposed the toast to the Ninth.
He began by saying that it was a remarkable celebration and that the history of the Ninth was, in itself, worthy of such an occasion. In fact, although the Scout Group has always been known as the Ninth it may even have been the one of the first since in the early days of 1907 and 1908 there were only meetings of small groups of boys.
On the last day of the Spring term in 1908 in the School in Archibald Place a meeting of prospective Scouts agreed to hold regular meetings the following Term.
Chris paid tribute to Sandie Somerville who was the first Scoutmaster and an inspirational figure in the Ninth until his death in the early 1960's. Having been seriously wounded in the First World War he devoted his life to Scouting and Youth work. He said "Sandie more than anyone else, set a long tradition of real commitment and dedication for Scout Leaders - many of them here tonight" He added "Sandie brought the best out of others without appearing to have had much to do with it".
He recalled a story when an American Senator had realised that he may have been well known and could demand attention, but the humblest of workers was every bit as important in society. Scouting, he felt, in its teaching and philosophy, reflected that we were all equally important.
He than recalled his own time in the Ninth. By the time he joined, the Summer Camps at Jophie's Neuk had been discontinued, and were now held in different parts of Scotland. He remembered Tobermory with its wonderful setting on the bay and the twinkling light of the town on the other side. Loch Tummel - in his opinion the best of them all. The wonders of "plate golf" - tin plates being much more effective than frisbees!! The role that HP sauce critically played in making proper corned beef hash!!
Editing the "Ninth Magazine" was another highlight during his Scouting years. He remembered the Gestetner duplicating machine in John Kelly's bedroom with its stencils that would tear and ink that spilled. How modern technology has overtaken all that!
Another happy memory was the Jamborette in Denmark in 1966 when boys from six different countries camped together. The Scots, of course, all wore the kilt and had to learn Scottish Country Dancing. Chris said he played the piano to a limited extent at that time but was prevailed upon to learn a few tunes on the accordion. He mastered one -- The Barren Rocks of Aden -- and the Scouts danced everything to that one tune. It was the year that England's football team won the World Cup. When the Scots at the Jamborette heard the result the Scottish Flag was lowered to half-mast!!
Chris went on say what Scouting had given him - in fact all of us in the room - through the years: a love, and passion, for the outdoors. The camp fires; starlit nights; cold streams; mountain tops; glorious views; wet sleeping bags?; lumpy groundsheets?
He indicated there were comparisons with all that and his new job with Environmental Agency.
He went on to add that the gift of friendship and companionship was something that had lasted ever since. He stressed that he had learnt an understanding of how to work together, in groups, in teams, sharing common tasks, and all contributing what they could. This, he felt, was the best kind of education, of inspiration and of self-development, that there could be.
He ended by saying that "All of this was what Scouting in the Ninth had given us all - Friends, Memories, Working together."
He then proposed a toast to THE NINTH.
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