Post by John on Feb 18, 2009 13:37:27 GMT -5
MUNDESLEY MEMO 1981
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JUST A FEW REMINISCENCES of our company’s First Camp
at which, as for this one the C.O and an advance party had to put up all the tents,
As some of you know I used to produce an annual Camp magazine of which our good friend the late Lieut Michael Hughes who died this summer described as “giving a highly exaggerated version of camp life”
But at our first Camp at Mundesley Norfolk in 1981 Pugwash Marshall had that dubious responsibility and dressed up as Admiral Pugwash for the occasion to read his Diary after Breakfast. He was also King Neptune who incongruously dressed up in a long white dress and wore a lady’s broad rimmed blue straw hat , and he Initiated me into the Order of Proper Charlies, and for about fifteen years from 1984 I held that dubious honour of being Neptune.
John Marshall was Treasurer of 1st Sawbridgeworth and drove one of the mini buses and was a great guy who taught us much.
He was much into Operatic Society shows and brought a large basket trunk of costumes to dress up in. We had a theatre there complete with a stage and curtains. One night we were visited from across the football pitch by the Mundesley Ghost. Pugwash under a large white sheet walking with two battery operated lamps
full on.
He also helped Bob Clayden introduce us to the joys of abseiling from a large tree.
John sang a wide range of songs, was very good at putting, and was very particular at Inspection. He was so meticulous in giving the Inside tent the once over that once he missed most of Breakfast.
We did not need a Night Watch Rota, as Pugwash seldom went to bed earlier than 2am. Before the introduction of staff meetings and staff prayers about 10pm he would gather us together and get out his RAT RACE SET and we’d play that till gone midnight sometimes for 3 or 4 hours until he’d usually won. Then he’d get out his portable typewriter and type up his diary notes to read at Breakfast, Sadly 8 months after first meeting Pugwash, he died of a heart attack while driving a car,
On the Tuesday I was officer of the day. Come Lunch time, and the meal was ready, and the catering staff were ready, but there was no sign of the CO, the other officers. nor most of the boys. They were mostly on the beach
I was stumped as I could not blow a bugle, so I inserted a cassette of General Salute into my cassette player, and played it loudly.
This drew together the few boys on camp and we started Lunch without the Captain and most of the crew.
That evening was the Cross Country Run which was mainly across a road twice and along a sandy beach, and soft powdery sand is not the best thing to run on. Sammy’s brother Jason was first and Stop me and buy one Sale, the cook, was last. I took my umbrella so as to catch the wind and propel me faster but the wind was in the wrong place and I lost the handle which floated out to sea.
In those days I was a heavy drinker
of bottles and bottles of Lucozade
Mike decided to reward the staff with a meal of curry.
I had never eaten curry and he assured me how wonderful it was.
I took one mouthful and my mouth appeared to be on fire.
I leapt up and ran to my tent for my Lucozade
Coming out and running back in the dark to the dining room I tripped over a guy rope, dropped the bottle, wrapped myself round the flag pole and arrived in a shaken dishevelled condition
On the Thursday Andrew’s Uncle Colin, Mikes younger brother was Officer of the Day. Reveille should have been at 7.
At 6.59 the Cook thought maybe it was time to wake Colin up
The day proceeded about half an hour later than usual.
Over the years Camp Rules and Camp policy have evolved to cover avoiding incidents that have occurred
Our first evening at Mundesley was very pleasant and quiet. Too quiet. Strolling around the camp site I met Mike who said “Where is everyone, including my Colin ?” Well the boys were all on site but, he. Lynda and I were the only members of staff. I said “ Well they said they were all going down the road to meet the friends of Lord Nelson and they’ve taken Colin with them”
I naturally thought they had contacts with the nobility, or some kind of historical society but the LORD NELSON was the name of the local pub.
After that we have always had a rule about alcohol.
Although needless to say it has been interpreted in a variety of ways. Say no more.
JEM
#######################
JUST A FEW REMINISCENCES of our company’s First Camp
at which, as for this one the C.O and an advance party had to put up all the tents,
As some of you know I used to produce an annual Camp magazine of which our good friend the late Lieut Michael Hughes who died this summer described as “giving a highly exaggerated version of camp life”
But at our first Camp at Mundesley Norfolk in 1981 Pugwash Marshall had that dubious responsibility and dressed up as Admiral Pugwash for the occasion to read his Diary after Breakfast. He was also King Neptune who incongruously dressed up in a long white dress and wore a lady’s broad rimmed blue straw hat , and he Initiated me into the Order of Proper Charlies, and for about fifteen years from 1984 I held that dubious honour of being Neptune.
John Marshall was Treasurer of 1st Sawbridgeworth and drove one of the mini buses and was a great guy who taught us much.
He was much into Operatic Society shows and brought a large basket trunk of costumes to dress up in. We had a theatre there complete with a stage and curtains. One night we were visited from across the football pitch by the Mundesley Ghost. Pugwash under a large white sheet walking with two battery operated lamps
full on.
He also helped Bob Clayden introduce us to the joys of abseiling from a large tree.
John sang a wide range of songs, was very good at putting, and was very particular at Inspection. He was so meticulous in giving the Inside tent the once over that once he missed most of Breakfast.
We did not need a Night Watch Rota, as Pugwash seldom went to bed earlier than 2am. Before the introduction of staff meetings and staff prayers about 10pm he would gather us together and get out his RAT RACE SET and we’d play that till gone midnight sometimes for 3 or 4 hours until he’d usually won. Then he’d get out his portable typewriter and type up his diary notes to read at Breakfast, Sadly 8 months after first meeting Pugwash, he died of a heart attack while driving a car,
On the Tuesday I was officer of the day. Come Lunch time, and the meal was ready, and the catering staff were ready, but there was no sign of the CO, the other officers. nor most of the boys. They were mostly on the beach
I was stumped as I could not blow a bugle, so I inserted a cassette of General Salute into my cassette player, and played it loudly.
This drew together the few boys on camp and we started Lunch without the Captain and most of the crew.
That evening was the Cross Country Run which was mainly across a road twice and along a sandy beach, and soft powdery sand is not the best thing to run on. Sammy’s brother Jason was first and Stop me and buy one Sale, the cook, was last. I took my umbrella so as to catch the wind and propel me faster but the wind was in the wrong place and I lost the handle which floated out to sea.
In those days I was a heavy drinker
of bottles and bottles of Lucozade
Mike decided to reward the staff with a meal of curry.
I had never eaten curry and he assured me how wonderful it was.
I took one mouthful and my mouth appeared to be on fire.
I leapt up and ran to my tent for my Lucozade
Coming out and running back in the dark to the dining room I tripped over a guy rope, dropped the bottle, wrapped myself round the flag pole and arrived in a shaken dishevelled condition
On the Thursday Andrew’s Uncle Colin, Mikes younger brother was Officer of the Day. Reveille should have been at 7.
At 6.59 the Cook thought maybe it was time to wake Colin up
The day proceeded about half an hour later than usual.
Over the years Camp Rules and Camp policy have evolved to cover avoiding incidents that have occurred
Our first evening at Mundesley was very pleasant and quiet. Too quiet. Strolling around the camp site I met Mike who said “Where is everyone, including my Colin ?” Well the boys were all on site but, he. Lynda and I were the only members of staff. I said “ Well they said they were all going down the road to meet the friends of Lord Nelson and they’ve taken Colin with them”
I naturally thought they had contacts with the nobility, or some kind of historical society but the LORD NELSON was the name of the local pub.
After that we have always had a rule about alcohol.
Although needless to say it has been interpreted in a variety of ways. Say no more.
JEM