IHOPE that the Post will recognise the 50th anniversary of one of the most important events in the history of the Scout and Guide movements.
In 1963, the late Don Varley, from the Scouting side of the movements, and the late Phyl Ramsell, from the Guiding side, initiated an experimental weekend camp at Elton in Notts, with senior Scouts and Guides from around the city split into patrols and camping in virtually adjacent tents.
Prior to this event, any mixed activity was on the basis of Scouts in one field, and at least another field between them and the nearest Guides.
Those who took part were expected to show not only high standards of Scouting and Guiding ability, but be of a suitably high moral standard. To say that the weekend was a huge success would be a gross understatement, and all those involved effectively refused to disband.
And so it was that on August 22, 1964, the group had what was effectively the first-ever week-long mixed Scout and Guide camp, at Sennowe Park in Norfolk.
It was unique to the extent that it was covered by Anglia Television and even the Daily Express's irrepressible Carl Giles did a cartoon.
Many lasting friendships were forged and the group came under a lot of scrutiny from various researchers, particularly in those early years.
It is an involvement of which I am immensely proud and yet another feather in Nottingham's cap.
I moved to New Zealand in 1983 but have recently been back in Nottingham for a few days.
It saddens me that so many youngsters are denied the opportunity to belong to the most amazing youth movement ever, because of a lack of volunteers or leaders. Most of what Baden-Powell stood for is as valid today as it was just over 100 years ago.
RAY GREEN
Portsea Place
Birkenhead
Auckland New Zealand