A highly selective listing of just some of the things the 8th Lambeth Rovers did in 1960 and 1961
1960
January 10 1960:Snow Hike from Box Hill to Reigate Hill via Headley (10 miles). Participants: Alan, Jim, Roger, Johnny and Aitch.
February 24 1960:Rover Scout Investiture: Jim, Dulles, Les and Doug.
February 27 1960:Night Hike: Bexley to Biggin Hill via Shoreham. Participants: Stan, Alan, Maurice, Doug, Roger, Jim, Dulles, Johnny P, newcomer Don Taylor and Aitch.
April 13 1960:Central Lambeth Rover Scout AGM in the Scout Cabin, Stockwell Park Crescent. Alan elected as local delegate to London Rover Council.
April 15-17 1960:Easter Camp at Slough Place, near Cuckfield, Sussex. Participants: Bash, Johnny P, Doug, Alan and Aitch.
May 1 1960:Two Counties Hike from Westerham (Kent) to Lingfield (Surrey). Hikers: Alan, Johnny P and Aitch.
May 8 1960:London Rover Pilgimage - a Rover Scout parade to the Cenotaph in Whitehall. Marchers: Stan, Alan, Jim, Dulles and Aitch.
June 3-6 1960:Whitsun: South East Counties Rover Moot at Bourley near Aldershot, Hants. Attended by eight Swamplanders: Stan, Alan, Aitch, Roger, Johnny P, Jim, Dulles and Les.
June 23-24 1960:A "Bring Something of No Practical Use" Night Hike. Route: Sevenoaks to Titsey via Ide Hill and Toys Hill (13 miles). Participants: Stan, Alan, Jim, Aitch, Johnny P, Maurice, Bash and Dave Condut.
July 29 - August 1 1960:August Bank Holiday Hike: A three stage trek with overnight camping. First stage: Three Bridges to Cuckfield, Sussex. Participants: Alan, Aitch and Bash. Second stage: Cuckfield to Poynings - Alan, Aitch and Bash, now joined by Stan and Johnny P. Third stage: Poynings to Findon - all five Swamplanders. Someone noted the overall cost per person for the weekend's train fares and various meals in pubs and tea rooms. It was £1.14s.0d.
August 14 1960:Hike - round Dorking (18 miles). Alan and Aitch go for a lengthy "stroll" to gather ideas and information to prepare a project for the 8th Lambeth Senior Scouts.
September 3-10 1960:Exmoor Expedition - a hiking and camping trip by Stan, Bash and Aitch from Barnstaple to Minehead
September 24-25 1960:Night Hike with the Senior Scouts - from Leatherhead to Leith Hill and Holmwood. Participants: Seniors Peter M, Tom M and Doug R and Rovers Alan, Johnny P and Aitch.
October 9 1960:London Rover Roundup event at Roland House, East London. Attended by: Alan, Johnny P, Dave Scott-Young and Aitch.
October 12 1960:Rover Scout Investiture: Johnny and Maurice.
November 20 1960:London Rover Workday, Gilwell Park, Essex. A day on the tiles (or shingles to be more precise). Workers were: Stan, Jim, Dulles, Bash, Alan, Johnny P and Aitch.
December 4 1960:Hike with the Senior Scouts: Mickleham to Mersham, Surrey. Participants: Senior Scouts Peter M, Tom M and Doug R; and Rover Scouts Stan, Alan, Jim, Johnny P and Aitch. Plus Scout "Mac" Mackintosh who was brave enough to face a day of grey skies, rain and mud!
December 16-18 1960:Winter Camp near Stanwell, Mddx. Campers: Stan, Johnny P, Dulles, Alan, Jim, Les, Aitch and newcomer Mike O'Donaghue.
December 27 1960:Post Christmas Hike: A circular 12-mile walk from Guildford to Chilworth, St Martha's Chapel, Albury and Newlands Corner. Undertaken by Alan and Aitch.
1961
March 4-5 1961:A Night Hike and a Day Hike in Surrey - from Guildford to Box Hill via St Martha's Church, the Silent Pool, Netley Heath and Ranmore Common. Participants: Stan, Johnny P, Jim,Bash, Aitch, Alan and Mike O'D.
March 31 - April 3 1961:Easter Hike: Following a Roman Road (Basingstoke to Salisbury). The trek started with just Aitch and Johnny P walking for the first two days (Friday and Saturday) from Basingstoke to Abbots Barton Farm near Winchester. On the Sunday they met up with Alan and Dave Condut in Winchester. Later that day, Aitch returned to London for work the next day, leaving the other three to camp at Horsebridge (Sunday night) and follow the best part of the Roman Road to Salisbury on the Monday.
April 12 1961:Central Lambeth Rover AGM. "Much the same as previous years" according to the Swamplanders' official log.
June 3-4 1961:London Rover Hiking and Camping Competition at and around Chorleywood: The Swamplanders team came 4th out of 16 entrants. They were Alan, Aitch and Peter M.
June 25 1961:Hike: Leatherhead to Shere, Surrey (12 miles). There's a map of the route - but nobody seems to have written a report of what happened or who went!
July 8-9 1961:"Hares and Hounds" Night Hike: Ickenham, Mddx to Seer Green, Bucks. Again, there's a map of the route - but no report!
August 4-19 1961:8th Lambeth Scout Camp, Mortehoe, Devon. Various Rovers helped Skipper keep the Scout and Senior Troops amused, fed and under control. Lots of cartoons in the form of a daily camp "newspaper" remain - but nothing factual or that we dare publish.
October 28-29 1961:Night Game: Rockets Over Headley. Stan, Alan and Mike O'D were the "hares" and set up camp on Headley Heath, Surrey. The plan was to launch signal rockets at 12.30am to guide in two other teams - one Rovers (Aitch, Jim, Johnny P and Tarka), the other Seniors (Peter M, Tom M and Doug R) - to their lair. Amazingly, it worked - sort of! On the Sunday, the Rovers set off for Box Hill and Dorking and the Seniors set about completing their own hike.
To go back to the Swamplanders' 1998 and 1959 exploits,click here.