Extraordinary to see the troop photos in the ON magazine. I was in the D.J.W. Usher era, in the back row third from left. On my left was Ray Sturtivant. I think the ON photo to be from 1961/2. (Page 27 of the ON Magazine - Summer 2025)

An early memory was a short camp at Alsop-en-le-Dale, Derbyshire, when the school had access to the unused railway station. Cooking and eating a “twist” (dough twisted on a stick) with jam is remembered. Mr Usher and Mr Locke were a fabulous team.

The group on the gate was the Woodpigeons and Squirrels on a hike, Summer Camp,  Kingston, Devon, in 1963. (Picture 2 below)

The vertical pole structure was a patrol leaders’ project at Summer Camp, Gilwell in 1964. D.J.W.U is  there. The figure with back to camera was Richard Kidd. A big “hurdle” for me was gaining a swimming badge. I had a fear of this activity; later, Richard helped me greatly when we had  the test. (We passed.) Gilwell, near Epping Forest, had an international flavour. Woodpigeons met a neighbourly, friendly Dutch patrol. (Picture 3 below)

The troop photo was 1965. I was troop leader, sitting on the left of D.J.W.U. (Picture 1 below)

I remember some names, unusually surnames mainly. I met Stephen Hiscox by chance, near Tonbridge when we’d long left school.

A.B.Palfreman (in photo) I remember, as a designer and maker of a fine, one-man tent, he,indeed, used successfully at a weekend camp in N.Notts. (Walseby perhaps).

More names remembered: John Preston, Phil Hoare (‘cos I have a photo!),”Iggy”Whitehorn, Dave Watkinson, David Trease, H.A.Welch, Derek Eltringham, Geoff Shaw and the boy without scout uniform, young Brosch. The name Gopsill was triggered, too.