We would like to tell you some facts about all of our Leaders! So........ here they are!

She originally agreed to be GSL for a few weeks back in 1978 - and we would be lost without her ever since! The job of GSL is ideal for someone with limitless patience, ideas, and keeping the Cub Leaders from fighting the Scout Leaders. She started her Scouting life, helping to run 6th Billericay (Methodist)'s Cub Scout Pack when her oldest son joined. Shortly afterwards, she was one of the founders of the Bellhouse Pack - and by the time of the Heath Pack closure in 1980, she had been our boss for 2 years.

She has overseen all our successes over the years, and when we have hit problems, she has always been determined to overcome them.

In 2003, after an astonishing 25 years as Cub Scout Leader, she decided to hand over to a new Akela, and returned to her original name of Raksha - the old wolf (after she read this page we were asked to change this to the wise old wolf!)

In 1991 Raksha was awarded the Medal of Merit by the Chief Scout. This medal is "awarded after a period of not less than 10 years of outstanding service" and in 2002, she received the Bar to the Long Service Decoration - for 25 years service.

Since her semi-retirement, she has bought a greenhouse, continued her passion for crafts and creative activates and is a sponsor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

When her younger brother joined the Cubs, Hathi dreamed of a life with as much fun and fulfilment as he was having; so she offered to help with the Bellhouse Pack (or rather her father offered her help with the Bellhouse Pack!) We could not turn someone as talented as Hathi away.

She is an artist who talents always amaze us and baffle the Cubs. Any cartoon, camp badges, t-shirt printing, Trojan horses will all have her mark on them. But she is equally adept at camp fires, games, collecting the weekly subs (ok that was back in 1980 - she was very young back then!) and an amazing talent to get lost!

In 1998, the Cub and Scout Leaders went on a weekend Sailing course - something we all prefer not to remember! During the introductory session, the instructor "Clever" Dick, asked if any of us had done any sailing before. Most of us said no, Hathi said "Oh yes, I have been sailing on the tall ships" This did not impress Clever Dick, who said that "tall ships isn't real sailing". Those of us who have listened to all of Hathi's stories about life on the ocean waves, would disagree.

Her Scouting experience goes back to the 2nd Wickford Venture Scout Unit. We aren't quite sure when she started with the 1st Ramsden and Downham Cubs, The Scout Association say 1983 and presented her with a Long Service Decoration in May 1999.

Since Easter 2007, Hathi has been our Acting Group Scout Leader. This has given time for Raksha to complete successfully some important long term projects. Raksha's shoes are difficult to fill, some of you may have seen Hathi trying to wear some size 27 shoes!

At the Remembrance Day Service in 2008, Hathi was left speechless when she was presented with "The Award for Merit" one of the Scout Association's medals that can be presented to Leaders after at least 12 years service. It is only presented to people who have shown "Outstanding Service". Quite Right Too!

"Akela is Wonderful!" After 10 years as an Assistant Cub Scout Leader, Akela became the Pack Leader in 2002 - a role she was destined to fill. She came late to Scouting - it was only when her third son joined the pack that she finally agreed to help, and we've been delighted by that decision ever since.

Her hard work and dedication knows no limits. In the autumn, when a pain in the neck forced her to slow down for a while, she was always on the phone - not once did she complain, or did she ever ask if the rest of us could do anything to help. But despite all this - we are all delighted that her neck is slowly easing and that she is back with us, full of jokes and helpful comments!

Cub Scouts around the world know that Akela was the leader of the wolf pack in the Jungle Book and Akelas around the world know that Cub Scouts behave like packs of wolves - only much worse!

At the Group Annual General Meeting in May, Akela was presented with her Long Service Award, for 15 years service, she was amazed and speechless! At the same Remembrance Day Service in 2008, Akela was also presented with her "Award for Merit." Again it is fair to say "Quite Right" Akela is always "Outstanding"

Following our appeal for more people to help with the Bellhouse Cub Scout Pack, Chil volunteered. Since then she has been involved with helping with both our Cub Scout pack, were she has been an invaluable Leader, and also with District Events. She has been connected to the 1st Ramsden and Downham Scout Group for many years - both of her sons have been Cubs and Scouts and have now moved onto the District Explorer Scout Unit at Columbus.

Rama is the youngest of our Cub Leaders - we are not sure how old he actually is, but we know exactly when his birthday is because he never lets us forget! If there is a game to be refereed, or a Camp activity is needed, Rama is first in line to volunteer. He has been dedicated to Scouting since he was a baby (or perhaps we just feel like that).

Aber alle wir kennen Ihr Geheimnis Herr einunfvierzig. Sie sind wirklich ein deutscher Kindobachtexperte, der eine geheime Mission completling, um zu vergleichen, wie die englische Pfadfinder-Verbindung der Entwicklung der Kinder und der Jugendlichen hilft!

To see the proof of the book clicken heir!

Q will admit that he was asked to leave the Scouts when he was a boy. Perhaps that is why he enjoys it so much now. In 1978, his wife, Raksha, needed help running the Bellhouse Cub Scout Pack - Q spent 4 years as Bagheera - the wise old panther. 

When the previous Scout Leader had to step down due to a heart condition (not brought about by being SL), Bagheera became Skip. The Scouts quickly learnt that if anyone had a good idea, Skip would make it. From Climbing Towers, Black Holes, Sedan Chairs, Bridges, Greasy Poles, Ballisters, Towers, codes, and, of course, Ice-cream bombs; his skills as a Quartermaster have no limit. He has taken Scouts to France, the Netherlands, caving, climbing, para-gliding, fire-fighting, flying, sailing, rafting, car driving. 

In 2001, the Scout Associations rules meant that he had to retire. Hence the change from Skip to Q.

Now he spends his time Chairing the Village Hall Management Committee and being the main power in the running of the Troop. 

In 1993 he was awarded the Medal of Merit and in 2003 he followed Delta and Raksha in receiving the Bar to the Long Service Award - both awards left him speechless, a feat usually only matched by a bottle of red wine.

In 2004 the Scout Association finally saw sense and removed their 65 year old and retirement age limit. The first person in our District, and possibly nationally, to benefit from the new rules was Q. He immediately reapplied to become an officially warranted Assistant Scout Leader. During the Billericay and Wickford District Scout Camp to the Dordogne in May 2005, Q was renamed Jebus by the District's wise Explorer Scouts.

Finally, at the Scout Father and Son Camp at Longridge in July 2005, Q completed his 365th nights camping. To mark this remarkable achievement, he was presented with a certificate from the Essex County Scouts (click here to see it) and a letter of congratulations from the Chief Scout - Peter Duncan (click here). Finally, the parents of the Cub Scouts and Scouts all made donations towards the Group Presentation which was a gold tent peg, engraved with his name and 365. (click here)

We don't know exactly how long Delta has been involved in Scouting - but it must be 31 years, all we know is that he has been involved with the Scouts as long as any of us can remember. We were delighted when his previous Troop - 1st Great Burstead, was closed in 1994. We immediately invited him to join us as an ASL and we have been delighted that he agreed ever since.

Often mistaken for Father Christmas (because of his beard) his passion for the basics of Scouting means that our Scouts always know exactly the best way to use knives, saws, axes, lamps, stoves, tents and virtually everything else means that if our standards aren't good enough, Delta is always on hand with some friendly advise.

In 1992, whilst at Great Burstead, Delta was presented with the Medal of Merit - we had nothing to do with it but we share in his pride at this thoroughly deserved honour. Recently he was also awarded a long-overdue Bar to the Long Service Decoration - becoming the first Leader in our Group's history to receive this award.

Delta is now hard at work training our Group Executive Committee Chairman Paddy Smith - as a expert camp fire builder. Delta's standards are extremely high and Paddy is under pressure to reach the pinnacle.

In August 2008 the Chief Scout decided to present Delta with a "Bar to the Award for Merit" However, due to a wrist operation, Delta was not actually presented with the Medal until January 2009 - almost 35 years after starting his Scout Leader's career. This is the first time that this Medal has been presented in Billericay and Wickford District for over 10 years.

A few of us remember the Group Father and Son camp, held at Downe Scout Camp Site. Was Omega like one of our hard-working, intelligent Leaders who were all in bed by 1am, or was he one of those fathers chatting around the camp fire until 4 am?

We don't know - but he was one of the many fathers there who was hooked by what we forced him to do. He had been a Troop Assistant for just over two years before deciding to become and Assistant Scout Leader. We are all amazed about the cycle trips that he completes; the rest of us would struggle to cycle to the end of our roads but Chris regularly disappears for a few days to cycle in the Cotswolds and other hilly parts of the country.

When the Scouts completed their hike in the South Downs at the start of April, Omega drove to Bushy Wood camp site (after dropping his two sons off at Billericay Station) then walked 4 miles to Berwick Station, before completing the 5 mile return hike to the Camp Site. All of this with a full rucksack and tent.

In October 2007 Omega completed his Scout Leader training programme and was awarded with his Wood Badge. He is the first leader in out Group who has completed the new training system

He is secretly dreading the occasion on 14th December 2005 when we present him with his best selling book! However, Mr 41 remains modest "But I don't speak German" he says.

22 April 2012