2009 St. Georges Day Meal
Eastleigh District celebrated Founders Day and St George’s day by holding a 3 course dinner at a local restaurant and it’s own District Centenary on Friday 17th April
32 Guests, mainly GSL’s and their partners, attended the celebration dinner at the Otter Restaurant at Otterbourne nr Winchester. The guest of honour was Wayne Bullpitt – Chief Commissioner – South from Guernsey, who was in the UK for both work and Scouting and he was pleased to accept the invite. The dinner was preceded with a prayer given by Mr Ian Hayes-Anderson, the District Pastor, giving thanks to Scouting and the food about to be eaten and afterwards followed by speeches.
David McGregor, DC for Eastleigh, welcomed the guests including Lyn Darbyshire, DC for Chandler’s Ford, who were part of Eastleigh District until 1984. He spoke about how Scouting had become a World Organisation in the 1st 100 years and how Eastleigh District numbers had grown in it’s own 100 years, along with some passing and closure of Scout Groups.
David also joked that he wouldn’t like to have been DC at the beginning due to the travelling because the Eastleigh District originally included Chandler’s Ford and Botley in it’s boundaries – a 100 years ago cars were not readily available and therefore he would have had to carry out his duties either by bike or walk! However he had no remorse about the next 100 years and how Scouting still offered much to the young people in his District and he looked forward to the continuing District celebrations in 2009
Wayne Bulpitt, gave an inspiring speech on Scouting in the years to come and how the values of modern Scouting still follow the ethos of 100 years ago but we musn’t forget that it is about the youth of today who still want to take part in activities and have a sense of achievement. He also gave a recent example of Scouts helping a Mountain rescue team recover a injured walker
Wayne was also able to present 1 of the 3 St Georges day awards given to Eastleigh District. Paul Dovey, ADC General Duties, was awarded Bar to Silver Acorn for all his effort in Eastleigh including its very successful Scout Shop.
The Dinner was greeted as a great success by it’s diners and was a prelude to the actual St Georges day service held on 23rd April where the 2nd of the St Georges day awards – a Silver Acorn, was presented to Mrs Christine Cole for her dedication to the District and Beavers