28th September 1997
Our first training day was held at Buckmore Park Scout Camp. I was a bit worried at first because there was so many new faces, but that soon went. We all sat down and our parents were allowed to stay while all the leaders introduced themselves.
After all the parents had left the leaders explained what we were going to expect at the Jamboree and other information that we might want to know. They also talked about the uniform and equipment that we would be getting.
We all stopped to have lunch and this was the first time that we could all mingle and start to get to know people. During lunch a video was put on which showed the past Jamboree.
After lunch the leaders decided the best design to be the Kent Contingent badge. I was a bit annoyed at this, not because I didn't win because of the fact that the one chosen was in the shape of a rectangle when we all got told that the designs had to be circular.
The day quickly came to and end and my parents soon turned up. There was a question and answer session before we all went home.
27th September 1998 - 14th February 1998
I sold Initials quiz sheets to family and friends
24th January 1998
A fizz quiz was held by scout troop in the district and raised £40.40 for the Jamboree Fund
14th February 1998
This was our second training day, which was held at Thanet's district Camp Site which I couldn't attend.
14th/15th March 1998
The Gillingham Dockyard had a couple of open days on these dates and I was invited to welcome the public onto the HMS Gannet. While at these days I took round a collection tin and raised £16.50
16th February 1998
I received a letter today from Peter Latchford telling me what had happened on the training day that I couldn't attend
20th February 1998
The 4th Gillingham Beaver Colony raised £17.00 by holding a sing and dance production for the parents
17th March 1998
I have decided to try and send out donations letters to companies asking for sponsorship. In the letters sent out I have explained who I am, about the Jamboree itself and how I came to be one of the Kent contingent. I have also added that if they choose to sponsor me I can do a small amount of advertising for their business. I can do this by putting their names and logos at fund raising events that I am hopefully going to hold in the future, on e-mails that I send to people and also on my Jamboree Web page that I am going to design in the near future. I have sent my donation letters to the following companies:
Auto Yachts Ltd
Dagenham Motors Ltd
Johnsons of Rainham
Stay White UK Ltd
BHS
Woolworth's Plc
Gillingham Golf Club Ltd
Akzo Nobel Chemicals Ltd
Upchurch River Valley Golf Course Ltd
Rotary Club of Gillingham
19th March 1998
I sent out more letters to the following companies asking for donations:
The Kings Ferry of Gillingham
W.A. Poulton & Sons Ltd.
Rainham Amateur Theatrical Society Ltd. (RATS)
Wyevale Garden Centre plc
Wakeley Brothers Distribution
Berengrave Services Ltd
Fairways Ltd
The Royal British Legion Clubs
Conservation Club
Gillingham Football Club
26th March 1998
I received one of my donation letters today from Upchurch River Valley Golf Course Ltd saying sorry they were unable to help with my fund raising
29th March 1998
My troop held a plant and book sale and raised £83.81. This is the first of the plant and book sales that has taken place and three more are scheduled for the next three Sundays
27th March 1998
I received a letter from BHS today, they apologise but they can't help.
2nd April 1998
Another one of my donation letters turned up today from Auto Yachts Ltd. They can't help with the fund raising ether
3rd April 1998
I received a reply from the Rotary Club of Gillingham today and they have decided to sponsor me £50.00
7th April 1998
I was given a donation of £3.00 from Auntie Eve (my next door neighbour)
24th April 1998 - 26th April 1998
The Kent Contingent met up again at Tovil Scout HQ this weekend. We arrived Friday evening and soon had the tents up. The site where we were allowed our tents was marked out with a rope to show us the amount of space that we would get at the Jamboree. It was bigger than I had thought. The first event of the weekend was going down to Tosco to buy some food. Each patrol was given an amount of money and told to bring back food and drink (not alcoholic!) to make an evening meal. As well as cooking for our patrol we were told we each would have to feed a leader. Our group made a very nice meal and it was the only one what was a three-course meal also it cost the least to make. It started with a selection of dips with cut up carrots, tortilla chips, and other salad. The main meal was Chicken in a honey and mustard sauce with pasta and the dessert was scout made jam donuts. Yum
After we had all finished our meals we did the cleaning up and then were told we were going to go on a night hike. Oh lucky us! The hike wasn't a very long distance and I feel that it did us good because it gave us all a chance to talk and find out what every one is good at.
When we finally finished the hike and got back to the campsite I went to sleep.
Next morning after getting up we did lots of activities which included designing our gateway, looking at the equipment that we were going to be given and lots more. Late that evening after eating we all sat around a campfire and sang songs. When this had finished some of the Kent contingent went to bed but I stayed up with the rest and we played darts and talked till early next morning.
A few hours later I got up and had breakfast with my patrol. I then packed up my tent and then left the campsite with Caroline because we had been asked to do a speech at our districts St George's Day service.
5th May 1998
I received a letter through the post from Peter Latchford today. In this letter was a feedback Questionnaire about the training camp that I had just attended. I didn't expect to receive this but I thought it was a very good idea.
6th May 1998
Donation letter came through my door today from the Upper Gillingham Conservative Club Ltd they have to sponsor me £10.00
6th May 1998
I sent a letter to Diana Lawerence who is the publisher of the Gillingham Scout News. Asking her if it was possible to place an advert in the newspaper for my Kent Contingent badges, and Friends of the jamboree
14th May 1998
I received a letter from The Kings Ferry of Gillingham about my request for donations. They were very thankful but they couldn't help ether because they had already given out there year's sponsorship.
18th May 1998
I sent out some more donations letters today to the following companies:
United Services Club Ltd
Gillingham Labour Club
Arcola Products Ltd
The Three Mariners
Greens of Rainham
Hidsons Honda
United Services Club Ltd
Gillingham Labour Club
Kent Today
A.W. Stubs and son
21st May 1998
Today my Dad placed an article on the Scoutbase home page on the Internet for my Kent Contingent badges.
22nd May 1998
Today I received a letter from Kent Today, they are sorry but they can't give out any donations to any organisations but they have said that they would be happy to place an article in their newspaper advertising the Jamboree. I phoned a lady called Sara White at Kent Today and have arranged for a photographer to come around my house on the 25th May 1998
27th May 1998
I sent another donation letter to Eden Joinery today.
28th May 1998
My newspaper article was printed today in the Kent Today newspaper. What a horrible photo of me!
28th May 1998
I received a reply to one of my donation letters today from A.W. Stubbs and Son (my brothers firm) they have given me £50
29th May 1998
I received a letter from Mike Smith today. He had seen my advert on the Internet and wanted 3 badges
31st May 1998
I received a reply to one of my donation letters from Eden Joinery they would like to sponsor me £20
1st June 1998
I sent some more donation letters today to:
Rainham (Kent) Social Club Ltd
Benhams Off licence
1st June 1998
Wakeley Brothers Distribution Ltd sent me a letter saying sorry unable to help with sponsorship.
3rd June 1998
Received a suprising letter today from Geraldine Young. She explained that she had a boy of my age and she could imagine my excitement of being chosen. She made a donation of £5.oo towards my Jamboree fund.
9th June 1998
I received a letter from my Auntie Joyce today. She would like to give a donation of £20
10th June 1998
Andrew Collins sent my a letter today asking for 1 Kent Contingent badge. He had also seen my advert that was on the Internet.
14th June 1998
Joan Ludbruck sent a letter to me and a cheque for 1 Kent Contingent badge today.
17th June 1998
I received a letter from Laura Handy who saw my advert on the Internet and wanted 1 Kent Contingent badge.
19th June 1998 - 21st June 1998
This training weekend was held at HopeHill Campsite. When I first arrived I noticed that my partner Edward hadn't turned up yet so I asked Peter where he was. He told me he would be late and not to worry.
In the evening we sat in one of the tents and were given some information sheets and also a talk about equipment. After the talk we all went out of a hike which was interesting. The hike was different because we had walkie-talkies and we were given a destination and when we reached there we had to radio in for the next destination. Also there were incidents to do at some of the destinations. One of the incidents was a person injured by radiation and we had to save him and guess who the injured person was... Edward!
By the time we finally got back to campsite it was late and we still hadn't got our tent up. I got a surprise when the tent was up because it could only just fit us two without our bags. So we left them in the dinning tent.
Next morning we did lots of activities, which involved prusscking what I had never done before, climbing and absailing what was a achievement for me because I had never got up that tower before. What also made it good was the fact I managed to get Helen to have a go at the climbing and also to get her to do the absailing. We also had a guest speaker who talked and made us play games about the environment and the community.
The last night was just as uncomfortable as the first with the added extra bonus that I found out how painful red ants can be!
20th June 1998
Gillingham District scout Shop wanted 8 Kent Contingent badges because they have offered to show some in their shop to try to sell them this way.
24th June 1998
I received a letter from a man named Dave Wooff. He wanted to buy 12 Kent Contingent badges
28th June 1998
I received a cheque from Terry and Simonne Wells who raised £104.00 by doing a sponsored fun run. I was very thankful
1st July 1998
Rainham (Kent) Social Club Ltd. sent me a letter thanking me for asking them for donations. They have sponsored me £50 and also given me 3 bottles of spirits to raffle off.
17th July 1998
I received a letter from Peter Latchford today concerning personal details that needed to be sent to the UK HQ before we go to Chile at Christmas. Also with this letter was form about choosing your Ho Ho partner. I was phoned by Helen a couple of days ago to find out if I had received and read this form because she was wondering if I would like to be her partner. I said yes.
21st July 1998
I received a letter from Matthew Currie who is one of the executive committee members explaining the use of the Executive Committee and giving me a full list of phone numbers and addresses.
14th August 1998
Mike Waters sent me a letter today because he wanted 12 Kent Contingent badges.
2nd September 1998
I received a request for some Kent Contingent badges from Paul Aked today. He wanted 4 badges
22nd September 1998
Today we finally added the 4th Gillingham Sea Scouts home page onto the Internet. With these pages I also added my own page about the 19th World Jamboree.
25th September 1998 - 27th September 1998
Our last weekend camp was held at Kingsdown Camp Site. It was arranged that Caroline's Dad was going to take Caroline and myself to the camp, and my Dad was going to pick us up and take us home. I thought this was going to be a horrible weekend because of the bad weather that we had been having.
When we finally found the campsite I put up my tent and brought my camp equipment that I was asked to bring over to the cooking tents. Which were already up because the leaders were already at the campsite. When we all joined together in the main dinning tent we had a quick Spanish session with Dawn and then Information sheets were given out. Also we all received our official Hiscox Polo tops and sweatshirts.
Next morning we were split into our patrol groups and we each took it in turns to go around different bases to try out Bat and Trap, Volleyball, building and using our gateway, and also our practising making the portable flagpole. We had lunch and then we all went for a walk down to the local swimming pool. Getting lost on the way!
That evening we all sat in the main dinning tent and we had a Spanish session with Dawn again and we also had to come up with ideas for the entertainment that we would do while we were over at the Jamboree. After we had done our songs we put on some proper music artists who can sing! And had a disco. During this disco I ordered some Baden Powel badges and also some Union Jack badges.
The next day I packed up my tent and then my Dad collected Caroline and me.
18th October 1998
Today I went to Hamlet Wood Camp site to collect my Kent Contingent uniform. When I arrived I was the first so I had plenty of time to check over my uniform, most of it fit and was the right size except my desert boots. I had ordered size 10 and needed size 9. I was also lucky because my trousers were too large, but luckily Peter Latchford needed a larger pair so I swapped with him. I also picked up my Baden Powel and Union Jack badges that I had ordered at our last weekend camp.
5th November 1998
Benhams Off license gave a donation of 12 bottles for raffles
5th November 1998
Paul Abbott gave a donation of a fruit basket to be used for a raffle prize at the firework night
6th November 1998
I raised £56.50 at my group's yearly firework evening by selling tickets for a raffle. The prizes were some of the bottles that I was given as donations and the fruit basket. The remainder of the bottles will be given to the district to be raffled off at their District dance on the 21st November 1998.
15th September 1998
Today I went to the last official meeting of the Kent Contingent. The day was held at Tovil Scout HQ. The day started with the whole contingent being split into three groups. One was going to cook lunch, one was in charge of coming up with ideas for entertainment and the last was doing community work around the Scout site such as cutting wood.
I was lucky because I managed to get into the lunch group. Then they told us that we had to prepare and serve a 3 course meal for 50! People, plus we had to set out tables, chairs, table clothes, plates and cutlery, glasses, and other odd objects which finished off each table. We had special guest for lunch that included the home contacts.
The last thing event of the day was the giving out of all field and trek equipment that we had ordered and my new size 9 boots! The next time we all meet will be Christmas day.
20th November 1998
I went to our Beaver Colony today to give a talk about the Jamboree and also the Kent contingent. This was my first talk to anyone and I was a little bit frightened. I took with me some of my equipment that I am going to take such as my bags, fleece, sunglasses and not forgetting my doggy hat. I did this because beavers can't sit still for long periods of time just listening. They have more fun by looking and touching objects, so I pasted around my equipment.
21st November 1998
Today there was a District Dance held at a St Margets Grammar school. Every one had to try to sell as many tickets as possible and because my sister knows so many people we ended having 20 people who were in our group of people. One of these guests was Helen that I had invited. This evening was very enjoyable except for the speech that they told me I had to do with Caroline. I sounded terrible because I didn't have any time to plan anything.
During this evening apart from dancing and eating I also sold raffle tickets. Caroline and I had to be in uniform for the first part of the evening, but then we did a Superman act and shot outside and changed into some more comfortable (and warmer!) clothes.
30th November 1998
Today I did another talk to our Dolphins cub pack. I brought along the same equipment and pasted it around like before but also I could go into more detail about what is going to happen at the Jamboree and what I have been doing for the preparation
2nd December 1998
I did a talk to the cub pack that I help at today (Otters) This talk went just like the previous. The only thing that was different was the fact that our cub pack was the worst behaved during my talk!
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