Yet another scouting website....
Carl Monk
But I want some feed back from "old hands"
URL: http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/6380
This is the website of the Soedingburna VSU (yes you did read that right)
from Sittingbourne, Kent.
It's only just gone up so any input would be greatful.
YiS
Carl Monk (Webmaster)
on beahlf of the Soeds
*****************************************
Carl Monk
Brunel Uni
email: cs9...@brunel.ac.uk
or carl...@cheerful.com
Web: http://www.brunel.ac.uk/~cs97ccm
Page: 07666 765815
*****************************************
"I don't suffer from insanity.
I enjoy every minute of it."
Ian Waterhouse
WARNING: BROADSTONE WARREN SCOUT CAMP
Re: Dave Mayall’s request for transport to Broadstone Warren.
Sorry Dave, I can not help with transport on this occasion, but expect
that one of the local Group’s will.
I don’t want to put a damper on your camp but must warn you to be
permanently alert whilst at Broadstone Warren. My Group last visited
the camp in June 1996. I believe this was shortly after the new warden
took over. The toilets and showers were filthy, to the point of being a
severe danger to health. The attitude of the chief warden was anything
but conducive to the well being of the young people or adults using the
site.
Although I was new to Scouting at the time, my concerns were so great
that I wrote to HQ, asking that they look into the way that the camp was
run, and force improvements. My letter was neither answered nor
acknowledged. Recently, a young person from Kent died in Broadstone
Warren Scout camp. We have not been told why this was allowed to
happen, or whether anything has been done to improve safety.
After the tragedy I wrote to one of the County officials who
investigated the circumstances in which this young person died, and
asked whether my letter had been made available to the inquiry. Again
there was neither answer nor acknowledgment.
It is my unfortunate experience that, in Sussex, little is done by
County officials to investigate things that go wrong and it would seem
that considerable efforts are made to ignore or cover up serious matters
that are brought to their attention, sometimes, with the collusion of
HQ.
If we can not rely on the Scout hierarchy to live by and enforce P.O.R.,
we must be aware that not one young person can be considered to be safe
in our County.
It is of course possible that Broadstone Warren is under new management
and is now a much safer and nicer place than it was when I last visited,
but I wouldn’t rely on it.
Yours in Scouting
Ian Waterhouse
9th Eastbourne Scout Group
In article <Pine.SUN.3.91.980511162505.22401H-
100...@europa.brunel.ac.uk>, Carl Monk <cs9...@brunel.ac.uk> writes
--
Ian Waterhouse
Matt Brookes
Ian Waterhouse <i...@m1apt.demon.co.uk> wrote in article
<J9Ln6CAw...@m1apt.demon.co.uk>...
> WARNING: BROADSTONE WARREN SCOUT CAMP
>I don’t want to put a damper on your camp but must warn you to be
> permanently alert whilst at Broadstone Warren. My Group last visited
> the camp in June 1996. I believe this was shortly after the new warden
> took over. The toilets and showers were filthy, to the point of being a
> severe danger to health. The attitude of the chief warden was anything
> but conducive to the well being of the young people or adults using the
> site.
> It is of course possible that Broadstone Warren is under new management
> and is now a much safer and nicer place than it was when I last visited,
> but I wouldn’t rely on it.
I don't know about someone dying, but when we went to Broadstone Warren
about a month ago it was great (barring the weather) - no problems with
toilets, showers etc. which were all very clean. We also spoke to a lot of
campers at the site, all of whom were equally impressed. The Warden was
helpful and had a healthy attitude towards what went on.
If the site was as you described it two years ago, it appears that the site
may well be under new management.
Matt
--
Matt Brookes
1st Hersham Scout Group
tro...@scout.net
--
Mike Fatyga
I have visited Broadstone Warren twice since you have visited in June 1996
and have found no problems with the camp site or camp staff.
In fact the Camp Site has a very good air rifle range that would be an envy
to some camp sites.
The toilets and showers where clean and the camp staff very helpfull. It
would appear that you visited a totally different camp site.
I would reccomend the camp site to anyone in scouting.
Michael Fatyga
ACC Activities
GLMW
Ian Waterhouse wrote in message ...
>WARNING: BROADSTONE WARREN SCOUT CAMP
>
>Re: Dave Mayall’s request for transport to Broadstone Warren.
>Sorry Dave, I can not help with transport on this occasion, but expect
>that one of the local Group’s will.
>
>I don’t want to put a damper on your camp but must warn you to be
>permanently alert whilst at Broadstone Warren. My Group last visited
>the camp in June 1996. I believe this was shortly after the new warden
>took over. The toilets and showers were filthy, to the point of being a
>severe danger to health. The attitude of the chief warden was anything
>but conducive to the well being of the young people or adults using the
>site.
>
>Although I was new to Scouting at the time, my concerns were so great
>that I wrote to HQ, asking that they look into the way that the camp was
>run, and force improvements. My letter was neither answered nor
>acknowledged. Recently, a young person from Kent died in Broadstone
>Warren Scout camp. We have not been told why this was allowed to
>happen, or whether anything has been done to improve safety.
>
>After the tragedy I wrote to one of the County officials who
>investigated the circumstances in which this young person died, and
>asked whether my letter had been made available to the inquiry. Again
>there was neither answer nor acknowledgment.
>
>It is my unfortunate experience that, in Sussex, little is done by
>County officials to investigate things that go wrong and it would seem
>that considerable efforts are made to ignore or cover up serious matters
>that are brought to their attention, sometimes, with the collusion of
>HQ.
>
>If we can not rely on the Scout hierarchy to live by and enforce P.O.R.,
>we must be aware that not one young person can be considered to be safe
>in our County.
>
>It is of course possible that Broadstone Warren is under new management
>and is now a much safer and nicer place than it was when I last visited,
>but I wouldn’t rely on it.
>
Tim Tansley
In article <J9Ln6CAw...@m1apt.demon.co.uk>, Ian Waterhouse
<i...@m1apt.demon.co.uk> writes
>WARNING: BROADSTONE WARREN SCOUT CAMP
>
>Re: Dave Mayall’s request for transport to Broadstone Warren.
>Sorry Dave, I can not help with transport on this occasion, but expect
>that one of the local Group’s will.
>
> Recently, a young person from Kent died in Broadstone
>Warren Scout camp. We have not been told why this was allowed to
>happen, or whether anything has been done to improve safety.
>
>After the tragedy I wrote to one of the County officials who
>investigated the circumstances in which this young person died, and
>asked whether my letter had been made available to the inquiry. Again
>there was neither answer nor acknowledgment.
>
I believe the 'young person from Kent' who died was our old treasurer,
John G. He would be pleased to be referred to as a young man, so
thankyou! John was a fit Assistant Cub Leader, and was found dead in his
room after dying in his sleep.
He was a very considerate man, with time for all and whilst he was with
my Group, he kept a very tight reign on our money for us. I have no
doubt that he was just as good an assistant leader.
I am unsure that posting this is the correct thing to do, but I am sure
that John would not want people to be put off visiting and camping at
Broadstone Warren by someones paranoa. Over 20 years of visiting
Broadstone as a cub, Scout, Venture and ASL have left nothing but happy
memories for myself.
The important lesson learnt by our District was that the Home Contact
should not be the a relative of ANYONE on the camp. In this case, it had
been John's wife. Very awkward.
>Yours in Scouting
And previously in Guiding?
>Ian Waterhouse
>9th Eastbourne Scout Group
--
Tim Tansley
The best thing about not planning is that failure comes as a complete
surprise and is not preceded by a period of worry and depression.
gareth...@ftse.com
In article <VXYvA+Ad...@smily.demon.co.uk>,
Tim Tansley <T...@smily.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>
> In article <J9Ln6CAw...@m1apt.demon.co.uk>, Ian Waterhouse
> <i...@m1apt.demon.co.uk> writes
> >WARNING: BROADSTONE WARREN SCOUT CAMP
> >
> >Warren Scout camp. We have not been told why this was allowed to
> >happen, or whether anything has been done to improve safety.
> >
Last year a visiting boy from a local school drowned in the Broadstone Warren
swimming pool; to the best of my (source's) knowledge it wasn't a Scouting
activity. I don't know whether the correct lifeguard / supervisory coverage
was there.
My Troop will be visiting BW October this year for the third time; I wouldn't
rate it as dangerous, as long as you expect to supervise your own activities.
It's not great either, especially if it rains; the whole place becomes a
quagmire.
Gareth Parker
ASL, 3rd Chalkwell Bay Sea Scouts.
gareth...@ftse.com
-----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==-----
http://www.dejanews.com/ Now offering spam-free web-based newsreading
Manring
>In article <J9Ln6CAw...@m1apt.demon.co.uk>, Ian Waterhouse
><i...@m1apt.demon.co.uk> writes
>>WARNING: BROADSTONE WARREN SCOUT CAMP
>>
Snip
>> Recently, a young person from Kent died in Broadstone
>>Warren Scout camp. We have not been told why this was allowed to
>>happen, or whether anything has been done to improve safety.
>>After the tragedy I wrote to one of the County officials who
>>investigated the circumstances in which this young person died, and
>>asked whether my letter had been made available to the inquiry. Again
>>there was neither answer nor acknowledgment.
>>
>I believe the 'young person from Kent' who died was our old treasurer,
>John G. He would be pleased to be referred to as a young man, so
>thankyou! John was a fit Assistant Cub Leader, and was found dead in his
>room after dying in his sleep.
I understand that the young person who died did so as a result of a vehicle
accident. The original comments made by Ian Waterhouse seem to refer solely to
the hygiene of the site and, to my mind, do not have any relevance to any
Health & Safety Executive enquiry relating to the death.
Keith Meredith
In article <6kgs0m$qj9$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>,
<gareth...@ftse.com> wrote:
> It's not great either, especially if it rains; the whole place becomes a
> quagmire.
Nothing changes - it was always like that when I camped there as a Scout
30 years ago!
YiS
Keith
--
__ _ _ @ @ Keith Meredith me...@argonet.co.uk
|\/| |_ |_) |_) \/ /\ CSL 1st Grendon Sea Scouts
| | |__ | \ | \ / \__/ Castle Ashby, Northants
Robert Metcalf
>
> I understand that the young person who died did so as a result of a vehicle
> accident. The original comments made by Ian Waterhouse seem to refer solely to
> the hygiene of the site and, to my mind, do not have any relevance to any
> Health & Safety Executive enquiry relating to the death.
I was told it was a school group who let their kids in to the swimming
pool, than all the adults went around the corner. A kid drowned and
there were no life guards.
That's what I was told, just shows how rumors change!
Matthew SAVAGE
Robert Metcalf <METC...@ctksfc.ac.uk> wrote, when quoting someone else:
> >
> > I understand that the young person who died did so as a result of a
vehicle
> > accident.
I believe this is the incident at Broadstone Warren.
> I was told it was a school group who let their kids in to the swimming
> pool, than all the adults went around the corner. A kid drowned and
> there were no life guards.
>
> That's what I was told, just shows how rumors change!
>
I don't believe that an identical incident to that which occurred at
Chalfont Heights last year could have happened. These appear to be two
independant tragedies that have unfortunately been confused.
--
Matthew
ASL 10th Feltham
Mike Fatyga
The accident that happened at BW was a vehicle accident with a member of the
service crew who got run over. It was NOT a person visiting the camp site as
a camper. The incident is being investigated to prevent a reoccurrance.
The swimming incident happened at Chalfont Heights and procedures have been
put in place to prevent a reoccurrance.
Both the camp sites are well run and provide safe activities for all
campers.
Mike Fatyga
Ian Waterhouse wrote in message ...
>WARNING: BROADSTONE WARREN SCOUT CAMP
>
>Re: Dave Mayall’s request for transport to Broadstone Warren.
>Sorry Dave, I can not help with transport on this occasion, but expect
>that one of the local Group’s will.
>
>I don’t want to put a damper on your camp but must warn you to be
>permanently alert whilst at Broadstone Warren. My Group last visited
>the camp in June 1996. I believe this was shortly after the new warden
>took over. The toilets and showers were filthy, to the point of being a
>severe danger to health. The attitude of the chief warden was anything
>but conducive to the well being of the young people or adults using the
>site.
>
>Although I was new to Scouting at the time, my concerns were so great
>that I wrote to HQ, asking that they look into the way that the camp was
>run, and force improvements. My letter was neither answered nor
>acknowledged. Recently, a young person from Kent died in Broadstone
>Warren Scout camp. We have not been told why this was allowed to
>happen, or whether anything has been done to improve safety.
>
>After the tragedy I wrote to one of the County officials who
>investigated the circumstances in which this young person died, and
>asked whether my letter had been made available to the inquiry. Again
>there was neither answer nor acknowledgment.
>
>It is my unfortunate experience that, in Sussex, little is done by
>County officials to investigate things that go wrong and it would seem
>that considerable efforts are made to ignore or cover up serious matters
>that are brought to their attention, sometimes, with the collusion of
>HQ.
>
>If we can not rely on the Scout hierarchy to live by and enforce P.O.R.,
>we must be aware that not one young person can be considered to be safe
>in our County.
>
>It is of course possible that Broadstone Warren is under new management
>and is now a much safer and nicer place than it was when I last visited,
>but I wouldn’t rely on it.
>
>Yours in Scouting
>
>Ian Waterhouse
>9th Eastbourne Scout Group
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Dave Mayall
Manring wrote:
>
> >In article <J9Ln6CAw...@m1apt.demon.co.uk>, Ian Waterhouse
> ><i...@m1apt.demon.co.uk> writes
> >>
> >>Re: Dave Mayall’s request for transport to Broadstone Warren.
>
>
> >> Recently, a young person from Kent died in Broadstone
> >>Warren Scout camp. We have not been told why this was allowed to
> >>happen, or whether anything has been done to improve safety.
> >>After the tragedy I wrote to one of the County officials who
> >>investigated the circumstances in which this young person died, and
> >>asked whether my letter had been made available to the inquiry. Again
> >>there was neither answer nor acknowledgment.
> I understand that the young person who died did so as a result of a vehicle
> accident. The original comments made by Ian Waterhouse seem to refer solely to
> the hygiene of the site and, to my mind, do not have any relevance to any
> Health & Safety Executive enquiry relating to the death.
As the person who seems to have unwittingly triggered Ian's tirade
against Broadstone Warren, I suppose I ought to reply.
I haven't seen the original posting, only the followups, having
spent the past 9 days without internet access, whilst working
on a campsite.
I was aware that it had been posted, because the Warden at
Broadstone Warren took the trouble to telephone me about
the posting, and to reasure me that the poster was wrong in
his opinions.
He need not have worried. I have camped there on 3 previous
occasions, and always found it to be a great site.
I am well aware of the incident to which Ian refers, which
was indeed a vehicle accident, involving a 15 year old girl
and a tractor. I am aware of it, because part of my work
over the last 9 days has been driving the campsite tractor,
and the news articles relating to the tragedy are displayed
prominently in the wardens office.
This newsgroup was hardly the best place to sound off about
the incident.
--
Dave Mayall
The views expressed are mine and may not be those of my employer
Private e-mail to david....@ukonline.co.uk please
Dave Mayall
Dave Mayall
Mark Stephens
In article <35728CEC...@postoffice.co.uk>,
Dave Mayall <may...@postoffice.co.uk> writes:
> Manring wrote:
>>
>> >In article <J9Ln6CAw...@m1apt.demon.co.uk>, Ian Waterhouse
>> ><i...@m1apt.demon.co.uk> writes
>> >>WARNING: BROADSTONE WARREN SCOUT CAMP
>> >>
>> >>Re: Dave Mayall's request for transport to Broadstone Warren.
>>
>> Snip
Big Snip
On a lighter note I have put some photos from Broadstone Warren taken
by David Mayall on the ScoutNet UK Website.
Some in the Gallery section.
http://www.scoutnet.org.uk/photo/gallery.htm
And one that made Photo of the Month in May 1998
http://www.scoutnet.org.uk/photo/may98.htm
A picture is worth a thousand words.
Mark.
P.S.
Something new & cool is coming from ScoutNet UK.
Announcement next week.
Watch this cyber-space ;-)
--
M.B.St...@man.ac.uk
also
pho...@scout.net
as maintainer of the SNUK Photo of the Month competition
and also
VSL Aztecs VSU, 5th Stalybridge, Tame Valley, Greater Manchester East
http://www.man.ac.uk/~mbhesms/aztecs/