1st Adderbury Scout Troop, Banbury, Oxfordshire, UK

Summer Camp 1983 was held at Bradley Wood Scout Camp Site, Brighouse in Yorkshire.

In typical 1st Adderbury fashion the journey to camp was delayed by a tyre blow-out on a trailer. It doesn't seem to be a problem for James DeCaux though.

Kestrels

Richard Hopkins lighting Tigers' fire

Mr Lidster eating with the Tigers

One of the Troop's original HQ tents

Keith Brigden, Paul Gardner and Craig Moore

Brendan Cox

James DeCaux and David Folland cooking in Otters...

... and Mr Baker tucks in!

Venture Scouts Andy Cox and Andy Green set off on a hike with James DeCaux

On the hike Dale Burman and Chris Allen made friends with some sheep!

Then the weather turned bad as t5he Scouts crossed a peat bog.

Richard Jennens arrives back soaked.

So it was all change in the HQ...

...and a Vesta "just add water" meal prepared by the Leaders.

ALSO IN 1983

The music:
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
Spandau Ballet - True
Men At Work - Down Under
Phil Collins - You Can't Hurry Love
Billy Joel - Uptown Girl
UB40 - Red Red Wine
Culture Club - Karma Chameleon

Films:
Flashdance
Octopussy
Educating Rita

TV:
Breakfast TV started
Blackadder
Blockbusters

See more from 1983 on the BBC website:

On the last night a group of Scouts slept out under the stars

Mr Lidster loads his boat onto his car ahead of a river canoeing trip

Venture Scout Andy Green inspecting the site with Mr Baker

COCOA TIME!

The cocoa at Summer camp is the stuff of legends. Dating back to Mr Lidster's secret receipe, nobody quite knows what's in it - but it tastes GOOD!

The cocoa is always accompanied by a "story of the supernatural". In the old days Mr Lidster told these ghostly tales live. Today they are played off CD.

Mike Baker sites with the Venture Scouts Andy Green, Andy Cox, Tim and Trev Gainey and Jeremy Warren, waiting for cocoa.

The Troop went abseiling at Ilkley Moor. How different the activity rules were then! Dale Burham is abseiling left, and Craig Moore climbing above.

Another activity during the week was pony riding, and Richard Jennens and Nick Gracie-Langrick are seen leading.

Mr Lidster filmed the first three Summer Camps using an old style 35mm camera.

Unfortunately these films no longer exist.

By 1983 he had moved into the video age! You can watch that very first video by clicking the picture above.

Good old Mr Baker - always game for a laugh ... this time with a little help from Will Allen!

Meanwhile, in April 1983 the Troop took part in the Banbury District St George's Day parade. Brendan Cox carries the flag, accompanied by Dale Burman and David Folland.

In the spring of 1983 Trev and Tim Gainey and Andy Green left Scouts ahead of their "O" Levels. They all attended Summer Camp as Venture Scouts. Brendan Cox took the helm in Merlins, Chris Allen in Kestrels and Dale Burman in Tigers. Otter's David Folland left at the end of the year, and James DeCaux took over.

Summer Camp 1983 was the last attended by Mike Lidster, who became ill shortly afterwards.

Every month our patrol's battle it out to win the points competition. Until 1983 a trophy was awarded each month. However in 1983 the PLs suggested that something more than just a trophy was needed and so an edible prize was introduced. Sweets to the value of £1 were purchased and given out with the trophy. This system continued until 2005.

Here's a copy of a typical Tuesday night programme from 1983, prepared by Scout Leader Ken Baker, showing the games, badgework, and who was running what. Click to enlarge.

During 1983 PLs' Council meetings were held monthly. Each PL took a turn to take the notes. Things became interesting during the three months that PL Chris Allen was secretary, as his dry humour and satirical wit added a new dimension to the meetings, as you can read here!

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