THE BOY SCOUTS

This is the church where I went to Sunday School. Would you believe it I won a prize for reciting Catechisms . Now I read books like The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins and contemplate Pascal's Equation.

Dorothy also won prizes but rejected religion at a fairly early age . Intellectually it did not make sense to her- "The opiate of the people ."

However my connection with this church was more to do with the 44th Boy Scout Troop who met in the church hall on Thursday nights.

The Scout Movement was strong in Scotland with the first troop being  registered 1908. The rival youth organisation was the Boys Brigade ( BB).

I joined the Cubs aged  eight. On reflection there were vestiges of  Empire. The female leaders had titles like Ba loo from Kipling's Jungle Book. What did I learn ? Well all those games which later in life helped me organise childrens' birthday parties .Also the song " I went to the animal fair " emanates from my time in the Cubs . I would also add :how to sow on a button ; identify trees by their leaves and of course iron my uniform to name but a few .It was also my first stab at leadership--I commanded the Tawny Patrol .

As Cubs we viewed our elders in the Scouts with some awe . They certainly ran imaginative "Gang Shows ". In one we Cubs had a skit .We were meant to represent a BBC string quartet with wooden instruments all four gesticulated to a tape of classical music .With my curly hair I was chosen to be the conductor as I suspect they thought I could impersonate an eccentric composer. Wanting to look smart I got my hair cut ; the Scout Master was furious.

Throughout childhood having curly hair seemed to present Catch 22 senarios .You were either adored or  teased. Usually adored by adults and teased by ones pear group .

As Cubs we were introduced to camping on a farm near Dun lop in Ayrshire .Our own leaders were assisted by senior scouts.

At about age 11/12 we progressed to become fully fledged Scouts.They made a big thing of the transfer ceremony. I took my first oath of allegiance.
      "I promise on my honour to do my best, to do my duty to God and The Queen and to obey the Scout Laws ."

I looked up Scout oaths on Google . They are now more politically correct , less chauvinistic reflecting the non sectarian globalisation of the movement. Don't know about the USA side.
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The Scout Masters were a dedicated bunch . Most had been in the War and wore their campaign ribbons on their tunics. Some were rather severe but others had a good sense of humour.

I did all the things that Scouts do .I wanted to become a Queens Scout and passed everything to achieve that goal.The one stumbling block was I could not swim .Later I did teach myself to swim and even managed to do 40 lengths which was part of SAS selection.
Glasgow Scouts owned a large camping site at a place called Auchangillan .Wen I was more senior I would take my own patrol there for the weekend.

At sixteen I fell in love with a gorgeous Girl Guide , Jean Goldie.I think it was because on a Scout /Guide Dance she picked me on the ladies choice ! I never took her out a combination of being too shy and pocket money would not stretch to two tickets at the cinema .

However, on several occasions when we were both selected to carry our respective  Colours ( flags ) on Church Parades we sat in the same front pew. As we were both escorted by two juniors there two sprogs between us. Achieving an endearing glance when one is meant to be singing "Onward Christian Soldiers " with gusto is difficult. However, with head bowed during prayers I could admire her fabulous legs.

On Tues I would go to the library because if I left at 8 pm and took a certain route home I would likely pass her going in the opposite direction. This infatuation lasted at least three years.



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