Carradale Summer Camp

Summary of Summer Camp at Carradale (1934)

Attendance

Scouters

                GSM Sam Faulds (70th) for part of the time, ASM A.Ian Dunlop, ASM John B. Hardie.

Troop Leader

​               TL A. Colhoun

70th Patrol Leaders

                Alan Hardie and Duncan Black

70th Scouts

                 Ian Blake and John Park.

Also camping 

                 Reverend A.R.R. Reid (for 1 week)

 

The location of the Carradale campsite in 1934 was at a farm owned by J. Paterson on the north of Carradale Point with magnificent views of Arran. A detailed description of the campsite stated that the camp was situated on a hillock above some cottages and near a kippering shed and a coal shed. The owner of the kippery was a Mr.  Buchanan of Shore Cottage who gifted several dinners of kippers and herrings to the Scouts during the camp. Other supplies were purchased from Mr. J. Paterson who ran a shop as well as the farm. The water spring was 5 yards from the Flagstaff and the camp was about one mile from the pier.

 This was the first summer camp involving only 70th Scouts, although it is possible that Troop Leader A. Colhoun was from another Scout Group.  The camp took place between the 14th and 30th July 1934. 
     The Scouts slept in the Bell tent while the leaders (identified as 'officers') slept in a Scoutmaster tent. Another Scoutmaster tent was used as a 'kitchen tent'. In later years, the Bell became the Scouters' tent. Ian Dunlop was in overall charge of the camp with John Hardie identified as the 'padre'. Cooking arrangements were communal with two Scouts per day acting as the cooks.
     The only information provided on the camp comes from the Troop Log and this was a retrospective summary written in 1935. As a result, details of the detailed day-to-day programme are lacking. However, the photographs and summary provided in the log book indicate that swimming took place on the "Silver Sands", South of Carradale. However, jellyfish were a bit of a problem and several Scouts got stung during the camp.  Games of cricket also took place in which a local family called the Fergusons often joined in.  A Scouts Own was held on each of the two Sundays in camp, one of which was attended by 'visitors' - presumably parents.

    PLs Duncan Black and Alan Hardie hiked to Grogport some seven miles away and returned the next day. This might have been towards the 1st Class Badge. 

   The ferry "Davaar" was used to get to Carradale, while the ferry "Dalriada" was used for the return journey.
    The weather during the first week of the camp was 'moderate', but it was rather wet towards the end of camp.