Camp Reflection of a Southwold Troop Camp in 1910 which Fressingfield Boy Scouts had a presence.

From East Anglian Daily Times, Thursday 4th August 1910.

The Southwold Troop.
The various encampments in East Anglia have been very successful and detailed reports are being collected, and will be published in due course. The Commissioner for Suffolk made a motor tour in North-East Suffolk, and at Southwold picked up the Scoutmaster of Southwold Troop (Lord Stradbroke’s Own) and five of the Scouts, and took them across to Blythburgh, afterwards proceeding to the Camp of No. 6 Ipswich Troop at Dunwich. After this he returned to Blythburgh and inspected the Southwold and visiting Scouts, returning to his residence at Scarning, East Dereham, the same evening, a run of over 100 miles. Sir Frederick Wilson was compelled to telephone to Felixstowe announcing the abandonment of his projected visits to Camps at High Row, Kesgrave, and the neighbourhood. The Troops though disappointed doubtless recognised that the Commissioner could not be in two places at once, and that the northern part of the country claimed more if his attention on this occasion.

The route march, organised and commanded by Captain R. J. Goddard, of the 8th Ipswich Troop of Boy Scouts (Tacket Street, Life Brigade), was extremely successful and thoroughly well organised and carried out. All troops and their officers worked splendidly together, and the muster was very strong and representative. The Troops met on St. Margaret’s Green at 5 p.m., and the route taken was through Westerfield Road, Henley Road, Anglesea Road, Norwich Road, Bramford Road, thence back to St. Margaret’s Green, via St. Matthew’s, Tavern Street, Carr Street, St. Helen’s, and Orchard Street. Here the Troops formed three sides of a square, the band playing the National Anthem, and the general salute being sounded prior to the Troops being dismissed. The following was the parade state – Tacket Street Life Brigade and No. 5 Ipswich Troop, 38 lads and Scouts and two officers; No. 1 Ipswich Troop, 36 lads, with six officers; No. 9 Troop, 14 lads, with three officers; No. 11 Troop, 16 lads, with four officers; No. 13 Troop, 3 lands; No. 14 Troop, 23 lads and one officer.

On Saturday Sir George Makgill, Bart, and Lady Makgill were “At Honor” to the Scoutmasters and Scouts affiliated to the Eye and District Scout Association. There were present Scouts from Fressingfield, Hoxne, Finningham, Eye Town, Eye Grammar School, Occold, Thrandeston, Thorndon, and Yaxley, making a total of about 100. Although the weather did its worst to spoil the occasion, everyone concerned spent a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon and evening – for the Scouts did not disperse until nearly nine. After a hearty tea, served in a marquee, the following programme of competitions was carried though, the names of the winning teams being appended: - (1) Knot tying: Hoxne; Taylor and Leggett. (2) Judging distances: Eye Grammar School; A. Tuppen who sent in a remarkably accurate card; (3) messengers’ relay race: Eye Town, C. Carter, E. Hayward, L. Snell, and L. Whant; this proved a very interesting event, a verbal message being passed round the grounds by the Scouts, the prize being awarded to the team bringing it in most accurately in the quickest time. (4) Smartest patrol: This was decided, after careful inspection by Major C. F. Wright, who adjudged the Thorndon Patrol to be the smartest on parade. (5) Signalling (Semaphore): Eye Town 1st team, H. Burnip, B. Crackerll, L. Snell, and A. Percy, by whom the message sent was faultlessly sent through. (6) Ambulance: Eye Town 2nd team, C. Tricker, C. Carter, J. Percy, and W. Scrivener. Some very smart work was displayed by the three Eye teams especially, the 2nd team being declared the winners by the judges, Dr. Henry Barnes and Major C. F. Wright, by half a mark over the 1st team. (7) Pole jump (long): Occold, R. Palmer: pole jump (high), Thorndon, L. Tuppen. (8) Tug-of-war (for teams of eight Scouts from each parish): Occold, Tug-of-war (for teams of six from each patrol): Occold, “Cuckoos.” The Occold Scouts proved particularly lusty, and did pretty much as they liked in these events. The competitions over, Sir George Makgill Presented the prizes to the winners, afterwards remarking what a pleasure the occasion has been to hum. Three cheers were then given for Sir George and Lady Makgill, and three more for the Rev. C. W. Kershaw (district hon. secretary), who had arranged the programme and been responsible for much of the organisation. The various patrols then dispersed to their respective parishes, everyone expressing their appreciation of their pleasant outing, and of the keenness and interest shown in the Scout movement by their best, the Chairman.