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Friday
We all arrived at the Oaks campsite on a cold Friday night to be hosts of the bear Rally chaired by Simon with a committee of Cat, Zoe, Brewer, Chappers and Martin oh and not forgetting Scogui bear the font of all knowledge. First job was to put up our tents and unload all of the food from the van (I have never seen so much bread in my life). Then to prepare for the arrivals, my job for the evening was first stint in the car park, where everyone got parked on the now frozen grass with no accidents, whilst this was going on the rest of Scogui were directing from the top of the drive, booking people in and making soup and coffee (a very important job). After booking in it was time for the campfire, which included the full version of the Scogui/ yogi bear song then time for bed in the now frozen tents.

Saturday
Everyone dragged themselves out of their frozen tents some in time for breakfast some not, then got ready for a day of fun. First to happen was the morning incident hike, though I got the nice easy job of sitting on a base in a warm car with Antz for the morning. After the hike onto Nanpantan Scout hut for hotdogs and organising for the afternoons activities. After lunch people left on a variety of activities including, the hike, skittles in the swan, a trip on the steam railway and many more. I went off to the Space centre in Leicester and had a great afternoon exploring and playing on the kiddie activities with Barry. When back in Loughborough we met up in the Union and all headed up to Cayley Hall for tea and the barn dance. Food was enough to revive some of the now very tired Scogui members but it took me a trip home to my nice warm shower to be awake enough to participate in some of the barn dancing and looking at people’s insane costumes. Then back to site to light the fire for the evening and await the return of the rest of SSAGO! After which more singing followed and lots of sleeping on my part.

Sunday
Everyone was up for breakfast again and then most of the morning was spent having a SSAGO AGM followed by the closing ceremony attended by the Mayor of Loughborough at which Simon was presented with a bear factory bear!!!! After lunch came the job of taking down all the tents and clearing everything up ready to go home, though some clubs were delayed due to the kidnapping of various mascots. Then we all departed the campsite after a fun rally and met up later in EHB for tea and the wide-awake people even stayed for the quiz.

Written by Jen-E

The Bear Rally Website can be found >> Here

The Leeds and Leicester rally was my first rally…quite a daunting prospect! I arrived just about on time to the beam engine on the Friday night, and carried my bags to the minibus. Then came the challenge of getting all of the items safely on the minibus! Stupidly I volunteered to help! Any way…that is not the point! After the tedious process of loading up minibuses we eventually departed from Loughborough! The bus journey was not too bad! No one was sick or started crying – so I suppose you could say it was great!

After a small round the block detour (thanks to Amy who pointed us in the right direction!) we arrived at Bramhope Campsite – up in Leeds! After registering, unpacking the minibus and pitching tents it was time to head to the bar, and for rally veterans to catch up with old mates from rallies. The new people were introduced to friends of friends! After a campfire of singing songs people drifted off to their tents (or other peoples – no…not scogui people…!). We were awakened to the sound of pots being banged and shouts of BREAKFAST! Most of us managed to get up for breakfast, then head off on the scavenger hunt in our groups.

Arriving back to the campsite more people were out of bed (lazy people! Tut tut!). A sandwich lunch was enjoyed by everyone. The afternoon was spent taking part in a variety of different events – ones we had chosen to take part in. A small group of us spent the afternoon watching a bar in Leeds Student Union watching the rugby! After a short detour to Morrisons supermarket (you don’t have those down south!) we arrived at the bus pick up point to meet an excited bunch of people who had been around the armouries museum – most armed with plastic swords! We were then taken to an old scout hut. It was cold and the ceiling dripped – which provided cooling refreshment when the barn dancing started. There was an interesting dinner after which all dignity was lost in changing into costumes (scogui went as Asterix) in the cold hall! The barn dance got off to a great start, with lots of enthusiasm! Later on we were all boarded onto the busses to be taken back to the campsite. A campfire followed and people began to drift to tents.

Sunday morning…it felt so early! Could the weekend be almost over! Not before there were all of the silly games. Lunch soon came, then it was time for the presentation ceremonies. Simon armed all of scogui with leaflets about the Loughborough rally to distribute to everyone. Helmet challenged Cardiff (for them to keep their mascot) to a garlic eating competition – Helmet won! But…somehow Cardiff got their mascot back! Then, the weekend was over, all that was left to do was to strike tents, and say good bye to new friends. Helmet was almost stolen by Cardiff – until he burped a big garlic burp…they decided they couldn’t put up with the smell all of the way back to Wales!

We arrived back to Loughborough having stopped at a service station once. The roof racks were unpacked, and people dropped home. Then the sociable ones popped to the EHB for some dinner, and to enter the quiz.

What a great weekend

Written by Em Cowell

Welcome to SCOGUI and the British weather. Fresher’s camp was held in the OAKS in Charnwood, The venue of the bear rally.

Friday the 25th of October, we the SCOGUI massive assembled at the union “beam engine” (the gateway to another dimension known as camp) at 18:00. After a discussion with the one and only helmet we boarded the bus and went to the oaks where we met the advanced party who put up the mess tent and several other tents.

The first job of camp is to get the tents erect. This was not done with the use of viagra or porno mags. It was done with a lot of hard work and talk of putting things in holes. Andy (one of many) decided to let Angela and myself sleep in his tent as “we” helped him put it up. He was soon to realise the mistake and says he will not share a tent with us again.

Tents now up and people assigned to them, the next job to do is to get warm by the fire. Once lit it was very warm so warm helmet burnt his hand, whilst trying to out do a female (we have all done it). I went to bed early and was up bright and breezy (the wind started gently) the next morning.

The day’s activities included climbing, mountain boarding and archery. The climbing was fun and I felt unfit. Angela is convinced by the prusik loop yet. The mountain boarding was brilliant we seam have a natural in amongst us Leon. I found it ironic that you put all these pads on and fall on the bits that are unprotected. Then it was over to the archery range for an attempt of archery (Attempt being the operative word), I scored around 4 points. I then ended up with several hair bobbles in my hair. I only put 2 in her hair and she put 10 in my hair (female multiplier effect, same as put little bit of water on her head she pours a lot of water on you (Can I apologise again, you know who you are)). What was worse was some random brown owl took photos of it. I now have nickname Barbie

After a pasta dinner it was back to the campfire (SLUGS did a good job of the food) the night was pretty eventful but I do not want to discuss it hear.

The next morning we were woken up by get up I want to take the tent down before it blows down. This is when the fun started. The things I learnt from the morning was do not sleep on someone’s roll mat as you have to put it away. Tip of the day do not break the bag as you put it away.

I had a great time and had so much fun. I know this does not cover everything and would like to see a freshers view.

Written by Lee Dunnett

Leaving the Police Station about 5 (as an employee rather than a customer), I set out to drive from Lincoln to Nottingham only impeded by the heavy traffic on the A52. Rather than a campsite the venue was the Nottingham university rugby pitches, with the pavilion providing the base. Despite a crisis with Legionairres two before the start, it started well.

Friday evening was spent around the campfire (aka fine leg of the cricket field) burning pallets (aka seats). After a long days work, and not drinking I disappeared off to bed just after midnight only to be waken about 4 am by over eager campers going to bed. As I could not get back to sleep I went for a walk in Beeston, would have driven but the gates were locked. After returning and sitting in the car for a hour or so listening to the radio, the breakfast crew were appearing.

Saturday morning was spent chairing the SSAGO reps meeting in the home team dressing room, which was not really designed for a meeting. After about an hour the meeting ended the next hour was spent waiting for the rest to return from the Treasure hunt around the campus. As usual the afternoon was spent going around Nottingham with various activities, I choose rowing on the lake. After perfecting my frizebeeing and knbckering my knee, we worked over to the on campus lake for an row on the lake, followed by a swift ice cream before returning to the site and a quick drink in the Sticky Pitcher.

After negioating the security fence we returned to the site, before going to meet everyone else at the union for the evening meal. The Student Union was used for the meal, and the barn dance with Gold being the theme as it was the 50th anniversary of Snogs (Nottingham). After a long session, including the SSAGO Exec doing a karoke version of “America Pie” - don’t ask the campers returned to the site for the camp fire.

On Sunday morning I had another early start with a drive to buy papers, then realising I did not actually know where the site was relative to the rest of Nottingham. As is the custom with summer rallies, much water was involved with the silly games. After the closing ceremony most people disappeared home.

Written by Martin Whelan

Date: 15th - 21st June 2002
Site: Nether Velly Farm
Location: North Devon (Near Clovelly)

Present: Andy B, Antz, Cat, Dr Tom, Hazel, Kate, Martin Whelan, Ali, Simon, Jaffa, Sarah Cooper, Tina & Caz

Saturday
I Left Home after the England v Denmark World Cup Match (we won!) and travelled down M4 and M5 to meet the rest of Scogui at the M5 J25-26 Service station. Then continued journey to campsite with Ali as my passenger. On arrival we had a coffee with Graham and his wife.

Put up our tents in the rain and mud, then had sausages for dinner.

Sunday
After a Cooked Breakfast some of us went to feed the farmers calves.

Late morning we walked to Hartland and met Ali, Cat and Helmet in the pub (they’d driven in the minibus) for drinks and to watch the Ireland v Spain Match. We sat in the Pub garden doing the Sunday Sports Sex God Quiz.

Some of us then returned to the campsite to collect firewood whilst Tina and I went for the alcohol. The others walked to Clovelly but only made it as far as the beach at the end of our farm.

Scogui surprise for dinner (Sausages with tomato sauce and mash) as the campfire wasn’t big enough for baked potatoes. This was due to the high wind and lack of wood, but we managed to do marshmallows.

Monday
Got up late and did very little all morning apart from empty the loo. We went to Torrington in the afternoon, visited a nice bakery (yummy choc fudge cake) and then the pub where we wrote our postcards. Got back to the campsite and played frisbee, later on we went to Hartland pub where we played cards until leaving time. When we came back to the campsite we had a campfire and found that Barry had arrived.

Tuesday
We went to Bude and made a Scogui bear shaped sand castle. Also went into town and got some fudge and other pressys to take home.

The afternoon was spent in Splash swimming pool. We messed around in the wave machine and water shoot before playing with a beach ball for a while.

Popped into Sainsbury’s for the weeks food shopping and then returned to the campsite where we went collecting fire wood with graham on his tractor. We returned with the firewood in time for dinner; Curry followed by Bananas and custard. We then finished the evening with a nice big campfire.

Wednesday
Tom + Caz decided to do their own thing, we did a walk from Hartland Point (where we stopped off for an ice cream) to Hartland Key and then spent the afternoon making a bivie shelter with Kate, Antz, Barry, Andy + Andy, whist the others continued on a longer walk.

During the evening much alcohol was consumed as we sat around the campfire and chatted over the remainder of our stay

Thursday
A day’s trip to Clovelly to see the cobbled streets and buy more clotted cream products. We had lunch down at the key and then a few of us went to explore a cave. After struggling back up the hill we stopped in the pub for a few drinks and to meet rest of Scogui, we then left Clovelly and returned to the campsite. A few went off to shop, the rest of us chatted and started to pack. As the sun set we went to Hartland key to watch it and then returned to Hartland pub for a few drinks and to celebrate Ali’s birthday.

Friday
Once everyone was up we began packing away the tents. We visited the farmers to give them a thank you prezzy and then finished loading the minibus before leaving the site.

My car broke down a few miles from the campsite and I ended up getting towed by Barry to the nearest garage to get my car fixed. Having missed the opportunity to say goodbye to the members of Scogui on the minibus Ali, Sarah and I said goodbye to Caz and Barry and continued the long journey home.

Another brilliant summer camp, with lots of great memories

Written by Andy Brewer

This report is based on my personal experience but I hope that most people can relate to it in some way shape or form

By 20:30 all the tents had been pitched, teams were registered and shadows were assigned. After the kit check all the teams were raring to go. My team just got a map by this time, not the best start!

Then they were off, well at 5 min intervals anyway! After a wait of what seamed like an eternity we were off. The walk was 11km long and interesting, we did 14km taking in the much recommended sights of Coalville and its neighbouring village. I must say that Coalville is a “Brilliant” place. On the way there we “broke out” of a quarry, and panicked when a police car came past us and slowed down!

The decision not to use torches was a good idea, navigation was technically easier, could see for miles and we were able to walk past teams that then could not follow us.

My team set off at a brisk pace in the wrong direction. Upon checking the location on the map we put ourselves on the right path 800m to early, missing checkpoint number 1 (unmanned so did not matter).

After a chilling session we quickly found ourselves passing the team who left before us. This raised our spirits. We successful completed the first task and were on our way. This is the point we went to Coalville, and navigated the quarry. After our sightseeing tour we found that we had lost no time on the team just behind us. What a relief! By this point there were 3 teams very close together. We were just in the lead time was looking good and spirits were high (we did not realise that we missed a checkpoint – whoops!). It was then we picked up the pace to lose the teams “following” us and ensure we arrived at the checkpoint first as to not get delayed behind the other teams. The plan worked as we arrived at the checkpoint first of 4 teams one coming the other way. We were told that we missed a base. Unfazed by the news we continued with as much vigour as before, shear momentum took over. We soon found ourselves at the finish – relief! I thought that we put in a gutsy and highly technical performance. We got back in 3rd . We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

The event was not with out drama, we had the police called to the scene of a driver slumped over the steering wheel of his car, he was in shorts and T-shirt on a road to nowhere. Several teams had to drop out of the competition for varying reasons.

After a quick nap it was time for breakfast which was cooked – and tasted lovely. Then the presentation followed, our team did not win, but learnt a lot from the experience.

I’d like to take my hat off to the base staff, you did a very hard job. The event was a huge success and will continue to be in the future.

Written by Lee Dunnett

Having missed the morning of the first day to a hall function the night before and the need for my daily allowance of sleep. I turned up at Nanpanton scout hut. I am gutted as I missed the drama of the place being double booked with the Beaver fun day.

I soon found myself folding and labelling tents. We found ourselves in the rather annoying situation of having several tents in pieces, four people and it started to rain. (How many times does this happen on camp). After that we decided the battle plan for the next day and went home for Dinner.

A short time later we were in the union at comedy club and there featured guest who I can not remember. May have been Timmy mallet. No yes it was, I also seamed to remember wearing a certain girls drink. (if you want to give me a drink in sheer adoration, you can hand it to me as so I can drink it. There is no need to throw it at me)

The next morning we were up and in the hut again sorting out all sorts of things from mouse eaten ropes to tents with poles missing. We had a bonfire to get rid of all the burnable stuff and we managed to clear some of the overgrow weeds around the hut as well. This has another advantage, we found ourselves the campfire master for the rally, yes you know who you are. Having successfully mated canvas to poles, lids to pots, made complete trangias and sorted the “chaff from the wheat”. We started to put the gear back in the stores.

Written by Lee Dunnett

With a Mafia themed event, Scogui headed down the M42 to Blackwell Court for the 2002 spring rally. With Ali being the driver for the event, we got to Brum by 10pm and sent Andy out for chips. As per usual the campfire got going, with many beverages consumed. With it being cold and wet I disappeared off to bed early.

Saturday morning was spent on site with various games and challenges, such as a blind trial, but the sillier games were saved for Sunday morning. After lunch everyone except the walkers headed for Barnt Green station, and the metropolis of Birmingham.

With the reps meeting being in the early evening I choose not to go on the Pub crawl, choosing the Sea Life Centre. Despite being built on a former industrial canal basin, the Centre was very interesting. After a couple of hours exploring Birmingham, I returned to Brum New Street for the train back to Barnt Green. As the train progressed south different activities were gradually picked up, including the pub crawlers. On return to site, the reps were quickly fed and one of the shortest meetings on record followed (as the Chairs bladder capacity was severely limited).

The barn dance was on site, with Rannygazoo appearing once again. Scogui had gone as Cops and Robbers but the competition was strong so we did not win. After a couple of hours we move back to the campfire, and ultimately bed.

Sunday morning was the SSAGO AGM, and despite dissent I was elected as SSAGO chairperson for 2002-03 along with the rest of the team, and the selection of Loughborough for the venue of the next spring rally. After some silly games (including Custard eating) we cleared off home.

Written by Martin Whelan

Taking a modern record of 25 to Bath, with a car, minibus leaving from Loughborough and Barry, Cat and Andy making there own way there. Just after 10 Scogui arrived at the school in Alexander Park which would be our home for the weekend. With the increased size of SSAGO, and the indoor venue there were nearly 200 at the rally (compared with 90 the previous autumn) a record for a couple of years.

With a campsite in a lowered courtyard, sleeping in a geography class room and the barn dance in the sports hall it was rather surreal with the headmaster always expected.

The evening was spent around the campfire, with a box of nice beer to keep me company. After a few hours tiredness got to me, so I disappeared off to bed, in the classroom to find most people had already gone to bed.

Saturday morning was spent walking into Bath, and completing a picture hunt. I am not sure what the Japanese tourists thought about students performing the dead bugs dance outside a tea shop. Once Bath had been explored when returned to the Scout hut which would be the base for lunch before heading out on the pub crawl.

The pub crawl was a strange affair with blokes in kilts, random de-tours, both the England Rugby and Football teams and very expensive drinks. After a couple of hours we all tried to get home on the buses, which is easier said than done. As my bladder was straining I passed on the last pub, which had a large Polar Bear on the roof!!

The evening was spent in the sports hall with Grand Union performing for a change, instead of the usual rannygazoo. Scogui went as the 101 dalmations, as it was a Disney themed rally and WON!!! The rest of the evening was spent around the campfire, and eating the breakfast (doh!!).

On Sunday we returned to silly games around the school campus, with activities on the sports pitches and the sports hall including a giant 12ft ball (the point of which escpaes me 2.5 years on). After completing the games, the closing ceremony occurred with the presentation of the newly found rally mascot Hesley Wood (briefly including me hat), Sarah singing to get little Scogui back and evertyone promising to reconvene at Brum in four months time.

PS. The journey home for those on the minibus was an experience, with Lee being sick, both headlights failing, being stuck on the wrong carriage way of the M5 and taking twice as long as usual.

Written by Martin Whelan