Zambia World Wide

It was during these early years that we joined the 5^th. Great Yarmouth scout troop of which our father was scoutmaster and later was to take over as group scoutmaster. It was a great troop to be part of in those days and the activities were many and varied. We would regularly camp at Fritton and Herringfleet which were the main two sites locally that the scouts had the use of. Many happy days and weekends camping at these sites, we would cycle to the sites and our father who had a small van at the time would bring the camping equipment. Many of the crafts that were to stand us in good stead over the years I am sure were learnt whilst we were in the scout movement. Although I should mention that though we had some great times camping, things did not always go to plan.

 

Through my younger years there were many events that happened but one that has stayed in my mind is my first solo camping trip. Friday evening I packed my camping gear on the back of my bike and off I went. Not too far only to Fritton Woods where the camp site was. All went well, pitched the tent, had my evening meal and a wander through the woods and along the river a really great night among the trees, the moon bright in the sky and of course only the night sounds of the countryside. One twelve year old away from home (great). However my happiness was not to last. Next morning I woke early to the sound of the birds singing in the trees, got up, washed and started to cook breakfast. Another ideal day was ahead of me so I thought, however it was not to be. I need to explain that I was cooking over a wood fire and my seat was a log. Disaster struck, the frying pan was on the fire and the eggs were cooking nicely, I got up to get some bacon, when I returned to the fire and sat down my knee caught the frying pan and tipped the hot fat over my right hand (in those days we used lard for frying, there was no cooking oil back then). I was in agony, imagine a twelve year old on his own what a disaster. I do remember screaming my head off and running in circles, don’t ask why, I was in pain. I ran down to the river and there was a boat going by. I shouted and the boat pulled in to the river bank. When they saw the state of my hand they took me on board and to St. Olives which was the nearest village. They then called an ambulance and off I went to the hospital. The burns were worse than I had realised however there was a happy ending and a lesson to be learnt. The burns did heal and the lesson is to never go camping alone. Another incident which comes to mind (once again Fritton) was the time I was camping with my brothers and as we wandered through the woods, it was a bright sunny day and we were having fun, as kids do.

My younger brother decided to climb a pine tree, it was tall with spiky branches but he was sure he could do it. Another disaster, he almost reached the top when he came sliding down, catching every sharp branch on the way. His chest and legs were a mess, blood everywhere, he appeared to be cut to ribbons. He was in a lot of pain (so he said). My older brother and I were stunned for a moment, what had happened was quite a shock and took a little understanding. We knew we had to get him to hospital but how, he couldn’t or wouldn’t walk. I really do believe some of the stunts we got away with in our youth were mad. However we had to get him to the Fritton Decoy which was on the main road (no mobiles back then). We had learnt with the scouts that it was possible to make a stretcher with two long poles and if you took off your jackets and buttoned them around the poles it would make a temporary stretcher and so that is what we did. Perhaps not the best plan we ever had but it worked. I don’t remember how far we had to walk, however it was a hot sunny day and we seemed to walk forever. I believe it was no more than four or five miles but it seemed forever. However we did make it, not sure how but we did. All ended well.

I would not want anyone reading of these isolated incidents to believe that life was full of them as that was not the case. We spent so many happy times camping there, not just alone but with our parents and also the scouts. These are two isolated incidents that come to mind. Why is it that as time goes by such memories come back where as the happy times seem to fade away. It is now time to move on. As the years went by there are many incidents which are not in my main script and I need to try and recall. Some will come back, others are lost forever.