Up date on the next overseas visit - Canada 2009

As at September 2008 because of John’s home committment’s to Enid any trip is currently on hold - but if your interested, please let us know, so we can come back to this trip soon.

If you are interested in this trip, please talk to John. 2009 is now the definite time, and we now have enough staff to make this visit viable. Letters are out now, as at December 2007 with full details and three meetings have been held already. Call or e mail your interest please.
It is John’s thought to experience and explore both eastern and western Canada.  If your interested please contact John as soon as possible please.

This is part of the letter already available :

“For parents who may be thinking of allowing their son to join a trip to Canada in the summer of 2009, for about two weeks, this is what is likely to be on offer :

Fly to Toronto city and drive to Niagara Falls including a helicopter ride over the Falls - staying mid way between the two for four or so days
Fly to Calgary and stay in the city area, shop in local Malls - attend the Calgary Stampede Rodeo Show - move onto the Rockies including a snow coach ride on a glacier, a quad bike ride 8000 foot up a mountain, raft along a river in Panorama mountain village, later drive to a Dinosaur fantastic museum in the desert area and many other things - staying in local hotels in the Rockies or friends to me known to me over the years! There is also the possibility of western style town visits, and a heli - ride over the Canadian Rockies.

The cost is likely to be about £1200 including flights, insurance, some food and admissions, car hire and accommodation, but does not include passport costs or food / admissions whilst out for a day on unplanned stops and therefore hence the need for £300 spending money per person too.

I’m not putting a lower age limit on this yet depending on parents’ involvement, but I would not expect anyone younger than 11 years of age, could cope with this sort of trip.”

Denmark May - 2009

As at September 2008 John is not able to leave his wife for the time being, so all trips abroad on on hold. But keep us informed if your interested, and we hope to re - start plans as soon as possible.

A great time ! John met FDF colleagues in Denmark during November 2005 and then August 2007.
We hope to return to Denmark in 2009 and already have 14 people interested - so if you are, please let John know so you can be invited to the next meeting. January 2008

Friends Reunited

We now have a 2nd. Witham BB website registered on Friends Reunited - if you are an old boy etc., please leave your details there. We want to build up a list of old boys and supporters, in readiness for our 40th. Birthday in 2012 !!! It was a real joy to hear from Robert Russell in 2005, an original member in the 1972 era ! He is now married with two children and living in Surrey, working as a Prison Officer ! As at this month several more ex 2nd. Witham folk have registered.

everyclick.com

If you have seen everyclick.com we are registered there too. If you become a supporter, you can highlight 2nd. Witham BB and thus when when you use this search engine, you raise funds for us !! In 18 months 18 supporters have raised over £147.00 so do try it please !!!

Peter’s Vale Land Project - Twinstead

Peter’s Vale—The lake 2 years on remains full, so much so that work has come to a halt on finishing the excavations. The area around the lake remains saturated and we need it to dry out, before we can complete clearance of sludge and mud. However, the reed beds are establishing well.
Thanks go to Mike Cartwright, Matt West, Ian Hodgkiss, Gary Cutting, Edwin Webber,Callum Smith, Charlie Wilkins, Andrew Eaves, Chris Pell, Dan Newland, Lloyd Robinson, Andy Barlow, Seniors, Juniors and Company Boys from October 2006 half term holiday and Matt Berale, for all their hard work on the land in recent times !
The board walk construction and coppicing of hazel will continue all winter and into spring time. Another Half an acre has been carried out as at January 2008 . If you want to assist, please let John know.

The lake area remains flooded, but we will work on there soon hopefully !

We are very grateful to Valerie Hodge and family, who have agreed to hand over the field to our ownership. The whole of the land will now be held in Trust to us and The Boys’ Brigade UK. Further board walking work was carried out in 2006 and throughout this year too, with BTCV and the path through the forest is now 60% complete.

We have been very fortunate in partnership with BTCV, to gain a substantial grant from the Heritage Memorial Trust Fund, to complete over the next year and a half, 16 work days and weekends on the land, fully financed, to complete traditional coppicing work, board walk completion, bird box building and other fun things including horse logging. Information sheets have been published.