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In 1948 the 2^nd Sudbury Sea Scouts launched boats for the first time at the Boat House in Sudbury nr Ballingdon Bridge. Photos were taken of the Sea Scouts with their leaders at that time.

Today’s sea scouts are part of 3 rd Sudbury Scout group and our headquarters is in Quay Lane. To help mark this very special occasion today’s Sea Scouts held a weekend camp over the 21^st & 22^nd June. 24 Sea Scouts attended the camp which was held on Friars Meadow in Sudbury. 

After months of planning we started setting up our camp site on the Thursday evening, so that scouts unable to attended the camp could still be part of the camp. Leaders camped over to keep camping equipment safe and to help move boats and other equipment on site, ready for the Saturday arrival of the Sea Scouts.A flag pole made from a wayfarer sailing dinghy’s mast made a great centre piece and was donated by mike from Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club, just one of the local sailing clubs that have supported the troop over the years.

After sea scouts had arrived on a slightly damp camp site they sorted there personal kit and got changed ready to go afloat.  After the flag and welcome ceremonies we launched our own boats and keeping with tradition a number of boats on loan to us free of charge. Some privately owned, some from Suffolk County Scouts.

We headed off up river to try and re create that photo from 1948 and arrived at the boat house just before 10am on the Saturday morning, meeting us there was Derek Beer, now in his 70s Derek was one of the young sea scouts holding a wooden oar in the original photo taken 60 years ago. Thank to the free press and a bit of searching we managed to find Derek still living in Sudbury, we were unable to contact any other of the members of the troop from 1948, but did receive information on the names of the boys and the sad news one of them had passed away just a few weeks ago.

Jon sturdy a local photographer agreed to come along to help re create the photo with sea scouts, with Derek Beer and Freddy Double holding the oars and the new bridge in the back ground.  We also took photos of the sea Scouts in kayaks & Canoes leaders and sea scouts on the Scout Groups new Safety Boat Launched back in April of this year. Along side was Rib TC, a safety boat often seen on our sailing camps and a boat new to the River Stour, Elsie Mary an electric launch.

The kayaks & Canoes continued on up to the croft and enjoyed a water fight before heading back to camp for lunch, after lunch the Sea Scouts set sail for an afternoon of sailing and water activities, former members and leaders of the troop came down throughout the afternoon and evening and joined in with some of the water activities on offer. Members of the public also enjoyed watching everyone on and off the water.

District Commissioner for Sudbury District, Gordon Edgar came down to join us and whilst there presented Jack Twiss with a warrant for becoming an Assistant leader at Sea Scouts before lowering the flag at the end of day one. Thanks to parent support and the help of the River Stour Trust and their Trip boats we held a BBQ tea for the Scouts and guest’s and trips up and down the river. For some the celebrations ran through till the early hours of the morning, as we sat round a fire talking about the good old days!

On the Sunday, the weather was much better and after breakfast and flag, we set sail for the second day of water activities.  Lunch time came around all too soon and after lunch we made a start of breaking camp and moving all the boats and camping kit back to our HQ in Quay Lane.

During the packing up we made time to enjoy an ice cream on what turned out to be a lovely hot day. When all the kit was packed away we had tea back at the HQ before a final game and camp photo on the meadow.

A fantastic camp made that way by the support of parents, explorer scouts, helpers and of course a dedicated team of leaders at 3^rd Sudbury Sea scouts

Rob Palmer -3^rd Sudbury Sea Scout Leader

Thanks to all those who provided photos of the days events, with special thanks going to Jon Sturdy.