Girl Guide Camp - August 1962

jan4in's memory of 4th August 1962 - 11th August 1962

4 August, 1962

Went to St. John’s Church with Mum and Dad and met the other Guides. At 9 o’clock we went into the Church and at about ½ past 9 we left by lorry. It took about an hour to get to Hill Farm which is nice. We had to wear our Tie Scout-fashion with a woggle. I am in Kantankee patrol and we’ve got the nicest tent situated in the nicest place. We put up our tent and got our kit bags and bed rolls and put them in the tent. Then we took photos. [to see photo, click on following link: www.flickr.com/photos/235926... We have some Guides from Orbiston School Group in Kantankee. Freda Basham is in Ashanti patrol and there are also some Guides from Orbiston with her. There is another patrol, Impeesa, which isn’t at all nice. Captain (Miss Jeffs) told us off for talking when we were meant to be sleeping. There was silence for about 5 minutes and then we started talking again and we got very little sleep.

5 August

Went to Holy Communion. The church is ever so small and there were only 2 old ladies besides us in the congregation! The bread was from an ordinary loaf! We came back from Church and changed from Guide uniform into Camp uniform. [to see photo, click on following link: www.flickr.com/photos/235926... ] Then had breakfast which was burned potatoes, burned bacon, porridge with syrup, marmalade and bread and a cup of tea. I had to peel and core and stew apples for dinner. Lib had to cook potatoes and Marlon was supposed to keep the fire going but of course it nearly went out but anyhow everything turned out fine. We changed into Guide uniform and went to Church again. Only a few people there besides us. When we got back to camp we found out that the Commissioner had arrived and she’s put up her tent right next to ours.

6 August

We got up at 7 o’clock and we cooked breakfast which consisted of scrambled eggs on bread, cornflakes and of course a cup of tea. After dinner we put up the marquee. [to see photo, click on following link: www.flickr.com/photos/235926... ] We had camp fire in the marquee and Captain told us off and so we had one song less (but we didn’t mind). Marilyn Monroe died yesterday.

7 August

We got up at 5 past 7 and I went wooding with Izzy and Marlon [to see photo, click on following link: www.flickr.com/photos/235926... ] and then got water with Lynda and Margaret. We mended our tent from the storm last night (we had to rush over to the marquee during the storm and we had a most uncomfortable night) and tidied it up nicely as a lot of Commissioners were coming but Captain said our patrol was the laziest. They stayed to tea and tea consisted of savoury scramble with meat which Izzy didn’t like so she gave it to me. It was Heather’s birthday and we had birthday cake which her father had made. Our tent gave Heather 5/-. Today Izzy cried a lot. Also, for the last two nights I have worn my beret in bed.

8 August

This morning we got up at the second whistle (I hadn’t even heard the first). We walked 3 miles to Saxmundham station and went to Thorpeness for the day. Izzy, Marlon and I went to the little General Store and I bought two 4d. postcards and a 3½d ice lolly. Wrote the postcards outside the telephone box and then rung up Mum and I spoke to her and Dad and then Mum fetched Mrs. Howes and Mrs. Spicer and Marlon started crying as she didn’t know it was her Mum and she was so shocked. Then we took photos of us on the beach [to see photo, click on following link: www.flickr.com/photos/235926... ] and then went out for ½ hour on the boats and we couldn’t row properly and it was ever so funny. Then we did other things such as watching boys fish. We caught the train to Saxmundham and some of us bused back on the Ipswich bus. We had tea, potatoes and fish (but we couldn’t taste the fish), then trifle (swiss roll and cold custard on top). Had camp fire in marquee.

9 August

Woke up at 5 o’clock when the cock crowed and the jet planes were a nuisance and they kept on all morning. Put up bed rack (after it had collapsed). Went over to camp fire but although we had a fire we sat and watched it from the marquee as it was raining. Went to bed and at midnight Captain’s alarm clock went off right in my ear and we had our midnight feast (which consisted of sweets). As Marlon and I didn’t feel hungry we had a Robinade drink (which was given to us by Captain).

10 August

Our patrol put feathers in our hair (which Izzy and I had got from the farm) and wrapped blankets around us and we did “We are the Red Men” at camp fire.

11 August

Got up at 20 to 7. Took off our “war paint” from the previous night. Helped pack the things and take tents down. The lorries came. [to see photo, click on link: www.flickr.com/photos/235926... ] We were met by our parents at ½ past 10 outside the Parish Hall. Had a bath and washed hair and then went to see “South Pacific” at the pictures with Mum and Dad which was very good.

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This memory was added 2nd January 2008

Keywords: Suffolk film Girl Guides Marilyn Monroe South Pacific

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