Leeds & Leicester Rally - Le Rally - Autumn 2002

The Hull contingent, Andrew and Jon made there way across the country to Leeds
for an early arrival to University of Leeds and Leicester association rally based at
Bramhope campsite in Leeds. On the way to Leeds the weather was
diabolical to say the least, with the weather being both very overcast and windy.
Traffic and the temporary loss of bearings caused us to finally arrive
at the campsite where we were based at 4:30pm, the site for the next hour at
least would be dry, unfortunately the weather for the rest of the weekend was
not the same!

When we got there we had a fun time pitching the tent as the amount of
water that had fallen over previous days meant the site was very waterlogged!
We finally got the tent up, after I slipped on the boggy ground we were camping
on and got very wet and muddy; teach us to go camping in November! We also
saw our SSAGO representative from last year Nicholas Murphy, who was
actually assisting in organising this rally!
 
Saturday morning started off with a Reps meeting which both me and Jon attended,
presentations were given on assisting at GASCIT 2003 (A SAGGA run event next
year, see links page for more information)! The world Scout Moot was also
promoted and we were assured that the national SSAGO website would soon be
updated.

While the reps meeting went ahead everyone else attended a treasurer hunt
around the campsite, which apparently was a good laugh even though it did start
raining in the middle of it (story of the weekend really!!) After lunch we finally
got on with the activities. I spent the afternoon visiting the Royal Armouries
in Leeds, which was very interesting as I had never visited this site before!
After this we all moved on to a Barn dance in a local Scout Hall,
we were glad to be inside!

On Sunday morning the day started at 8.30 a.m. when we all had breakfast,
it was raining once again! We all had fun taking part in silly games,
then was the closing ceremony were various lost items were returned
to their owners and various organisers were thanked! We then had lunch,
and said goodbye to all of the people we had met over the wet weekend,
at roughly 1.45p.m. we began the journey back home to Hull, when we got
back we found the weather had actually being better in Hull than Leeds,
typical!!   

Written by Andrew Kemp (one of two S.H.A.G.S. member present this time!)

A Bit of fun dressing up for the SSAGO barndance!

Can you see the SHAGS members in this photo!

The last SSAGO performance of a band, that has frequented many rallies!

 
The Royal Armories - Leeds - One of our visits over the weekend!

 
Bramhope Campsite were we spent the weekend!

Loughborough Rally - The Bear Rally - Spring 2003

The Hull contingent, Andrew proceeded via Leeds where I was
travelling down to Loughborough with the Leeds University contingent in a minibus
they had hired for the purpose!  Due to the large distance needed to be travelled,
and various stops made on the way for food and other commodities we
didn’t arrive at Loughborough until approximately 7.00 p.m. The campfire was the
first stop after registering and here I met a few people I hadn’t actually seen
since the last rally before Christmas, so it was good to see all these people again!

We were quite lucky due to the fact that even though the weather had been quite cold,
the site had a large campfire circle, so we managed to keep warm and after
all the chatting to the people we hadn’t seen since the November rally at Leeds,
we finally turned into our tents and other accommodation at around 3.00 a.m.
 
Saturday morning started off with a hearty breakfast, in the sites main hall were I
chatted to people I hadn’t seen for a long time. After this various outdoor
activities took place which were enjoyed by all concerned. After lunch, there was the
normal SSAGO representatives’ meeting to discuss everything to do with SSAGO
before the AGM the next day. We then all then decided to make our way into Loughborough,
most of the attendee's on foot; however the people who attended the representatives
meeting got a lift on a minibus, bonus!

When we finally made it into Loughborough, we had a short dinner break
at Nanpaton Scout Hall, on the edge of town, after this people made
their way onto the afternoon activities including a Walk, Cinema Trip, Skittles
or Shopping in Loughborough town centre. I decided to stay at the Scout Hall
to discuss helping with the GaSCiT 2003 camp arrangements later in the year;
we spent the afternoon discussing the organisation of the camp. Nicholas Murphy,
former Hull University SSAGO liaison officer also attended this meeting.

 After the meeting we ended up in the pub watching England beat France
at Rugby and I actually looked around the university site. All in all a very enjoyable
afternoon. We then went on to the barn dance and evening meal
which was held in the universities Hall of residence and was rather good,  
and the meal was heated. It was a very enjoyable night! The campfire
followed a similar pattern to the previous night, lots of talking and a few classic
campfire songs. 

 Sunday morning was mainly taken up by the silly games, which although
wasn’t classic, did prove to be entertaining, I attended Scout’s Own
on a specially built part of the site.Then it was SSAGO
yearly AGM when people were voted into offices for the next year.
If you want to see a copy of the minutes, look on the SSAGO website!  At the
closing ceremony we were able to laugh at the events that had taken place over the
previous days. I then had lunch, packed away and then got ready
for the long journey back to Hull via Leeds, we stopped at services
for food and beverages, on route able to look back
at a very enjoyable weekend!

Written by Andrew Kemp the only SHAGS member able to attend this rally!

Leeds University SSAGO Society in fancy dress at the barn dance at Loughborough Universities hall of residence!



The band that played at the rally barn dance!



Well it was called the Bear (not Bare) rally!



The closing ceremony of the weekend, were prizes were presented and everyone said goodbye!



A picture of the campsite showing how cold it was over the weekend!



The campfire we all huddled around, to keep warm, for a large part of the weekend!



Picture of the Rally organisers and also some of the organisers of GaSCiT later in the year on the left of the picture!



Pictures of the participants on the rally! (notice the ice in the background showing how cold it was)



The rally dining hall, all meals where held here plus the national A.G.M.



Another picture of the campsite, once again showing the frost!



The campsite once again showing how cold the weekend was!



The campsite, with the campfire circle being located behind the huts shown above.



Some of the GaSCiT organisers enjoying the rugby, and England beating France!



Dinner at the local Scout Hut!