Scouts to link up in Thailand

From the Northern Echo, first published Tuesday 24th Dec 2002.

SCOUTS from the 1st Newton Aycliffe Group have jetted off to spend Christmas and New Year in Thailand.

They will be among 30,000 Scouts from nearly 200 different countries gathering for the 20th World Scout Jamboree at Sattahip.

The two teenagers, Ben Kelsey and Michael Drew, will spend Christmas Day on the beach.

Two days later they will move on to the Jamboree site at Sattahip where they will join thousands of other Scouts for the massive get-together.

The Scouts and leaders were selected nearly two years ago to represent the UK, and in the past 18 months, all 60 units have been working closely together. Each one has managed to raise nearly £2,500 to attend the event.

Ben, from Woodham, and Michael, from West Cornforth, received support from Bishop Auckland District Scout Council and a number of local organisations including The Prince's Trust, The Royal Brit-ish Legion, 3M, Roman and Greg Little Testing Centre.

Great Aycliffe Town Council and West Cornforth Parish Council made donations towards the whole contingent from County Durham.

As well as their own fund-raising efforts, their families and friends supported the teenagers.

At the close of the jamboree each Scout from the UK will travel to Malaysia where they will spend three days living in another Scout's home with their family.

The group has a waiting list and is looking for adults who could help provide scouting for youngsters aged six to 18-years. For details, contact Ian Johnson on 0191-386 2761.

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