Walking around the M25
Published: Sat, 01/12/19
Both sides of my family were keen on the Scouts and Guides, my maternal grandmother was a guide leader for many years and my father was associated with the scouts since he was a small boy. So, it was no surprise that my brother and I joined our local scout troop, the 15th Finchley. I was associated with the 15th from 1970 to around 1980 when I left the venture scouts although I have still kept in touch with friends I made there. In March this year we are celebrating the centenary of my old troop. Strange to think that when I first got involved the 15th was only just over 50 years old and quite a few of the founding members were still alive.
My brother and I will be attending the celebrations in March and a book of memories and stories of the 15th is being compiled. I have submitted a couple of mine, this is one of them from sometime in the late 1970s.
‘The M25 is the London orbital motorway. This road circumnavigates the capital city and to drive right around it you will have to cover 117 miles. The M25 was completed in 1986 and construction began in the 1970s. Before the construction started properly, someone had the bright idea that the venture scout unit should walk the entire route. 117 miles is a long way, even for a venture scout to walk. So, it was decided that we would complete the whole route as a relay, walking in pairs and around the clock. I took part in this enterprise and I know that we did complete it. However, since it was over 40 years ago I am now rather hazy on the details. I do remember one incident though. We were walking one section of the route in the early hours of the morning. We were using an ordnance survey map and a Silva compass for navigation. (No smart phones with built in satnav in those days.) All seemed to be going fine until it was
necessary to check the map and take a compass bearing at a junction on the footpath we were following. The compass indicated a particular direction and we carried on. After a mile or two we realised that we were lost and we were at least 90 degrees off course. We stopped, looked carefully at the map and located ourselves, then planned a slightly modified route which took us to the rendezvous where the next team were waiting for us with our leader, Frank Phillip.
The next team set off and then there were questions as to why we had taken so long covering our allotted route. I explained that I had taken a compass bearing when we needed to choose a particular path and the compass had sent us down the wrong way. This was true but sounded improbable since, even allowing for the variations in magnetic North, compasses are generally pretty reliable. Frank asked me to show him exactly where I had taken the bearing. I pointed out the exact spot. Then he asked me if I had noticed the line indicating a run of electrical pylons running exactly across the junction in the foot path? I had not noticed this feature on the map, and in the darkness, neither had I noticed that I had been standing directly under the high tension cables carrying thousands of volts of electricity. That much electricity generates a magnetic field that a compass will respond to, as indeed had mine. Oh well, another lesson
learned about being aware of your surroundings.’
Indeed I did learn a great deal about self-reliance and meeting challenges through the Scouts. Our camping tended to be pretty demanding too, sleeping under canvas, cooking over wood fires and digging our own latrines. I still camp 10 to 20 nights a year now and I can make myself comfortable in most environments if I have to.
The Rune Retreat in June this year will be a combination of the kind of camping and outdoor self-reliance I first learned in the scouts and a chance to learn and practice aspects of the runes in a natural setting. I have been working on the website and have added a provisional programme for the event. Check it out here http://rr.stavcamp.org/
regards
Graham
PS I am working on another distance learning programme. This one will focus on self-reliance and practical skills, starting with the craft bind rune and moving on from there. I will announce more details in a day or two, so watch this space.