Dominic, Francis, Lucien V, Lucien W, Marcus, James and Charlie (compiled and edited by Ella)

Earlier this year, scouts from Raptors troop each took part in a range of activity badges, choosing an area that interested them. Seven scouts selected the Media Relations and Marketing badge, where they learned about how the media industry operates, and how to promote scouting and its achievements to the wider community. As part of this badge, they even assisted with presenting a local radio show. One of the key skills that they developed was conducting effective interviews, learning how to ask thoughtful questions to encourage people to share their experiences and insights.

We were delighted that two very successful former members of 12th Cambridge Scout group generously gave up their time to be interviewed by our aspiring journalists. The interviews allowed the Scouts to learn about their lives and successes since leaving the troop.

Laura Burton – GB and Yale Rower

Laura Burton is a British rower and former member of 12th Cambridge Scout group. After trying out rowing for the first time when she was 14, she went on to great success including, most notably, winning a bronze medal at the 2019 World Junior Rowing Championships, and coming in first place at the National Schools Regatta in 2021. Since then, Laura has been rowing for the Yale university team.

Laura chose rowing because she said it pushes you to the limits. It may sound obscure, but she said that pushing herself in a uniquely technical sport allowed her to understand herself and her abilities better. Rowing, as she put it, “helps you deal with it”.

When asked what she was most proud of, Laura described her team winning a silver medal at the 2024 US University Championship. To her, it was incredible because everyone came together and put in 100% commitment – even when training twice a day, six days a week, for most of the year prior to this competition.

We also questioned Laura about her opinion on team sports versus individual events. She stated that her preference was for team sports. Her reasoning behind this was less due to the sport itself, rather the people who she did it with. She mentioned how her coach described the group of forty fellow rowers as “the most motivated group of rowers you will ever meet”. These peers and friends clearly inspired her to greatness.

Scouting helped Laura with her resilience and communication skills, both of which she uses often in her rowing career. Scout activities also taught her to work together with others. She described one of the hardest moments of her time in scouts as being on a hiking trip in 2018 in the snow. It was challenging to map read and her peers encouraged her to persevere and work together in a team to complete the route. These skills are imperative to her when rowing.

Laura back in the day in Scotland!

Finally, we discussed our aspirations for the future, and Laura told us all to dream big and aim high. Consistency and self-belief are what got her where she is today. 

Charlie Wayne – Drummer with the band Black Country, New Road

Charlie Wayne was a scout with 12th Cambridge and is now an accomplished professional musician, drummer of the popular band Black Country, New Road. He has toured all over the world, playing at many notable venues and events, including Glastonbury, which he described as being an amazing experience.

Charlie expressed his love for most kinds of music, from classical (especially the Rite of Spring by Stravinsky) to rock (he recalled that his mind was blown when listening to The Velvet Underground for the first time). He told us as a child he didn’t particularly appreciate music, having tried playing piano and recorder and not enjoying it. However, in year 8, this changed when he discovered the drums, and he would practice during break times at school for fun. This enthusiasm and passion for drumming continues to this day and he loves to be able to do this as a job. His favourite drummer is John Bonham, as he changed the rock music scene, bringing the drums to the forefront.

He is also a songwriter along with his other band mates. Their songs are inspired by lots of things, including interesting new sounds, life experiences, and the music of other bands. To those that are in a new band, or would like to start one, his advice was to have a great time together and to play for fun.We asked Charlie where the best crowd he has ever played to was. He mentioned that in different countries the vibes of the audiences are very different. For example, performing in Japan was a big contrast to the usual gig environment. In Japan it is believed to be polite to keep very quiet for the performers, however in the USA it is constantly loud. But his two favourite places to perform were Glasgow and Manchester. He said the audiences were really up for it, and that he loves performing there.

Charlie told us about his time at 12th Cambridge, and said it helped him develop a sense of self-confidence, how to work well with others, and communication skills. All of which have proved useful when working with his band.

Charlie on summer camp, many years ago…..

Thank you to both Laura and Charlie for sharing their time and experiences with us. We hope that having the opportunity to talk with them about their achievements and successes has inspired today’s scouts to follow their passions and aim high.

On arrival the mood changed! The Hunstanton fun fair saw scouts swung round at terrifying speeds on rides of all sorts followed by the inevitable chippy tea on the seafront.

We were hosted by the equally hospitable 1st Hunstanton Sea Scouts for the night before the RNLI invited the scouts to a training exercise at their lifeboat station in Old Hunstanton. Sun, sea, sand and lots of fun fair rides, a lot to cram in into one weekend!

And of course a lot of hanging around in trees!

While the scouts camped the explorers vanished into the woods creating their own hammock based sub camp that soon became the epi centre of spooky noises and unsettling wooden figures carved with axes. The scouts were a mix of the intrigued and the terrified

A trip to Brighton, a somewhat soggy hike, a murder mystery night, canoeing, paddle boarding and high ropes all made for a fantastic week in the woods. We’ll be doing it all again in 2026 in the Lake District

The sun shone from dawn to dusk and the temperatures were very warm in the day, cold at night.  Of course this was a camp, too, so fires, marshmallows and even an investiture all featured.

Well done to all our archers.  No medals this year, although one or two were very close, so plenty to look forward to next year!

We were joined for the week by two scouts from Yorkshire, 1/36th Doncaster, who could not make their own summer camp, and hope that the bonds formed round the campfire between the two groups last long into the future

Meanwhile back at the HQ we had a curry night to warm everyone up and finished term with the district incident hike run by our friends at the university scout and guide club

The event, held at Phasels Wood, consisted of 3 types of archery – Target, Field (in the woods) and Clout.

As well as great archery, beautiful weather and a lovely relaxed weekend, those who were awake late enough on the Friday night were treated to a spectacular aurora display.

Well done to all our archers, including our silver medal-winner! We are also proud of our team of four who bravely lost out in the first round to a very experienced team, but managed to win one ‘end’ of the three!

Friday night saw us hosted by our friends at 1st Sherringham Sea Scouts who we would like thank for their brilliant hospitality! Saturday saw our intrepid gang first encounter a seal basking in the sun at Sherringham life Boat House before we headed along the coast.

Hiking is all very well but when its a sunny day…. and you happen to come to the beach at Cromer early afternoon… what else can you do but go for a swim? Even if the north sea is a touch fresh! Fully refreshed the scouts headed along the increasingly remote and beautiful coast reaching Mundesley for fish and chips and epic stone skimming competition on the beach at dinner time.

We were hosted for the evening by the very hospitable village hall and would like to thank them for the excellent accomodation

Sunday saw the scouts head in land and navigate their way through the Norfolk countryside to North Walsham, tired but very proud of a long trek well completed.

Our expedition draws to a close and we are sad to say farewell to Cambridge, Ontario.  We bring back so many tales to tell, new friendships made and a considerable quantity of maple syrup.

We thank our Canadian hosts for their warm welcome, extensive support and sheer hard work looking after us and providing the most amazing experiences our young people could possibly have wished for.

Special thanks to the Canadian Scouters – the awesome Katie, Ana, Philippe and Mike – and our own Leader team – Ben, Sabine, Lucy and Bruce.  They have all sacrificed their holiday time to be responsible for looking after our young people and delivering them back to us safe, happy and with a warm glow – “we did it, wow!”.

Au revoir, Toronto. A bientot!

Look out for Timmy the Turtle!

The beauty of Haliburton

A long day out to Toronto, taking in the sights of the big city, ascending the CN Tower and a fun evening at The Blue Jays baseball game.