"what a person B-P was"

PBS was showing something about Elvis. I didn't watch very much of it. It' pledge and the breaks are just way too long for me.

At one point they showed a clip of Elvis saying something about how he as a kid read comic books and he was the hero of the comics in his mind.

I read Two Lives Of A Hero. I lent the book to someone who never returned it.

At one time in the UK (I don't know if it's still a requirement?) A Lad who wanted to be a Scout had to know a little about the history of Scouting and BP.

What we covered wasn't very deep and maybe was shall we say maybe a little larger than life.

Looking back I have very fond memories of telling young Lads Eamonn's take on the history of the Scout movement, in the kitchen of our Scout Hall.

Back when I was a Lad weekly comics for boy's were real big. Unlike the Marvel Comics, these were printed on newsprint and cost next to nothing (Lion and Valiant are titles that come to mind)

Somehow to me B-P's life seemed larger than life and might easily have been material for a comic book.

By the time I hit the planet London street gangs were almost a thing of the past. Trying to imagine a time when your entire world was about the immediate area where you lived was becoming a hard thing to do. But still I remember summer vacations as a 11 -12 year old where hanging out with the local kids at the local park was almost the main event. We were very territorial and while we might allow some non-local kids in for a game of soccer (football) or cricket, very often this would end up in some sort of a fist fight.

I tried hard to imagine the kids who must have waited with eager anticipation for the next installment of Scouting For Boy's. I don't know why but in my imagination they are all working class kids with dirty faces, cloth flat caps and ready to fight at the drop of a hat.

These Lads are almost as much a hero to me as the great man himself.

I had a very close and dear friend who remembers how when he was a kid they packed all their gear on a trek-cart and pulled it to where they were going to camp. As many of the Scouts had to work a half day on Saturday they didn't leave until about lunch time and were back in time for tea on Sunday.

While I like to think what I shared with those young Lads in the kitchen 30 years ago was based on fact and I did try hard to get the dates right. Facts didn't really seem that important!! Selling them the idea that they were now part of a big and glorious adventure seemed more important.

Like OGE I like to listen to the recordings of BP, watch the old movie footage. I have read a fair amount about him and his life.

Some English men may have had many failings -Richard The Lion-heart, comes to mind, but many of us who grew up in England are happy and more than willing to take plenty of no notice of these failings. We are happy to allow the hero be bigger than the man.

Eamonn.

Thanks Eamonn,

I too have loaned my copy of that book to a Guide leader in town. She will give it back I am sure but worth remembering.

Did you read Showell Styles books too? Tiger Patrol is on my shelf. I also had Catch me a Pewit, Lion Patrol and some others.

Is there a good site for recordings of BP yakking?

Hi Ozemu,

Wow you stirred up some dust in the old memory banks!!

Did you ever read The Adventures of Midshipman Quinn? Or any of the Abercrombie Lewker,detective books that he wrote under the pen name Glyn carr?

I don't remember ever reading Catch me a Pewit or Lion Patrol.

As a little fellow, one of my hang outs was the Sands End Library on Wandsworth Bridge Road SW6. We were only allowed to take 3 books at a time! Most weeks I was there twice a week and during the winter sometimes three times a week.

Mostly reading for fun. Books like the Billy Bunter and Jennings series or just what might be called good yarns for boy's.

Sadly OJ doesn't like to read very much. I wonder is part of the reason is that we don't have "Spiffing good yarns" around any more?

My little Sister is now working of an Australian law firm. She is based in Hong Kong, but has got to visit Australia a couple of times. She has two little ones aged 9 and 11. They are having a wonderful time.

You can download recordings of BP yakking at

http://www.chsscout.net/rescenter/video/index.shtml

Eamonn

Nope, I don't know those ones.

Ta for the address. Will check it out right now.

How do the little blokes like Hong Kong? The kids I've met from there don't know what to do with a tree or grass. If they come out again tell them to give us a yell. Lots of grass. Growing too fast to tell the truth.

a good scouts is the one who knows and abide the letter of baden powell