Caterham District Scouts

21 Cub scouts and four leaders from Chaldon Cub Pack took to the River Thames on the weekend 23rd-24th January for a sleepover on HMS Belfast.

We started off by train from Whyteleafe station and made our way to London Bridge, before walking to the Thames and stopping for packed lunch in Hays Walk. After lunch we made our way to HMS Belfast to drop off our bags and to see for the first time our accommodation for the weekend.

From here we made our way on foot along the south of the river, heading west to the Millennium Bridge via The Golden Hinde, Clink prison and the Globe Theatre, before crossing the river on the footbridge and heading east along the Thames to the Tower of London, then up to Martins Lane for dinner. After dinner we walked (now in the dark) back past The Tower of London and across Tower Bridge to arrive back at HMS Belfast for the night.

Once settled below decks in the 1950’s mess room (for ordinary seamen) the Cubs busied themselves selecting their bunk and laying out their bed for the night, before joining together for a quiz, hot chocolate, biscuit and a film to settle the more excited members of the Group before bed. Despite all this, most Cubs managed to keep awake in to the early hours but fortunately all eventually managed to get some sleep!

Sunday morning started early as the first risers managed to wake the others at around 5:30am, still, this gave everyone plenty of time to pack before breakfast on board the ship’s canteen.

After moving our bags in to storage via a winding human chain along the upper deck of the ship, we made our way to the education centre where Emma from the onboard education team provided the Cubs with a history of the ship. We were shown vintage footage of life at sea and some of the Cubs had the chance to try on sailor uniforms from the Second World War period or jump in to a hammock!

We finished our visit with free time to explore the ship, much of the time with no other visitors on board. We explored the bridge, front guns, engine room, galley, shell store and many other areas of the ship.

Whilst we had the ship to ourselves, we formed up on the front deck to invest a new Cub Scout in to Chaldon Cub Pack. Congratulations to Harry B and welcome to Chaldon, this will be something I am sure he won’t forget.

Finally, after a brief stop for packed lunch we made our way home by train to meet the waiting parents. I am sure everyone will take back fond memories of this extraordinary sleepover and hopefully will remember some of the ship’s history too.

Tim E, Group Scout Leader