Full TimeLine for the 1970s Seasons

17 Oct 1969    Colin Marshall stand-in Leader     A business commitment meant Maurice was 
               Maurice Beeby                      unable at last minute to attend the 
               Colin Marshall                     Training weekend.
               B/S/G Training 17-19 Oct 1969      On the Friday evening he asked Colin to 
                                                  stand in for him, which he did.
 
18 Oct 1969    B/S/G Training 17-19 Oct 1969      At the last minute Maurice found he was 
     Place     Mount Mead Paddock, Trottes.       unable to attend this weekend. On the 
     Leader    Maurice Beeby                      Friday evening he had to ask Colin 
                                                  Marshall to act for him for the 
                                                  weekend.                                
 
Jan 1970       New Leader = Colin Marshall        Maurice had to resign leadership as his 
               Maurice Beeby                      job took him away from the area.  Colin 
               Colin Marshall                     was appointed by the Battalion to take 
                                                  over.
 
21 Feb 1970    B/S/G Training  20-22 Feb 1970     
     Place     Mount Mead Paddock, Trottes.       
     Leader    Colin Marshall                     
                                                  
 
27 Mar 1970    Actual Snowdonia  26-30 Mar 70     
     Place     DolGam camp site, Snowdonia        
     Leader    Colin Marshall                     
                                                  
 
17 Oct 1970    First Girls at a Training w/e      Two girls from the 5th Milton 
               B/S/G Training 16-18 Oct 1970      (Gravesend) Guides joined group Bronze 
               1970 OCT NDOWNS Group BE           E for Silver training, on the 
                                                  understanding that more girls would 
                                                  join them before they did their 
                                                  expedition.
 
17 Oct 1970    B/S/G Training 16-18 Oct 1970      This was the first ever Training 
     Place     RAF West Malling Sick Quarters     Weekend to include any girls.  They 
     Leader    Colin Marshall                     were trained in a Bronze group under 
                                                  Ray Colechin although they were 
                                                  actually Silver level.
 
 6 Mar 1971    First girls group at Weekend       Three girls from Dartford Ranger Guides 
               B/S/G Training   5-7  Mar 1971     joined the original two from 5th Milton 
               1971 MAR NDOWNS Group SA           Guides to form a full Silver group.
                                                  
 
 6 Mar 1971    B/S/G Training   5-7  Mar 1971     
     Place     RAF West Malling Sick Quarters     
     Leader    Colin Marshall                     
                                                  
 
 8 Apr 1971    Actual Snowdonia   8-12 Apr 71     
     Place     DolGam camp site, Snowdonia        
     Leader    Colin Marshall                     
                                                  
 
23 Oct 1971    B/S/G Training 22-24 Oct 1971      
     Place     RAF West Malling Sick Quarters     
     Leader    Colin Marshall                     
                                                  
 
Jan 1972       Teaching Notes introduced          A set of notes had been written guiding 
                                                  what needed teaching and how for each 
                                                  level of each topic on our Map and Camp 
                                                  Craft weekends.
                                                  It is believed they were issued to all 
                                                  current assessors.
 
 4 Mar 1972    B/S/G Training   3-5  Mar 1972     
     Place     Hamlet Wood                        
     Leader    Colin Marshall                     
                                                  
 
30 Mar 1972    Trial of Willies Farm              A small group of assessors stayed in 
                                                  the bunkhouse at Willies farm for 
                                                  Easter rather than camping at Dol Gam.  
                                                  This was a trial for a possible full 
                                                  move to Willies.
 
31 Mar 1972    Actual Snowdonia 30Mar-3Apr 72     
     Place     DolGam camp site, Snowdonia        
     Leader    Colin Marshall                     
                                                  
 
Sep 1972       Robert Hardy takes on Admin.       Dave wanted to spend more time on 1st 
               Robert Hardy                       West Malling and his DEA Convenor role, 
               Dave Hollands                      so passed on Admin role to Robert Hardy.
               Train Map  BSG    20-22 Oct 72     Robert had shadowed Dave for March and 
                                                  Easter 72, and fully took on role for 
                                                  Oct 72.
 
21 Oct 1972    Train Map  BSG    20-22 Oct 72     
     Place     Metal Box Warehouse Addington      
     Leader    Colin Marshall                     
                                                  
 
 3 Mar 1973    Train Camp B/S/G   2-4  Mar 73     
     Place     Place not yet known                
     Leader    Colin Marshall                     
                                                  
 
 9 Apr 1973    Discuss future lady assessors      At the pre-Easter meeting, the first 
               Pre Easter meeting 1973            mention was made of possible lady 
               Actual Snowdonia  19-23 Apr 73     assessors for next season. 5 girls were 
               1973 EASTER SNOWDN Group GC        taking Gold at Easter 73.
 
19 Apr 1973    Base camp moved to Willies         Whilst not perfect, Willies did offer 
               Gwern Gof Isaf (Willies Farm)      barn and bunkhouse accommodation, and 
                                                  in particular, much better facilities 
                                                  for the cooks.
 
20 Apr 1973    Actual Snowdonia  19-23 Apr 73     
     Place     Gwern Gof Isaf (Willies Farm)      
     Leader    Colin Marshall                     
                                                  
 
May 1973       Start of "Team Management"         Colin would miss the 1974 season as he 
               Colin Marshall                     would be on VSO in Nigeria. Dave 
               Train Map  Bronze  6-7  Oct 73     Hollands to be Leader for the season.  
               Train Map  S&G    20-21 Oct 73     Dave Thilthorpe took on Routes and Paul 
                                                  Cheney QM.  These split tasks continue 
                                                  to this day.
 
Sep 1973       Split Training into B & S/G        Ever increasing numbers made it 
               Train Map  Bronze  6-7  Oct 73     necessary to split the Training 
               Train Map  S&G    20-21 Oct 73     Weekends.  Bronze would henceforth be 
                                                  run separately from Silver/Gold.
 
 6 Oct 1973    Train Map  Bronze  6-7  Oct 73     
     Place     Snodland Youth Club                
     Leader    Dave Hollands                      
                                                  
 
Oct 1973       Move to Snodland Youth Club        The use of Snodland Youth Club was 
               Train Map  Bronze  6-7  Oct 73     secured for this season's Training 
               Train Map  S&G    20-21 Oct 73     Weekends, and it was hoped to be able 
                                                  to continue there.
 
20 Oct 1973    Train Map  S&G    20-21 Oct 73     
     Place     Snodland Youth Club                
     Leader    Dave Hollands                      
                                                  
 
 2 Mar 1974    Train Camp S&G     2-3  Mar 74     
     Place     Snodland Youth Club                
     Leader    Dave Hollands                      
                                                  
 
16 Mar 1974    Train Camp Bronze 16-17 Mar 74     
     Place     Snodland Youth Club                
     Leader    Dave Hollands                      
                                                  
 
 9 Apr 1974    Hertfordshire accident (Wales)     A group of Hertfordshire Scouts became 
               Actual Snowdonia  11-14 Apr 74     lost and overdue in bad weather on the 
                                                  Carnedds. Required Mountain Rescue and 
                                                  made national news. Some parents 
                                                  thought it was Kent Boys.  Caused our 
                                                  routes to require altering for 1975.
 
12 Apr 1974    Actual Snowdonia  11-14 Apr 74     
     Place     Gwern Gof Isaf (Willies Farm)      
     Leader    Dave Hollands                      
                                                  
 
12 Apr 1974    First Radio Medway phone-in        Martin Harris phoned in from Wales on 
               Actual Snowdonia  11-14 Apr 74     Friday and Saturday to be interviewed 
               Dave Hollands                      on a normal Radio Medway show.
               Memo re Radio Medway 1974          The interviewer was unfamiliar with our 
                                                  methods so many questions difficult to 
                                                  answer, leaving parent listeners 
                                                  confused at times.
 
 5 Oct 1974    Train Map  Bronze  5-6  Oct 74     
     Place     Snodland Youth Club                
     Leader    Colin Marshall                     
                                                  
 
19 Oct 1974    Train Map  S&G    19-20 Oct 74     
     Place     Snodland Youth Club                
     Leader    Colin Marshall                     
                                                  
 
29 Jan 1975    Nye Price meets Dennis Hoare       Nye first met Dennis Hoare (Birkenhead) 
               Nye Price                          whilst in Llandudno with another group.
               Dennis Hoare                       They swapped notes in their Expedition 
                                                  setups and agreed to keep in touch.
                                                  Dennis promised to visit us at Easter.
 
 8 Feb 1975    Train Camp Bronze  8-9  Feb 75     
     Place     Snodland Youth Club                
     Leader    Colin Marshall                     
                                                  
 
 1 Mar 1975    Train Camp S&G     1-2  Mar 75     
     Place     Snodland Youth Club                
     Leader    Colin Marshall                     
                                                  
 
28 Mar 1975    Actual Snowdonia  27-30 Mar 75     
     Place     Gwern Gof Isaf (Willies Farm)      
     Leader    Colin Marshall                     
                                                  
 
29 Mar 1975    Dennis Hoare visits Willies        Dennis kept his January promise and 
               Dennis Hoare                       visited us at Easter, meeting more of 
               Actual Snowdonia  27-30 Mar 75     our staff. He asked that the Gold 
                                                  groups leave a red wool marker at Foel 
                                                  Grach.
 
 4 Oct 1975    Train Map  Bronze  4-5  Oct 75     
     Place     Snodland Youth Club                
     Leader    Colin Marshall                     
                                                  
 
Oct 1975       Sold 5 copies Teaching Notes       Records show that 50 copies of the 1972 
               Train Map  Bronze  4-5  Oct 75     Teaching Notes were sold on the October 
               Train Map  S&G    18-19 Oct 75     weekends for 2 pounds each.
                                                  It is not recorded who bought them.
 
18 Oct 1975    Train Map  S&G    18-19 Oct 75     
     Place     Snodland Youth Club                
     Leader    Colin Marshall                     
                                                  
 
 6 Mar 1976    Train Camp Bronze  6-7  Mar 76     
     Place     Snodland Youth Club                
     Leader    Colin Marshall                     
                                                  
 
20 Mar 1976    Train Camp S&G    20-21 Mar 76     
     Place     Snodland Youth Club                
     Leader    Colin Marshall                     
                                                  
 
16 Apr 1976    Actual Snowdonia  15-18 Apr 76     
     Place     Gwern Gof Isaf (Willies Farm)      
     Leader    Colin Marshall                     
                                                  
 
16 Oct 1976    Train Map  Bronze 16-17 Oct 76     
     Place     Snodland Youth Club                
     Leader    Colin Marshall                     
                                                  
 
 6 Nov 1976    Train Map  S&G     6-7  Nov 76     
     Place     Snodland Youth Club                
     Leader    Colin Marshall                     
                                                  
 
26 Feb 1977    Train Camp Bronze 26-27 Feb 77     
     Place     Snodland Youth Club                
     Leader    Colin Marshall                     
                                                  
 
12 Mar 1977    Train Camp S&G    12-13 Mar 77     
     Place     Snodland Youth Club                
     Leader    Colin Marshall                     
                                                  
 
 8 Apr 1977    Actual Snowdonia   7-10 Apr 77     
     Place     Gwern Gof Isaf (Willies Farm)      
     Leader    Colin Marshall                     
                                                  
 
May 1977       Pete Underhill Leader designat     Colin needed to step back because of 
               Colin Marshall                     personal problems. Pete Underhill to 
               Peter Underhill                    take over.  Season 1978 to be a 
                                                  training and hand-over year.  Colin and 
                                                  Pete to work together, with Pete 
                                                  running Bronze and Colin Silver/Gold.
 
Oct 1977       New Assessors Oct 1977             These assessors were invited in Aug 
                                                  1977 to become assessors. 
                                                  
                                                  
 
22 Oct 1977    Train Map  Bronze 22-23 Oct 77     
     Place     Snodland Youth Club                
     Leader    Peter Underhill                    
                                                  
 
 5 Nov 1977    Train Map  S&G     5-6  Nov 77     
     Place     Snodland Youth Club                
     Leader    Colin Marshall                     
                                                  
 
Jan 1978       Assessor Training day              A full day of lectures, exercises and 
                                                  role play was held at Milton Rd 
                                                  Methodist church.
                                                  Many assessors attended, and great help 
                                                  with role play provided by 2nd 
                                                  Gravesend Boys.
 
11 Feb 1978    Train Camp S&G    11-12 Feb 78     
     Place     Snodland Youth Club                
     Leader    Colin Marshall                     
                                                  
 
25 Feb 1978    Train Camp Bronze 25-26 Feb 78     
     Place     Snodland Youth Club                
     Leader    Peter Underhill                    
                                                  
 
24 Mar 1978    Actual Snowdonia  23-26 Mar 78     
     Place     Gwern Gof Isaf (Willies Farm)      
     Leader    Colin Marshall                     
                                                  
 
Aug 1978       New Assessors 1978                 These assessors were invited in Aug 
                                                  1978 to become new Assessors.
                                                  
                                                  
 
21 Oct 1978    New Assessors formally trained     6 new assessors were trained on the 
               Train Map  Bronze 21-22 Oct 78     Bronze weekend. Some training and 
               Colin Marshall                     exercises was in a special group, and 
                                                  some was working with the Instructors 
                                                  whilst they were teaching Bronze groups.
 
21 Oct 1978    Train Map  Bronze 21-22 Oct 78     
     Place     Snodland Youth Club                
     Leader    Peter Underhill                    
                                                  
 
 4 Nov 1978    Train Map  S&G     4-5  Nov 78     
     Place     Snodland Youth Club                
     Leader    Peter Underhill                    
                                                  
 
 4 Feb 1979    First mention of South Downs       90 candidates & 38 staff scheduled for 
               Actual Snowdonia  12-15 Apr 79     Easter 79. In view of transport 
               Committee minutes Mar 79           problems it was decided to investigate 
                                                  possibility of taking Bronze to South 
                                                  Downs.
                                                  In the event, dropouts meant this was 
                                                  unnecessary.
 
17 Feb 1979    Train Camp S&G    17-18 Feb 79     The records for this weekend do not 
     Place     Snodland Youth Club                show anyone as not attending.  It is 
     Leader    Peter Underhill                    unclear if this is because the 
                                                  programme was not annotated or everyone 
                                                  actually did attend.
 
 3 Mar 1979    Train Camp Bronze  3- 4 Mar 79     Bronze Group A was trained in the S&G 
     Place     Snodland Youth Club                weekend, possibly to help even out 
     Leader    Peter Underhill                    numbers.
                                                  
 
13 Apr 1979    Actual Snowdonia  12-15 Apr 79     
     Place     Gwern Gof Isaf (Willies Farm)      
     Leader    Peter Underhill