Photos from 2009 AGM by Michael Smith.

Jan Lloyd and Chris Roberts are congratulated for their awards by Area President Mick Bates, Chief Commissioner for Wales Jill Gloster, Area Commissioner Roger Eagles and District Commissioner Bob Robinson.

The Annual General Meeting and Review was held at Abermule Community Centre on Friday 10th July 2009.

The meeting was welcomed by Area Chairman Hugh Anton-Stephens, followed by a short prayer read by Area President, Mick Bates AM.

Awards were presented as follows:

Recipients were congratulated by Area President, Mick Bates AM and Chief Commissioner for Wales, Jill Gloster.

After the standard business of the AGM, short speeches were made by the Area President and Chief Commissioner for Wales, followed by a longer presentation on Area Guidelines for Scout Groups and a buffet supper.

Photos from Operation Commando 2008 by Michael Smith.

In the Hafren Forest

Saturday 20th September 2008 was a busy day in down in the woods. Teams of Scouts from all over Montgomeryshire were navigating through the trees and across bogs and streams on their mission to find seven bases. But it wasn’t as simple as that, because they were being hunted by 'catchers' - teams of Explorer Scouts.

To evade the catchers, the teams of Scouts had to stay undercover and use map and compass work to find their way through the undergrowth. The more experienced teams wore camouflage clothing, used face paint and attached vegetation to their clothing. Each of the teams had to be self-sufficient for the day, carrying everything they needed in their rucksacks.

The Explorer Scout catchers worked in threes, often being dropped off by patrolling vehicles. The bases were manned by Leaders from the various Scout Groups in Montgomeryshire. Taking up to seven hours to reach the last base, all 12 of the competing teams completed their mission.

The full-day event was held in the Hafren Forest, courtesy of the Forestry Commission. Michael Smith, one of the leaders co-organising the event, commented:

'This exciting event is always very popular, and this year it attracted over a hundred participants. The attraction of the day is the adventure of using skills on a real task with a minimum of supervision. How the Scouts get from one base to the next is up to them, and getting wet and covered in mud is all part of the attraction. It’s a real challenge and the catchers add that extra element of excitement.'

Katie and Emily, two of the Scouts from Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant described their day:

'Today was fabulous. We’ve been hiding in the forest, running, getting lost, getting wet and even swimming in the river. But I think we got caught more than anyone else!'

Two Welshpool Scouts added:

'Today was really good. We jumped across ditches, hid in the forest and got chased by Explorers. I liked it. I’m in Welshpool Scouts, and today our team of five didn’t win, but we had great fun all the time.

Ken Whitmore a Leader in Montgomery, helped out with one of the younger teams:

'We got very involved and soon found ourselves running for our lives away from the catchers just like our Scouts were!!!'

The Annual General Meeting and Review was held at Abermule Community Centre on Friday 4th July 2008.

In the absence of the Area President, Mick Bates AM, who was indisposed, Area Chairman Hugh Anton-Stephens opened the evening with a welcome and short prayer.

Long service awards were presented by District Commissioner Bob Robinson as follows:

Mark Woodhouse was invested as Group Scout Leader (Newtown Group).

After the standard business of the AGM, awards were presented by Area Commissioner Roger Eagles as follows:

A presentation was made by Senior Field Commissioner Clive Bracewell on behalf of Jill Gloster, Chief Commissioner of Wales, followed by a presentation on the 2007 Centenary celebrations by District Commissioner Bob Robinson. The evening concluded with a buffet supper.

Area President Mick Bates (left) and Area Commissioner Roger Eagles (right) present Mr Bill Jones with his 40 year long service award.

The Annual General Meeting and Review was held at Abermule Community Centre on Friday 22nd June 2007.

After a welcome and short prayer by Area Chairman Hugh Anton-Stephens, the meeting approved the recommendation by Area Commissioner Roger Eagles that Mick Bates AM be appointed as the new Area President.

After the standard business and appointments of the AGM, long service awards were presented to Bill Jones (40 years) and Mark Woodhouse (10 years). John-Paul Lawrence has also qualified for his 10 year award.

This was followed by a short DVD of the Centenary UK Tour, refreshments and Sectional Meetings.