Cambridgeshire Scout County: Cubs 90th Anniversary

County Cubs invade York for 90th Birthday Bash
An account by Simon Gates - 20th May 2006

Over 350 Cub Scouts from across the county celebrated history over the weekend with an activity-packed trip to York. Catching an early chartered train from Peterborough; many packs travelled far and wide to be part of the official 90th Anniversary celebrations that the County had to offer. Onlookers watched as wave after wave of little green scouts wandered the stretch of the platform searching for an empty carriage to board, but before long the station was clear and the train was ready to depart. From the moment the conductor blew his whistle and the train set in motion, everyone was buoyed by the sense of occasion. Cambs Cub Day

On arriving at York, packs swarmed and merged the length of the platform before setting off in search of adventure. Whilst heading into town, everyone stopped to admire the wonders of the National Rail Museum, home to an amazing collection of train memorabilia and locomotives, which acted as the base for the day. Some groups stayed behind while other small groups shuttled around the city to sample the many historic attractions on offer.

The Castle Museum provided a glimpse of York through Victorian eyes, offering Cubs an experience of true Victorian life from its pebbled streets, atmospheric lighting and true sounds right down to the printing presses of the industrial revolution. This full size, working, breathing, model village had plenty to show, with a variety of Victorian characters to chat to along the way.

Not too far down the road was the Jorvik Centre, which took Cubs on a journey back to Viking York (Jorvik) to uncover the mysteries of the past and to see how people lived over 1000 years ago. Among its collection were the impressive remains of ancient weapons, coins, tools and even battle trodden bones, some discovered during the excavation of the Coppergate site where the Centre now stands.

For those of a daring disposition, there was the chance to pluck up the courage and enter the deep, dark Dungeon; which was home to many a menacing monster. Twisted mad men lurked around every creepy corner with desperate stories to tell, and it took bravery not to lose your mind in the mirror maze. This definitely wasn’t a visit for the faint-hearted, but many rose to the challenge and came out unscathed!

The afternoon kicked off with an unexpected fire alarm at the National Rail Museum, and despite the pouring rain spirits weren’t dampened. Silence led to the sky next with a trip on the neighbouring Yorkshire Wheel, dubbed the London Eye of the North. The structure dominates the local skyline for miles around but the top unveiled some splendid scenery and made even the biggest cub look tiny. Many mentioned the strength of the whistling wind on the way round, which made the voyage scary…but exciting!

With time running out and the day winding down, everyone converged near the Royal Trains to say a big thank you to all staff, organisers and leaders for a wonderful day out. Everyone was treated to crisps and a drink before heading back to the station for the train home. But as Cubs and Leaders settled into their seats to rest their tired feet thinking it was all over, there was one last surprise. Slices from three giant birthday cakes were dished out to everyone onboard, prompting many packs to burst into song, singing ‘Happy Birthday!’

Average Cub rating for the day: "100 out of 10" - Cubtastic!