24/12/2025
Scouters Night before Christmas
'Twas the night before Christmas and at the scout hut,
Not a leader was stirring, the doors were locked shut.
The wet tents were hung from the rafters with care,
Camp was the wettest it had been since last year.
Scouts, Beavers, Squirrels and Cubs nestled snug in their beds,
While visions of risk assessments plagued leaders heads.
And year plans and badges and GDPR,
An hour a week? The biggest joke so far.
When down by the scout hut there arose such a clatter,
With blue lights and sirens, what on earth was the matter.
To phone and to Facebook parents flew in a flash,
And told all the leaders to the hut they must dash.
It's locked and it's empty are you sure we are needed?
But it's Scouts and the call must swiftly be heeded.
In all states of undress we arrived in our cars,
Fluffy onsies and curlers, some even left bars!
Key bunches in hand like a long line of jailers,
Shouting instructions, no need for loud hailers.
Doors flung open wide and padlocks undone
The search of the hut in earnest begun.
The tents were all dry and were neatly repacked.
The washing up done, fridge and cupboards properly stacked.
Was it you? Wasn't me! Or the parents? we'll see,
Who's got keys, only us, oh and the D.C..
Who ever it was it's done us a favour,
But who called the police? that must be a neighbour.
Then up on the roof there arose such a clatter,
We ran outside to see what was the matter.
It's the scouts, its the D.C. no its vandals I fear,
There's a sleigh on the store room and eight full grown reindeer!
Akela shouted "You get down off there quick,
I'm not fileing an accident form labled St. Nick."
He was dressed all in red like all the books said.
With a hat trimmed with white sitting up on his head.
A clap of his hands and his elves flocked around,
With more of them joining us down on the ground.
More rapid than eagles our members they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called us name:
"Now, Balloo and Bageera now Akela and Raksha.
Your members wrote and we thought we'd answer the call!
We didn't bring presents or candy or stuff.
But we've helped like they asked cos you've all done enough.
You work and you plan, you give all your spare hours
Being scout leaders doesn't mean you have super powers.
An hour a week that's what they say
But you guys are Scouters by night and by day.
You think you're forgotten, You think they don't care,
but that's why tonight we have all gathered here.
To show you you matter and what you do counts
You're loved and respected in massive amounts.
And then with a twinkling he stood up in his sleigh.
We really should go, its a quite busy day.
With loud shout of mush and a flick of the reigns
Sleigh and elves disappeared as fast as they came.
I'm not quite sure what happened that cold christmas night,
Too much beer, lack of sleep or a trick of the light,
But I'm sure when police asked us to explain
What I saw in the sky wasn't any old plane.
It circled the scout hut before it went,
I'm sure all the youngsters knew what it meant.
And I heard as it flew into clouds out of sight
“Happy Christmas Scout Leaders, and to members.
(I have copied this from East Somerset District post 😉)
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, we hope you all have a wonderful time.
