English Tea Rooms

As excited Scouts found their way to their first activities, and a sea of amazed day visitors found their way around the Jamboree site, a place of tranquillity could still be found on site. Jamboree reporter Sam Taylor found sanctuary from the hustle and bustle in the English Tea Rooms.



In the glorious sunshine, a winding queue snaked around the quaint English garden, as leaders and day visitors alike waited to be served at the tea room. With scrumptious cakes, and the welcoming aroma of tea circulating the air, a feeling of calm came across all those who visited this little bit of traditional England.



Many customers were ordering cream teas: special Jamboree tea served with scones packed full of clotted cream and jam. They were just as delicious as they looked.Visitors from Derbyshire were on their second trip to the tea rooms, and whilst seated took time to reflect on their experience at Hylands Park. Anthony, a Scout leader visiting a Jamboree site for the first time, said “you need time to sit and take in the whole experience. This is absolutely enormous”. Alan, a member of Fellowship was lucky enough to be part of the Korean World Jamboree in 1991. He added “not much has changed; the atmosphere and enjoyment are still the same. Being here at a Jamboree brings back a lot of memories for me”.Scout leaders were also taking a rest whilst their Scouts were at activities. Maria from Murcia in Spain said “we are very happy to be here, but still catching up on sleep after arriving very early yesterday morning”. “It is simply brilliant to experience another culture whilst also relaxing. We are looking forward to visiting the other international restaurants and coffee houses before we go home” said Jose.If you haven’t already had chance to taste the English delicacies at the tea rooms, make time before you leave. And for those who already want to take a piece of England home with them be sure to call at the tea shop for your own jar of Jamboree tea!

Can't wait to arrive on Brownsea

About three hundred Scouts left the Jamboree site early yesterday morning to trave to Brownsea Island, the place where Baden Powell started Scouting 100 years ago. Having been selected to represent their countries on the island, these Scouts are now making close friendships and enjoying this one-off event.

On Sunday evening they all met for Development Boulevard. As they walked in, they each shook the hand of the UK Chief Scout, Peter Duncan, before being split into four patrols and meeting their subcamp leaders.

"My heart feels like up here"
In a short speech, Peter Duncan welcomed everyone before he raised his hand above his head and said “I don’t know about you, but my heart feels like its up here”.A short DVD was played which showed activities on the island. For many of the seen what the island looked like. It was at this point that many of them realised how wonderful it is going to be for them to celebrate 100 years of Scouting at the place where it began.One of the participants, Al Frankl, said “I’ve been making loads of new friends and now can’t wait to arrive on Brownsea”. Al’s excitement was reflected in everybodys faces as their smiles grew throughout the evening.During their three days on the island the participants will discover the diversity of Scouting by taking part in many activities, including a 'time trial' across Continents where they will learn about different Scout music, dance, food, culture and religion as well as a World Carnival. The organisers of the event said: "These Scouts will represent the hopes of the world as they show how itis possible to live together in peace."

Restaurant Facts

• Meals to be served during the jamboree: 450,000
• People served daily: 8,000 IST memberes and 2,500 jamboree managers, delivery team members and the jamboree organisational team
• Restaurant seating capacity: 3,000
• Restaurant staff: 320
• Contracted staff: 60
• Lorry (truck) deliveries daily: Up to 14
• Waste recycled: 70%
• New flags to be displayed in the restaurant as of Friday: nine, including Serbia and Venezuela
• British word for potato chips: crisps

Wake up with Promise FM

Wake up with Promise FM

In the middle of the Plaza stands a portable container, with one side open. Besides burgundy walls, it is furnished simply - a table for two in the middle with two microphones, two computer screens and a mixing desk with loads of switches taking up most of the space. Two people are able to squeeze in behind the table, but that’s it. This is the home of the Promisefm 87.7, the Jamboree’s own radio station.

A small crowd has gathered outside the station, and today they got lucky. The Adventure, who recorded the Jamboree song, Jambo, popped in unexpectedly for on interview and sung part of the song live, both in English and French.

At 09:00 the four morning show DJs, Jennie Hornsby, Oliver Lackie, Dominique "Calao" Tinguely, and Harvey Kennett have already been up for 4.5 hours and on air since 06:00. However, they do not look tired. Multiple cups of coffee and hot chocolate have been consumed during the morning to keep them going.

The morning show is not scripted, but the time is divided into two sections. The first hour is in the studio with all the DJs, and for the other three hours of the show two of the DJs go to sub camps and take part of the show on the road.

“Dominique and I talked with a Korean troop and they offered us breakfast, says Kennett. “We had rice, seaweed, and some other Korean specialities. Another day we were at the Island Hub and while Dominique was still eating breakfast I was trying to do an interview in English with a French Scout. When he heard that on the radio, he ran to finish the interview in French.”

Combining a career and a hobby

All of the DJs are experienced radio personalities. Hornsby, 21, has her own radio show in Essex, Lackie, 18, has a weekly radio show at his college, Tinguely, 26, has a radio show in Geneva, and Kennett, 37, has helped with Scout camp radio stations. Talking on a radio is something they are all passionate about and what they love doing.

“I wanted to be a part of team instead of having a show of my own,” says Hornsby. “This was an opportunity, and I love this job.” “For me this was a challenge,” adds Tinguely, the French DJ. “I wanted to improve my English and get memories.”

At 09:55 the DJs are playing the funny bits from yesterday’s show. They have 5 minutes of the show left. The time runs out, they switch to the news coming from the Media Centre, and leave the broadcasting room.

You will not hear their voices on the radio until the next morning but they are not done with talking. Lively chatter in English and French continues as soon as they are out of range of the microphones.

Programme begins across the Jamboree

The sun came out around lunchtime and started drying out all the mud, which was lucky as so many people were walking round site getting to the activities. There was lots of noise from every corner of the site, recycled music came from Trash and Rockets were flying in the air on Elements.

Day visitors were able to come on site finally and many were walking around in awe with the enormity of the site and number of people taking part. Comments such as “There are so many tents it’s breath taking” were heard. It is not surprising that most of the guests don’t appear to want to leave!

Participants were bustling around enjoying the activities and all made lots of new friends. There are so many challenges around site that it will be a challenge itself to get them all completed!

With so much happening it’s a wonder anyone had any energy for their evening activities, but whilst walking across the Plaza Sunday evening on my way to Black Magic, there were plenty of participants around making use of the shops and food outlets, assuring me that they had a fun packed day and were looking forward to a fun packed evening as well.

Message August 1st

The sun is rising on a new century of Scouting.

When joining millions of other Scouts in the renewal of the Promise let us thank all those who made it possible for us to live the unique, exciting and involving experience of Scouting, starting with our Founder BP.

We live in times of increasing disparities, world wide intolerance, tensions and growing conflicts. Irresponsible life-styles and wild consumerism are seriously putting our planet's environmental stability at risk.

As “citizens of the world”, we have a responsibility.

As Scouts our duty is to actively engage for creating a better world.

Let's be firmly guided by our common Promise and face the future with optimism and courage.
As sisters and brothers, recognising in every human being a friend, whatever her or his beliefs or situation, let's devote all our energies to building Peace.

Eduardo Missoni, Secretary General, World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM)

Jamboree Dreams

On the web...

Almost every day I write on my secret diary something about the Jamboree. I think it will be an exciting experience. In our group we began to talk about the Jamboree almost two years ago. Immediately I liked the idea of taking part in a so huge camp.

We kept a big sheet of paper against the wall of our headquarters and everyone who wanted to go to the Jamboree had to write their name on it. Now two of my group are going to the World Scout Jamboree: my friend, Lorenzo, and me.

In my country Scouting is famous. There are many groups in Italy and everyone is doing many activities to celebrate 100 years of Scouting. For example, in many cities in Italy the mayor nominates some streets with the name “Robert Baden Powell”. Then, on a Sunday of May, every group did in his own city many activities in which many non Scout children (but also adults) took part. We organised games, competitions, music, dance and also an exhibition. Furthermore, the Scouts who will not come to the Jamboree will be in contact with the camp thanks to the media.

There are many things that make me look forward to the Jamboree. First of all, being a girl Scout is one of the things I love the most. I’ve been a girl Scout since 1999. At the end of my first Saturday afternoon with my group I was already loving it. I said my promise and I’m still glad to be a girl Scout. The last years were really thrilling for me.

Now I notice that I begin to become enthusiastic over my new Scout experience. I’m really looking forward to the Jamboree… I think I’m very lucky to take part in it. One of the things that convinced me to go to the Jamboree is friendship: in fact one of the best virtues of the boy Scout is his friendship. I will have the opportunity to make new friends from all over the world. But sometimes I’m a bit shy. Maybe this Jamboree will help me to make new friends without hesitation.

Then, I think the Jamboree will be special for its activities. That’s the second big camp I’ll take part in: three years ago I took part in a National Camp and I made lots of new friends. If I imagine the Jamboree, I think about that wonderful National Camp with its hundreds of tents and thousands of Scouts. There is only a difference: the Jamboree will be even bigger and unique. It will be like visiting the world staying in the same place! I’ve never met scouts from other countries before… I’m sure it will be exciting!

When I was asked if I would like to be a young correspondent, I immediately wanted to. I really like writing: I keep a secret diary (I have already written 21 books!) and I gained my Scout Patent in Journalism. “So why not to be a young correspondent?”, I said. I’m sure it will be nice to write for the Jamboree newspaper.

Chiara F, Young Correspondent, Italian Contingent.