One World, One Promise

... and for that matter, One Garden!

A slow start to a slow day with not a lot to do, and everything coming to an end. I sought out extra work at the Adult Support centre but was offered a shift cleaning toilets at 11-00 pm just when I was to go on duty.

I ended up seeking Felicity out and after lunch we ran an errand for her work team. We had to walk from Hylands House over to The Jamboree Headquarters and so we took a short cut through the One World Garden, created specially to commemorate the World Jamboree.

Our attention was drawn to someone etching initials into the trellising on the way to the centrepiece pool. "Ask, and he'll add your initials too!!" An irresistable suggesion!

We asked and quickly entered into another of those wonderful Jamboree conversations. It turned out our friend had been responsible for installing the water on to the site. He was most concerned about the situation in Cheltenham and full of very genuine sympathy. He described how they had drawn the water from two big mains in order to ensure that none of the surrounding area should run dry. In addition they had installed two enormous 'bladders' at the top of the site just about the Adult camping area. During quite spells, over night, they were filled with water so that at the busiest spells there was always a ready supply of water on tap.

A wonderful system!

That, however, was not all. When we commented about the garden he explained that he had designed it. His name I shall add just as soon as I can recall it!! He treated us to a wonderful description of the most marvellous garden.

He explained how it depicted the journey through scouting. Starting with the spring of water welling up in the welcoming hut, the stream wound its way first through a wild area of beautiful wild flowers, intentionally left wild but completely secured by a Ewe Hedge. This represented the starting point in Beavers - completely secure but as yet wild and free! Then the water wound its way into the Cubs area. Full of exploration and fun with the first experience of camping away. Interestingly one path left to return to Hylands HOuse at that point. That's what some choose to do ... but they still have been touched by Scouting and remain part of the family.

Passing two gyratory drains representing the northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere the water then passes a much more ordered garden - we have reached the stage of scouting. With 'corkscrew' like box hedges circling the space where Scouts are much freer to do what they want to do with guidance from their 'corkscrew' like leaders!!

Then the waters lead on to the main pool. With paving stones all coming from India and laid out to represent the lines of latitude and longitude it is a reminder that Scouting is a world movement. Laid into the paving are inscriptions I have referred to before which relate to the Gifts for Peace projects for the centenary year and are a reminder of scouting's commitment to peace.

Another path leads into the wide world, or you can retrace your steps, stay in the movement and contribute to scouting and its future.

He described the way in which Hylands Park has been restored with its landscaped gardens returned to their original designs. This he suggested was a wonderful new garden looking to the future, but there were lots of features in it in keeping with the past, not least one wonderful view through a hedge, beneath an oak tree to a distant church spire.

What a wonderful insight into the One World Garden.

One World was very much the theme of the closing ceremony. In spite of pouring rain it was a moving reminder of the world dimension of scouting. Earlier in the day the Guiness Book of Records had officially included Scouting as the world's largest Youth Movement including members from all but half a dozen countries in the world. That international theme recurred thorughout the ceremony with contributions from Hong Kong, Ireland, Mexico, Indonesia and many more places.

The World Scout flag was handed over to Sweden ready for the next Jamboree. The Secretary of the World Association of Scouts gave an impassioned pleas to everyone to take forward the vision of the founder of Scouting and create a better world by working for peace and for fairness.

That had been the over-riding theme of the whole Jamboree ... and a marvellously moving moment as we greeted others standing around us. I am pretty sure I spotted Michael Baden Powell just standing in the crowd, joining in the fun with everyone else - wonderful to see how unassuming he was! Glad I found the picture of him looking after Felicity's wellies!

The ceremony came to an end and I joined the Listening Ear Team to be around for the end of the evening.

Coming down to breakfast this morning, I joined Emanuel, the friend from Nigeria who had introduced me to Nigerian Society earlier in the Jamboree.

What was most memorable for him was the way in which he had been introduced to so many different cultures. How right he was! Never before have I met so many people from so many different parts of the world, all brought together by a movement committed to making the world a better place!

It has been a wonderful experience.

All that remains is to do a lot of clearing up, take a group photo of the UK IST contingent, have a bit of a party, take the tent down and go!

Thank you to Felicity for persuading me to come, to Highbury for letting us come 'in church time' and to all the organisers of the Jamboree for making it such a success.

One World - not a bad vision to take from the Jamboree.

One Promise - not a bad way of achieving the vision.

See you soon in Cheltenham!

Every blessing,

Richard and Felicity