Month: September 2020

 

Scotland Send On A Substitute!

Press Release – Dated 26/09/20
Scotland Send On A Substitute!

Alex Maciver, an Explorer Scout from Perth & Kinross, has stepped up “from the bench” as first reserve to join the ReQuest2021 Antarctic Research Team on what promises to be the journey of a lifetime!

Alex Maciver

Alex is from a small highland town called Aberfeldy. He holds the Young Leader belt and is currently working towards his Queen’s Scout and DofE Gold awards.

Alex has been to Poland and Switzerland with his local Scout troop, he was a participant at the Blair Atholl Jamborette in 2018 and he was lucky to be a participant in Unit 90 for the 24th World Scout Jamboree in North America.

Alex’s fundraising page: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AlexMaciver

Alex will be taking the place of Emma Johnston who for personal reasons has very sadly decided to withdraw from the actual journey to Antarctica. Emma intends to remain as part of the wider ReQuest2021 supporting team and she still aims to complete her personal project of producing some fun & educational children’s books about Antarctica.

In the Winter of 2021/22, the team of ten (8 from Kent and 2 from Scotland) will be sailing on the Bark Europa Tall Ship from South America to Port Lockroy in Antarctica.  Exactly 100 years after  two Scouts sailed on Shackleton’s final Quest Expedition the project‘s objectives will be: –

  • To participate as members of the crew on the Barque Europa on a voyage to Antarctica.
  • For each of the participants to carry out an Antarctic research project and present the results upon return.
  • To visit Port Lockroy base that was established by Scout James Marr and fly a Scout flag on Antarctica.
  • To unveil an expedition plaque dedicated to Marr & Mooney at Gilwell Park and Fordell Firs Scottish HQ.
  • To involve the younger sections in join-in educational fun  activities in the form of Antarctica In An Ice Box.

The team have fundraised just over £60,000 so far with a project target of £110,000. King penguin level sponsors (each donating over £1000) to date include the Deep-Sea Scouts, the Earl of Radnor and the Boatmen’s Charity (Deal). Fundraising continues despite the impact of Coronavirus and they only have until the end of June 2021 to raise another £50,000.
Kent Scouts is one of the largest Scouting counties in the UK. Giving adventure to 17,112 young people and 5,439 adults across Kent. They are an umbrella organisation to the Scout Association of the UK operating in the Local authorities of Kent County Council and Medway Council. The aim of the Association is to promote the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, social and spiritual potential, as individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of their local, national and international communities.

For various ways you can follow and support the project please visit: www.ReQuest2021.org.uk

There are three easy options for your donation payments: –
 
1. Please make any donation cheques payable to “Kent County Scout Council”, and post to Kent Scouts, Lower Grange Farm, Maidstone, Kent ME14 3DA.
 
2.  You can donate by BACS to Sort Code: 40-52-40 Account #: 00015563
            quoting “Request2021” as a reference.
 
3.  Or online via our Virgin Money Giving Page: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/ReQuest2021 or via the link our website: www.request2021.org.uk


[512 Words]
 
For more info, or for higher resolution versions of images, please contact:-
Alan Noake
Assistant County Commissioner (Global Projects)
alan.noake@kentscouts.org.uk
www.kentscouts.org.uk
07525 633435
Kent Scouts County Office
Lower Grange Farm
Maidstone
Kent
ME14 3DA

REQUEST2021 PODCAST – INTERVIEW PREVIEWS

A 7 MINUTE SNEAK PREVIEW OF ALL THE FANTASTIC UPCOMING ANTARCTICA RELATED INTERVIEWS WE HAVE PLANNED FOR THE YEAR AHEAD!

Between October 2020 and August 2021, we have some fantastic interviews each month lined up for you to listen to with: –

OCT 2020: Michael Smith, Polar Author including Shackleton: By Endurance We Conquer

NOV 2020: The Honourable Alexandra Shackleton, Shackleton’s Granddaughter

DEC 2020: Camilla Nichol, Chief Executive of the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust

JAN 2021: Ann Savours Shirley, Polar Author including The Voyages of the Discovery

FEB 2021: Philippa Davies, Polar Enthusiast and founder of Cantarctica

MAR 2021: Angie Butler, Polar Enthusiast and director of Ice Tracks

APR 2021: Stephen Scott Fawcett, Polar Enthusiast and creator of Sir Ernest H. Shackleton Appreciation Society

MAY 2021: Vanessa O’Brien FRGS, Explorer and the First Woman to Reach Earth’s Highest and Lowest Points

JUN 2021: Mark Wood, Explorer and UK Chairman of The Explorer Club

JUL 2021: James Ketchell, Adventurer, Scouting ambassador and author of The Ultimate Triathlon

AUG 2021: Louis Rudd MBE, record-breaking polar adventurer, expedition leader, former Royal Marine Commando and SAS soldier.

And we also have our special Christmas episode planned with Wayne White, the 2020 manager based at the South Pole.

Project Merchandise

We now have lots of fun items of merchandise available on eBay – just do a search for “Request2021”!

* Penguin Christmas Cards
* Reindeer Christmas Cards
* ReQuest2021 Friendship Bracelets
* Scout Marr Greetings Cards
* Sailing Through Antarctic Waters Greetings Cards
* Leather Shackleton The Penguin Woggles
* Antarctic Glacier Camping Rights Certificates
* Special Edition ReQuest2021 Antarctica Top Trumps
* Shackleton The Penguin Badges

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=request2021&_sacat=0

All profits go to the project.

ReQuest2021 Podcast Ep.11

EPISODE 11 – Tuesday 1st Sep 2020  – this episode includes the commemorative plaques to Marr and Mooney; the final clip from Alan Noake’s Walderslade presentation to Medway Towns SAS, this time focusing on our ReQuest2021 research projects; and the ReQuest interview with Alan Noake project leader of ReQuest2021 conducted by fellow participant Emma Johnston.

Alan Noake

The ReQuest2021 podcast is documenting the Kent Scouts #ReQuest2021 Research Project all the way to Antarctica and back again! Interviews, Scouting historical links, events and research project work recorded along the way. Part of Alan Noake’s Antarctic Soundscapes project.

Show Notes

A link to Alan Noake’s Fundraising Page:
https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AlanNoake

Lots of Different Ways to Follow and Support The Project including our penguin badges, Antarctic Top Trumps and other merchandise…
www.fundraisingladder.co.uk/ReQuest2021

Alan Noake with Mark Brooks from Artisan Memorials
Commemorative Plaque to Marr and Mooney at Gilwell Park Scout HQ
Commemorative Plaque to Marr and Mooney at Gilwell Park Scout HQ
The Gilwell Plaque before installation
Alan Noake with the Gilwell and Fordell Firs Plaques
Alan Noake with The Fordell Firs Scottish HQ Plaque