Five days, four nights, 152 pints of beer, 2 Banners, 1 towed car and lots of pink! – that just about summed up the National Network Gathering, but what happened?

In total 15 members of Merseyside Network attended Great Towers Camp Site during 24th - 28th March which saw 400 Network members from across the country gather for the gathering!

Some of the Networks represented along with Merseyside included; Durham, Fife, “The Pub Scouts”, Bristol, Greater Manchester East, and of course West Lancashire Network who hosted the event, now in its 3rd Year.

Merseyside Network paved the way in innovation this year by bringing with us our own “Merseyside Network Beer” which was supplied by a Micro-Brewery from Southport, this was connected up to the main camp bar and both barrels of beer sold out in the first night, proving that the taste of Merseyside really is sweet!

Following on from our last main event we once again represented in Pink!, our pink Network T shirts again proved a big hit and made sure we stood out! We now have orders for our t shirts from at least 4 other networks so it looks like pink is here to stay!really is sweet!

This year the activities included; quad biking, climbing, assault courses, mountain biking, sea kayaking, and Caving to name a few however the majority of Merseyside Network competed in a new event, one requiring will power, mental strength, stamina, and courage; this was called “getting through the hangover”… and I’m pleased to say we all completed the course, we liked this so much we did it again every day!really is sweet!

The evening’s events throughout the camp consisted of karaoke, a live band, and the “Farbis Disco”, which were enjoyed by everyone, Merseyside featured prominently in the Karaoke on five occasions, with special mention going to Laura Disley, enjoying her first Network event ever, having turned 18 the day before, giving a superb rendition of “Black Velvet”. (We won’t mention the fact that she was absolutely stinking rotten drunk all night having started to drink at 1 o’clock that day!)really is sweet!

During the course of the camp West Lancashire Scouts were raising money for the Tsunami appeal, comic relief and a trip to Uganda, part of their fundraising was by selling cakes which each Network were asked to bring, again Merseyside didn’t disappoint with Pink iced fairy cakes and also a special recipe of Pink iced kit-kat and foxes cream biscuit face thingy? – this was so popular they were auctioned off during the Saturday night and raised over £20 for charities – well done to the cake makers!really is sweet!

This camp provided so many memorable moments it is hard to name them all but some of the special ones were, Lee’s car being towed out of a huge muddy ditch, Spewy’s thong on the big screen TV, Lee and Will coming 4th in the “Saw off”, and the Network cakes selling out in the first hour!really is sweet!

From the moment we arrived to the time we left the National Network Gathering was one laugh after another and truly great weekend. This event was a great opportunity for Network members to get together to relax, enjoy great activities, make new friends and socialise, surely the essence of the Network Section itself.really is sweet!

Bring on Next Year – Make sure you are there with us!!

Lee Allwood

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