All posts by David Goodwin

Gang Show 2025 – Save the Date

Save the Date!

Get ready for an unforgettable afternoon or evening of entertainment! Join us for our Gang Show on Saturday 1st February 2025.

All sections (and the Brownies) will be taking part, with each putting in a short performance to entertain the audience.

More details and ticket information will be coming your way in early January. Stay tuned!

Christmas Fair Raises over £650

Thank you to everyone who attended our Christmas Fair yesterday. We raised an amazing £650.37. And most importantly, had some great fun throughout.

A huge shout out to all the amazing volunteers from 6 year old beavers up to our 60(cough) plus helpers. We couldn’t have done it without you.

If you would like to join our team of incredible volunteers, we are ready to welcome you on to the team. Whether it’s helping at weekly meetings, being on our trustee board or assisting at one of the events for our young people we have a role for you.

Santa Sleigh Collection

We have been given the opportunity to support Bromley Rotary with their Santa and Sleigh collections this year. This is an initiative that we have supported over recent years – not only is it a thoroughly rewarding experience, but it also a fantastic source of fundraising for the group.

We are looking for adults to help us with the collections on Thursday 12th December. It will start around 5.30pm and finish by 8.30pm – but we split the evening into two slots so we hope to have enough volunteers so people are only needed for circa 90 minutes.  

If you are able to spare some time to support this festive event, please either comment below, send us a message on Facebook, or drop us an email on admin@23rdbromleyscouts.org.

Daniel Snook’s Funeral

Daniel Snook’s funeral will be on Thursday 5th December 2024 at 10.00am at the Bluebell Cemetery, Halstead, TN14 7AE.

After the funeral there will be a gathering at the 23rd Bromley Scout HQ, Homemead Road, Bromley, BR2 8BB.

The family have asked that people let them know if they will be attending – snook.family@talk21.com / 0770 903 9302 / 0208 460 3269.

Family flowers only but donations can be given to Bromley Mencap to further their work at The Lodge. Details on how to donate are on Bromley Mencap’s website at the link below and donations can be made online, by bank transfer, cheque or over the phone. Please indicate that your gift is for The Lodge. Bromley Mencap is also happy to accept donations via cash or cheque on the day.
https://www.bromleymencap.org.uk/get-involved/donate-now

Ahead of Daniel Snook’s funeral details on how to donate are on Bromley Mencap’s website at the link below and donations can be made online, by bank transfer, cheque or over the phone. Please indicate that your gift is for The Lodge. Bromley Mencap is also happy to accept donations via cash or cheque on the day.
https://www.bromleymencap.org.uk/get-involved/donate-now

For those unable to attend there will be a live stream:
Link: www2.obitus.com
Username: qeqa8914
Password: 309384

Daniel Snook – Gone Home

It is with great sadness that we announce Daniel Snook, son of Marina and Tim Snook, passed away yesterday (28/10/24).

Daniel was a member of the group while he was growing up, and was a leader with Baloo Pack for a number of years.

We send our condolences to Marina, Tim, Jonathan and all the family.

Christmas Fair 2024

It’s only 6 weeks until the next fund-raising event on Saturday the 23rd November which will be the Group’s “Christmas Fair”.  Please put the date in your diary so you can attend, have some fun and buy some bargains!

Could we please just remind you that we would be very grateful for any donations of unwanted gifts or nearly new items of toiletry/jewellery items and complete toys and jigsaws which can be delivered on a weekly basis to the HQ when your son/daughter goes to their Scout meeting. 

All monies raised at this event will go directly to the Group Funds which are used for the maintenance of the HQ and general running of the Group.

Your support would really be appreciated.

 David Wilcox

Alan Bartlett – Gone Home

Alan Bartlett’s funeral service will be held at Bluebell Crematorium (TN14 7AE) on Wednesday 30th October 2024 at 3 p.m. There will be a reception afterwards from 4 p.m. at the Rose and Crown in Green Street Green (BR6 6BT).

Full details can be found at: https://alan-george-bartlett.muchloved.com/

The family have asked for people to let Paul or Donna know so that they have an idea of numbers at the cemetery and venue afterwards. If you don’t have their contact details directly then feel free to send us a message and we will pass it on to them. The family would also like to thank everyone for their continued messages of support and they look forward to sharing memories of Alan with you when we all meet on the 30th October.


It is with great sadness that we announce that Alan Bartlett passed away yesterday (08/10/24).

Alan, known as “Tigger”, first become an Assistant Cub Scout Leader with Kim Pack in 1985, a role he held until 2004. After stepping back from leadership he continued to support the group, attending events such as Jumble Sales and Race Nights. Alan played a fundamental role in our Pantos and Gang Shows, both helping to put the stage up and performing on it! He is pictured here at the County Ball in 2010.  

We send our condolences to Jean, Paul, Donna and all the family.

Summer Adventures

Although all of our sections took a well earned break over summer, a number of our Young People still had incredible Scouting adventures.


Our Scout Troop and Explorer Unit both attended the Essex International Jamboree – which saw over 4,500 Young People from all over the world enjoy a week worth of activities. Jonny from our Explorer Unit kindly provided the below summary of his time:

“In the sunny week at the end of July, I attended the Essex International Jamboree with a group of Scouts and Explorers from 23rd Bromley. For us it was a short car journey to Essex where we joined Scouts and Guides from across the globe. After our troop set up camp we headed down to the opening ceremony which started our jam-packed week. The entire Jamboree congregated in the centre of the campsite to be welcomed to the Jamboree with an opening ceremony including a flag parade, speeches and dancing.

The field that the Jamboree took place in had been transformed to a town, complete with our camping zones, ten different activity areas, a central stage, and a variety of shops. Every day our subcamp went to two activity zones each containing several different activities to do on a particular theme. Personally, my favourite zone was Up and Under, where we did climbing, abseiling and a huge zipwire. From the other zones some of my highlights were tomahawk throwing, high ropes, kayaking and the inflatable obstacle courses. After preparing and eating dinner there was always a variety of entertainment including circus acts, music and a talent show.

Overall, the Jamboree was a brilliant opportunity to meet people from a huge variety of different cultures and countries as well as strengthening bonds within our own troop. I can confidently say that everyone had an amazing time and was utterly exhausted by the end of it. I would definitely recommend a Jamboree to anyone who has the opportunity to go.”


Duncan, Edward and Sam from our Explorer Unit went on the Bromley District Trip to the Ardeche in France. They kindly provided the below summary of their trip:

“After a day of travel: a coach ride, smooth ferry crossing, and a few
more hours in the coach, we were dropped off in the scorching heat of
Ardeche. Once there we set up our tents and listened to the explanation
from the camp staff about how to properly clean up and use the right
bin favourites when were throwing the away high waste. The activities were all very fun, our favourites were the high ropes course and the climbing walls but the river activities and pool were also amazing.

During the trip we also visited a few towns and descended into a massive cave with lots of weirdly shaped rocks. The highlight of the trip was the river descent where we all paired up and paddled down the river and it’s rapids stopping every now and then for a break and to enjoy the river by floating down the rapids or jump in from the nearby cliffs. In between the days of paddling we slept outside which felt fine because it was so hot.
Although the descent was fun many of us were happy it was over as all
of us would have capsized if it hadn’t been for the guides.

This was the end of our trip for the most part and on the way back some of us had pizza for breakfast at 4:00am. It was fantastic and we would love to go again.”