From Mafeking to Molehills - The Reluctant Cub Scout

by Jon Laidlaw ISBN 978 1 846930539
Published: 2007
Pages: 230
Description
From Mafeking to Molehills - The Reluctant Cub Scout

Mafeking to molehills is a light hearted biography that tells the story of a Father who is innocently volunteered by his eight year old son into helping at an annual cub camp. Not wishing to let his son down or jeopardising the lad’s chances at the new school to which the cub pack is affiliated, he reluctantly agrees. Our unwilling hero, unable to talk his way out of the hole he’s been dug into, is carried along by the wake of enthusiasm shown by the eccentric Akela.

Out of his depth he struggles with the enormity of the task of trying to control and care for a group of thirty boys who very quickly spot his short-comings. However he soon learns that with labour comes reward and having survived the initial camp by enduring the freezing nights, exhausting days and local wildlife he finds that the contrasts of the countryside, along with the interaction and surprising competency of his young charges completely changes his outlook on life.

The story is told over a period of twenty years with new recruits constantly regenerating the pack; bringing with it the usual assortment of misfits from the frail and fragile to the compulsory fat kid who experiences such an embarrassing ordeal at the local swimming gala that the author’s career as a cub scout helper very nearly ends then and there.

The adventures travel from the beautiful yew tree forests of Wiltshire to the dark brooding mountains of Wales. They journey through the manicured grounds of the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst to the poo ridden parks of suburbia. We meet along the way parents so busy with their lives and so out of touch with their children’s needs that it’s scary. From Mothers who turn up to help at camp wearing mini skirts, white Gucci shoes and matching earrings to Fathers who came dressed in ‘genuine’ cowboy outfits. Add to this the difficulty of using land owned by a drunken farmer who spent his leisure time turning signposts around, or being lead by an Akela who doesn’t know her left from her right and you end up with a recipe for a very funny story.

We are seldom given the opportunity to revisit our childhood and if it is offered it should be grabbed with both hands regardless of how calloused they’ve become. I was lucky and I hope that by telling this story it in some way brings back happy memories of sunny days and belly laughter. If not, enjoy mine……..

About the Author


Jon Laidlaw is fifty four. Born, raised and educated in the village of Shepperton. The younger of identical twins. He is married to Carolyn and has two children James and Victoria. He now commutes between his homes in Marbella and Hampshire.