Following flag break a prayer of remembrance for Lynne Wordingham was presented by Don Collishaw to 50 members and past members of the Network.

Messages of congratulations to the Network on reaching 10 years old from David Bull, Roy & Joan Walker and Ernie Johnson.

A considerable number of market stalls had been set up by current and past members of the Network showing their memories and experiences of expeditions to and from Russia - any photograph albums and memorabilia were on display. Thanks to Dorathy Holdsworth a cake was on display depicting St. Basil’s Cathedral. A number of traditional costumes were worn. Thanks to Graham Hall examples of promotional material were displayed around the walls including pictures from Gilwell Reunion and anniversary balloons.

We were very pleased to hear presentations from the following past and current members:

• Derek McKenzie from Stourbridge, Worcestershire, linked with Scouts in Kolumna
• Mike Stanley from Oxford linked with Sea Scout in Moscow and prominent in producing Scouting publications for Russia and the Network’s newsletter.
• Jon & Irina Thorp from Chester linked with the Scouts in the Komi Republic
• Chris Wilkinson from Farnsfield, Nottingham, linked with Scouts in Dubna, probably the person who started the Network by being the original editor of the Network’s newsletter.
• Robin Loudon from Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, linked to Scouts in St. Petersburg who attended the First Russian International Jamboree
• Eric Chapman from Bradford, West Yorkshire, formally linked with Scouts from Dubna, an original member of the Network and the current Treasurer and Promotional Materials salesman.
• Steph Roberts formally from East Sussex, where she was linked with Scouts in Rybinsk and Yaraslavl, and now Torquay where she is linked with Scouts in Perm. Steph is also the current Editor of the newsletter.
• Don Collishaw from East Sussex linked to Scouts in Rybinsk and Yaraslavl.
• Peter Relph from Leicestershire linked (and married to Vera) to Scouts in Arkhangelsk.
• Dave Hollinhead from Crewe, Cheshire, linked to Scouts in Saratov/Engels who was the Camp Chief of Chamboree 2002 to which 45 Scouts from Saratov attended.
• Barry Dale from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, linked to Scouts in St. Petersburg.

Our Guest Speaker was Yuri Kudriachov from Arkhangelsk. Yuri gave a presentation on the modern history of Scouting in Russia managing to explain in a clear way the complexities of its development to eventual recognition by the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) in October 2000 and beyond. (copies of Yuri’s paper is available on the website or from Bill Turnbull)

After lunch members had the opportunity to visit the many bases set up by current members as follows: -

§ Russian craft by Jo Findlay

§ Russian dance and songs by Steph Roberts and Vera Relph

§ Language by Irina Thorp

§ Borsch demonstration by Lesley Forster

§ Russian games by Anne angel

§ Circus activities by Anne Chapman

During the bases we were blessed by a visit by the Chief Scout, George Purdy who joined in our celebrations and gave a warm speech of thanks for the contribution made by the Network to promoting International activities for young people. The Chief Scout reluctantly cut the spectacular cake. Also we were extremely pleased to have welcomed to our meeting the County Commissioner for West Yorkshire, Robert Teasdale, the ACC I Mark Stageman, the Chief Commissioner for England and the Field Development Officer for Yorkshire.

Bill Turnbull presented Network medals and Certificates for good service to Network members.

A raffle raised £80.00 for the work done by Multi-International Aid for Street Children in Russia. Clare volunteered to run the raffle at each Network meeting.

An outline of future events were presented as follows: -

• Study Visit to Moscow & Nizhni Novgorod - November 2002 - by Eric Chapman
• Winter Expedition to St Petersburg - February 2003 - by Chris Grant
• Study visit to Western Siberia - May 2003 - by Andrew Fraser
• St Petersburg anniversary camps in St. Petersburg - July 2003 - by Bill Turnbull
• 1^st Russian National Jamboree- July 2004 - in Nizhni Novgorod by Barry Dale
• ^{Young Leader Camp Staff programme by Bill Turnbull}

The meeting was followed by a (formal) dinner and relaxation. Our thanks and gratitude were extended to the catering team from Hesley Wood and Network members.

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