Trefoil group takes a trip to great outdoors

It was definitely a trip down memory lane. The day was filled with much laughter, and of course the inevitable rain you come to expect on a great outdoor adventure in England.

The challenge was to pitch a canvas tent, cook a three-course meal on a wood fire, and make gadgets for camp stores, bed rolls, wash stand, washing up stand and a wood pile.

The judges could not fault the chicken stew and steamed syrup pudding with custard – all served with finesse sat round a table with candelabra and of course wine glasses.

The group was pipped to the post for first place but came a respectable second.

One guild member said of the position: “The judges told us we were a close second – I think the winners were younger than us! But despite not coming out on top, we all really enjoyed ourselves. It was a great experience and one that we will not forget.

“It really took us back to our childhoods and got us reminiscing about family holidays and trips to the countryside. For many of us, a camping trip was the only holiday we knew existed for many years.

“People don’t seem to embrace the great British outdoors as much these days as there are so many other options and people like to go off on a plane and see different parts of the world. But we do still have a beautiful countryside setting right here in the UK.”

Timed to perfection the heavens opened after lunch, so it brought back memories of many ‘wet strikes’. Group members returned home looking very bedraggled, but proudly clutching their limited edition camp skills challenge badges. The final task was for members to dry out tents and wash the smell of smoke from their clothes.