Opinion

1st Falkirk Company (Grahamston Church) had a busy end to the session.

This week my dog-walking duties took me to the park at South Bantaskine.

FOR the second successive year Scouts from Stenhousemuir are celebrating their camping prowess.

As Companies wind down from weekly meetings and make preparations for camps, reports of celebration evenings are coming to my desk.

A few weeks ago I was back in the Dobbie Hall enjoying a outstanding performance of Evita by the hugely talented Larbert Operatic company.

THERE was a night of activities for a group of Cubs and Scouts when they ventured into the Barrwood.

In 1919 the 1st Larbert Girls’ Guildry was set up in the West Church under the ‘‘guardianship’’ of Margaret Wade, the sister of Callander Wade, a BB captain in the same church.

Of the four towns that help make up the Falkirk Council area, Denny is the one that gets less attention from people like me who write about our rich history. Grangemouth, Bo’ness and Falkirk itself seem to dominate and for some reason Denny is often ignored despite the importance of the place especially in the industrial period.

Politics doesn’t make me laugh very often, want to cry more like if the truth be told, but last week one political story made me laugh out loud.

Were you one of the those who turned up at one of our stations on Sunday to catch a fleeting glimpse of the Flying Scotsman?

It was great to hear the fort at Duncarron is finally fully operational after years of blood – the fake film kind anyway – sweat and toil.

As session activities wind down and thoughts move to summer camps, visits and generally taking stock, may I just touch on various bits and pieces that have crossed my desk, which may be of interest locally to boys and officers.

In the late 15th century King James IV, who died at the Battle at Flodden in 1513, built a fleet of mighty wooden fighting ships including the ‘‘Great Michael’’, the ‘‘Margaret’’ and the ‘James’’.

CUBS from the 93rd Braes pack spent two nights under canvas at a weekend camp made extra-special when Commonwealth Games long jumper Jade Kane joined them for an athletic workout.

AMAZINGLY two of the first men to walk on the moon were Scouts.

The final committee meetings and annual general meetings for the Junior and Company Sections at Brightons Church had the best attendance of officers this session.

Good teachers are so important, great teachers are superstars, but sometimes a teacher will come along that makes a massive difference for both the children and parents.

Next week has been designated as ‘‘Good Death Week’’ and is intended to encourage us to look on death as a natural and normal part of the cycle of life.