Pathfinders

In 1984 when the Rector, Richard Gregory, called we talked about young people in the benefice and he noted the lack of any groups for young people over 11 years of age. Sometime later he asked if I would consider starting a group. I agreed to spend some time planning to see if a group was needed and if I could find enough leaders to run it.

Planning.
The first move was to carry out a survey of children in the benefice villages of Broadmayne, West Knighton, Warmwell, Owermoigne and Holworth, since there was no point in starting a group unless there were enough children to make it viable. People from the churches in the benefice were asked to visit houses with children, to explain that we were reviewing the need for church-based youth groups in the benefice and to invite them to add the names and ages of their children to a list. It was interesting to plot the number of children in each age group in each village. As a benefice there were a good number in all age groups, but in some villages there were none in some age groups. It did appear to be viable to try and start a group across the benefice. The next move was to find leaders. We made a list of likely ‘customers’ and set about inviting them to join us. We found 11 church members willing to help and had a series of planning meetings evaluating what we could do, where we could do it and what logistics were required. When we had decided how to operate the group was named Pathfinders and hand-written invitations were posted to all 11 to 14 year olds.

Resources
We sought permission to use the Village Hall in Owermoigne and the church hall in Broadmayne and alternate between the two. The benefice provided start up funds and Pathfinders were asked to contribute 10p per evening - this is still the same 15 years later!

The Beginning
The first evening in January 1985 took place in Owermoigne Village Hall and was a grand opening party. The programme for the next few sessions was a sampler of many activities. These evenings were very well supported so Pathfinders was established!

Numbers
At the start there were forty on the list with around twenty turning up each evening. Over the years the numbers on the list have varied from twenty to forty five or so. When there were forty five we split the group into Juniors and Seniors and ran two activities each week, one in the hall and one out. In 1990 we had to close membership at forty six! The number of leaders has dwindled from eleven to three or four recently and new blood is needed.

Activities
We have games evenings in the hall, with pool and table tennis as well as board games. One of the most popular evenings is craft and we have always had amazing talent in the group, working with clay, wood, glass painting, bug making, plasterwork, banner-making and many other crafts. Badge making combines artistic talent with a personalised end product. Fancy dress discos are popular and ‘Unihoc’ provides an energetic evening. In 1992 we painted the church hall interior walls – hasn’t it lasted well! Evenings out include swimming at the Purbeck centre, followed by chips in Wareham and a walk along the riverbank in good weather. Night walks are very popular, especially the walk from Upton, up to the top of the ridge, down through the spooky woods and along the smugglers trail to the cliffs and down onto the beach. Our longest walk was ten miles from Lulworth, via Holworth to Broadmayne. Portland is another popular venue. An orienteering evening in Puddletown woods left me lost and last back! Richard's yacht, Isambard, provided many trips out, including a raid on a second group on the beach at Holworth and a night camping in Poole Harbour. Richard also took a group of Pathfinders sailing for a week most summers. Donald Wilkinson has driven us around his farm on trailers, and one of these evenings finished with an assault course at Anthony Bush’s farm. Anthony and Philippa also hosted an evening with a party of German students, finishing with multi-national singing in the barn; abseiling at Conygar finished with a bonfire. Beach barbecues at Holworth usually finish the summer term thanks to John and Edna Wallis. One year we invited Weymouth, Puddletown, and Wareham Pathfinders to join us on the beach. An annual visit to Tower Park for ten pin Bowling or ice-skating is a highlight. In the summer we have a Saturday trip to Salisbury to visit backstage at the theatre and to tour the cathedral roof spaces and go out on to the roof ledges. Another high visit is the bell tower at Charminster with excellent views and an opportunity to ring the bells.

The autumn began by preparing the Lewell Barn for the Harvest Supper, thanks to Marion and lan Coleman; sadly though, the barn roof is no longer up to it.

Confirmation
It has always been Pathfinders policy to keep the evenings mainly secular to ensure that everyone can feel comfortable and welcome whatever their background. Other activities such as Confirmation courses and mini-Barnabas (a bible study group) have been additionally provided for those wishing to know more about God, the Church and the Bible. The Evensong in Broadmayne on the second Sunday of the month was often very poorly attended. In 1990 the Pathfinders were invited to participate in it. We decided to meet in the hall in the afternoon for tea and buns, then we planned the evening worship service and went into the church to lead and participate. The service gradually built up a following of young-minded folk who liked the different style of the worship and the music. These services were well received. As the Pathfinder group changed our participation reduced, but second Sunday evening worship still continues in St Martin’s. Venture Holidays Many Pathfinders have spent ten days or so at Pathfinder camps all over the country, and these have made a marked impression on them, most returning regularly after a first visit.

The Future
After nearly fifteen years, the group has the potential to continue but needs some younger leaders and fresh ideas. One of the problems with obtaining young leaders is that the majority of young people leave the villages at seventeen or eighteen to find employment or to go to university;very few return because of the lack of suitable employment in the area. Hence all of our leaders (with one exception for a few months) have been a decade or two (and now three) older than the youngsters!

Maybe the new Millennium will bring forth fresh inspiration and leaders. I little thought that Richard’s request would lead to a fifteen-year commitment when I took it on, but the children seem to want to keep coming. Time for yet another trawl for younger leaders....................…

Steve Stubbing

St. Martin's Church, Broadmayne
St Martin's Circle
Church Flower Guild
Scramblers and Climbers
Explorers