Fochabers Troop give Spanish Scouts warm Moray welcome
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A GROUP of Spanish Scouts got a warm Moray welcome when they visited the region recently.
Thirteen Scouts and four leaders from Las Culturas troop, which is based in Torrevieja, were guests of Fochabers Scouts from April 13-17. Basing themselves in Cullen Community and Residential Centre, the Spaniards enjoyed a packed programme showcasing some of the many delights of Moray and Scotland as a whole.
It was a case of third time lucky for Las Culturas, who were originally invited to visit in Easter 2020. However, the Covid pandemic put paid to the plans that year as well as the following one, too.
The link between the two troops had been forged when two of the Fochabers Scout leaders, who have a house in Punta Prima just to the south of Torrevieja, thought that it would be good idea to contact a local Scout troop with a view to forming ties.
The Fochabers Scouts were subsequently invited to a shared camp with Las Culturas in 2019 at the Siula Centre Sierra Espuma regional park in Murcia. Nineteen Scouts and four leaders from Fochabers had a fantastic week where they were completely immersed in the Spanish way of life. The Scouts kept to the Spanish daily routine and were served excellent Murcian cooking.
One of those delighted to finally be able to welcome the Spaniards to Moray was Fochabers Scouts assistant leader Bill Hodgetts.
He said: "The whole thing really went well and Las Culturas thought it was a fantastic time.
"During their stay we organised various activities and we were very fortunate with the weather throughout.
"Due to the very dry climate in Spain during the summer camp fires aren't allowed so we held a camp at Deskford where they tried some campfire cooking. This involved taking a pitta bread, stuffing it with ham, tomatoes cheese and so on then wrapping it in foil and cooking it over the fire. They also had a chance to cook bread dough on a stick over the fire.
"They really enjoyed the camp and on their first morning here they built a flagpole, too.
"On the Saturday we had a walk to Portknockie to see the Bow Fiddle Rock and then later on we took them to our Scout hall to enjoy some fish and chips.
"The Explorer Scouts organised a traditional Scottish ceilidh at Elgin City FC and on Sunday we had a Burns supper.
"We also had time for a Scotland v Spain football game which Scotland won 4-3.
"On the way to the airport on Monday we stopped by Ballindalloch Castle where the Scouts had a chance to look around. We were delighted when [Lady Laird and former Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire] Clare Russell popped by with her dogs to say hello, which was really nice."
Mr Hodgetts added that a contingent from the Fochabers troop were due to make a trip to Spain this summer in what he hoped would be an ongoing link between the two groups.
