In the final interview with the Charnwood 2006 Organisers, Laura talks to Lesley Mitchell, Deputy Guide Organiser.

Lesley has been to every single Charnwood since the very beginning, doing different jobs at each. She has run crafts, camped with Guides and hosted Girl Scouts from Michigan, led a sub camp and managed the activities team which means she has a wealth of experience to draw upon when organising 2006.

“Believe it or not, I think I actually said I would like to be involved in the next Charnwood, but I didn’t know where or doing what, I just needed to be there. Then the phone call came from the top, I was given a week to consider, and hey presto I get to ride the quad bike!”

Her most special Charnwood memory is standing back stage at the opening ceremony in 2001 “knowing that in a few minutes you will be on stage in front of some 3000 excited youngsters…just when you think you can’t get anymore nervous the noise starts and the masses appear over the horizon. Very scary moment indeed. Music wise it has to be Greenday “Time of your life” hearing it still brings shivers on even now.”

Lesley has suggested that Ice Skating should be available as an activity “because it’s never been done before and it would be a challenge for the on site-services team to keep the water frozen!” The gauntlet has been laid down.

When asked about the recent “Meet the Teams Day”, where people came along to choose which job they may like to do, Lesley said “it was a good day, lots of chattering & laughing, everyone seemed positive about Charnwood 2006”.

Of the Youth Forum she says “They have come up with some good ideas for the camp, and I am sure will continue to do so, as far as the members are concerned I think they will get on well together, although we could do with a few more Scouts (male ones) to give a balanced view of life at Charnwood 2006.” If you are a male and interested in joining the Youth Forum e-mail Lesley@charnwood.org.

One of the big advances that has been made since 2001 is the creation of an Online Booking System. “I am hoping the online booking system will encourage the techy leaders out there to get those forms completed and sent back to us, without the drag of finding an envelope and a stamp and trailing down to the post box. It must be easier being online as there are no paper copies to lose!”

Lesley controversially chose the Cream Cracker as her favourite biscuit “cos it means there will be cheese, Gromit.” According to the biscuit bible that is “Nice cup of tea and a sit down”, Crackers aren’t even biscuits. In response to this she said, “I like to be controversial but if I have to change then it has to be a jammie dodger.”