Leagrave Scouts celebrated their 60th birthday at Disneyland
A coach load of Scouts and Leaders from Leagrave Scout Group celebrated their 60th birthday in style with a weekend trip to Disneyland, Paris. It was the final event in a year-long series of celebrations.
The two-day long diamond jubilee party was also attended by hundreds of other Scouts and Guides from around the UK as part of a Venture Abroad activity holiday.
Organised by Gary and Jacky Sturrock, the partygoers left Luton on Friday evening for the journey to Paris via Eurostar. Their hotel was the Davey Crockett Ranch named after a 19th century Walt Disney hero. This was real 4-star comfort in a pine log cabin with all mod cons.
By 9am, after an American-style breakfast, the Scouts were ready to set out to enjoy themselves. They met their favourite Disney characters, became pirates for the day, were captured by a Star Wars Stormtrooper and sat entranced at a showing of Snow White and the seven dwarfs.
They took part in the enormous Disney Parade on Main Street and had a superb birthday treat at the Plaza Gardens restaurant. The evening ended at Disney Studios for an eye-popping Star Wars show with the Jedi, Darth Vader and the Stormtroopers still looking for rebel Scouts.
Day two was a time to explore a haunted castle, pay a visit to one of the many gift shops, marvel at the frozen fountain and ride in a teacup.
The Scouts returned with the news that their birthday on 14th March 1956 at Challney Secondary Modern School was within months of the opening of Walt Disney’s first Disneyland in California in July 1955. “It just makes our own diamond jubilee so much more special,” said Jacky Sturrock.
Gary Sturrock added, “It was a wonderful 60th birthday treat. From our arrival at two in the morning to our departure 36 hours later we were treated like royalty!”
Rebel Scout Shay Denyer, who was captured by the Stormtroopers, said, “We had an absolutely amazing time at Euro Disney. Thank you so much.”
The trip was arranged through Derby-based Venture Abroad who organise adventure holidays all over the globe for parties of Scouts and Guides.
The Scouts would like to thank ASDA, The Co-op, Nisa and the Luton PB Fund for their generous support.
