STEMNET Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Network

March 28th 2012

   One day my cousin asked me, “Do you do your Bloodhound stuff for Cub Packs?”  I assured her that I would talk about the Bloodhound Project to any group that invited me.  “Oh good,” she replied.  “Steve [her husband] was wondering if you’d go and talk to his Cubs.” 

   That was how I found myself one evening driving across Wiltshire to the 1st Chippenham Scout Headquarters.  I found the Scout Hall easily and unloaded my equipment.   We had some fun setting up the video projector, as it wanted to stretch my Powerpoint sideways, so, after fiddling with it for a few minutes, we just let it.  By then the Cubs had started to arrive and we began.  I soon discovered that most of the Cubs had heard of the Bloodhound SSC Project, although some of them had remembered various details incorrectly. 

   After the introduction, we began building cars – ably assisted by the leaders and others, my cousin who had started it all among them.  The cars were tested and then officially measured.  Unfortunately, the hall was not long enough for one car.  It ran, in an almost straight line, to the far end and hit the wall.  Fortunately, that was the only car to do so and it was declared the winner.  I then presented the owner of the winning car with a Bloodhound poster signed by Andy Green. 

   During the course of the evening I discovered that both the Cub Leader and the Scout Leader at 1st Chippenham Scout Group work for Survival Equipment Services Ltd, the company that is developing and manufacturing the braking parachutes for Bloodhound SSC. 

   Once again, I had a most enjoyable evening and was pleased that the 1st Chippenham Scout Leader and another Cub Leader who was there said that they would like to invite me to one of their meetings.  I should like to thank my cousin for setting it up, the Leader of 1st Chippenham Cub Pack for inviting me and all the Cubs for their enthusiasm and interest. 

   This is the second time that I have taken my Bloodhound Roadshow to a Cub Pack meeting and it looks as if I may be going to more of them, and Scout Troops, in the future.