THE CLASSIC 3^rd GIDEA PARK PATROL LEADERS OF THE LATE 80's AND EARLY 90s
A Paper by James Logan and Ross Denton (Summer 1997)

Jeramy Jackson & Mark Hutton
The definitive classic patrol - always did plenty of work but still ruled the patrol with an Iron fist. With Mark Hutton as the solid "right hand man" this was a classic pairing. Jem the PL and Mark the APL. This pairing was analogous in many ways to the "good cop bad cop" scenario used by the police during interrogation. Mark juxtaposed Jeremy's predominately dictatorial style with a softer more friendly approach.

This lead a efficient, robust and effective patrol system. Discipline in the patrol was achieved subtly by Mark who used friendly delegation and less subtly (although more efficiently) by Jem who used a large Hiking Boot.

Dave Gardener & Ross Denton
No longer an age where physical violence against patrol members was a salient option for enforcing discipline. Dave and I, by setting an example for the scouts to follow and of course by competition with the other patrol.

The odds however were slightly stacked in our favour with myself, Dave, Tony and Ben in one of the patrols, John was left to lead the rabble that remained.

James and Chris
In the age between these two sets of patrol leaders their were two patrol leaders (both of whom worked alone) These were James Logan and Chris Elliot.

In the beginning James employed the same leadership system as Dave: do lots of work and then the patrol follows the example. However towards the end of his illustrious career as a classic patrol leader he realised that work was an optional extra in his position. This occurred in Switzerland when James gave a new meaning to the word "supervising".

Chris Elliot on the other hand was never comfortable in this the most authoritative of roles and often the whole patrol system would fall apart. This is seen as the major reason for his leaving the Scouting Movement.

We are waiting for the current generation to display such leadership skills. Perhaps this camp our next Classic PL Shall be born.

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