The Pioneering Course the Surrey Branch organised in April 2011 was aimed at Scouters and Guiders and hoped to help them to learn about, and be confident in the use of, Pioneering so they could return to their own troops and companies and pass on the skills.

Saturday morning started with reminding us all about the basic knots, the Surrey Six, before moving on to making some rope and learning how to lash poles together.

After lunch, we practised lashings using staves (small short poles) and built small pioneering projects.

Pioneering Course April 2011

Pioneering Course April 2011

Pioneering Course April 2011

Pioneering Course April 2011

Pioneering Course April 2011

Pioneering Course April 2011

Pioneering Course April 2011

Pioneering Course April 2011

Pioneering Course April 2011

Pioneering Course April 2011

Pioneering Course April 2011

Pioneering Course April 2011

Pioneering Course April 2011

Pioneering Course April 2011

Saturday evening conversation and tuition turns to the wider world of knots with course members choosing the topics which have included Turk's Heads to splicing, whipping to flat knotting, and more advanced knotting.

Pioneering Course April 2011

Pioneering Course April 2011

Pioneering Course April 2011

Sunday gave everyone the chance to take part in the construction of bigger, and more impressive projects, but the day started with the important subject of "looking after rope", and learning about another couple of useful tools, tackles and pickets.

Then the fun really started....

Pioneering Course April 2011

Pioneering Course April 2011

Pioneering Course April 2011

Pioneering Course April 2011

Pioneering Course April 2011

Pioneering Course April 2011

Pioneering Course April 2011

Pioneering Course April 2011

Pioneering Course April 2011

Pioneering Course April 2011

Pioneering Course April 2011

Pioneering Course April 2011

Pioneering Course April 2011

Pioneering Course April 2011

Pioneering Course April 2011

Pioneering Course April 2011

Pioneering Course April 2011

Pioneering Course April 2011

All in all, we all have a really great time learning about, passing on, and practising an oft neglected skill.

If you are interested in joining us on a future course, or would like to know more, please do email me...

Howard chairman@surreyknots.org.uk