Frank G. Holiday

Chairman

Welcome to this Middlesbrough's Millennium Gang Show. I hope you have a wonderful evening, certainly if the effort put in by the cast and backroom people is anything to go by then I am sure you will.

In 1958 in answer to an appeal from Headquarters to help build the Baden Powell Hostel in London we decided to put on a show at the Little Theatre. The show was called "We'll Live Forever" and proved such a success that it was decided to continue with the shows to raise funds for Scouting in Middlesbrough.

This we have done every two years since, being awarded the title Gang Show (and permission to wear the red neckerchief) in 1960, so here we are for the 22nd show we have put on in this theatre. Girls came into the show in 1972 whilst the Cub Scouts made their bow in 1980.

Anyway that is enough of the history lesson, just sit back and enjoy the show. We hope you will be entertained and that you will tell your friends all about it.

In closing may I just express my thanks to the rest of the Production Team and all the backroom people involved for giving up their free time, but mainly to the cast who have worked so hard for four months to put on this show.

Keith Nudd

Production Manager

It has become a pleasant tradition for the Scout Districts of Middlesbrough to present the Gang Show every two years. The high quality of the show reflects the efforts of the performers and the backroom staff. The production allows our members to demonstrate their creative side and entertain their families and friends as well as members of the public.

I am pleased to have this opportunity to wish "the gang" every success in 1998. The hard work put in by young people, and those a little older, over the previous months will all come to an end this week. These enjoyable shows have their high points, their serious parts and most of all, the not so serious parts. The Middlesbrough Gang Show 1998 demonstrates to all that Scouting is fun for both adults and young people. Long may it continue.

John R Taylor

County Commissioner

Zimbabwe 2000 is a project for Venture Scouts and Ranger Guides from Cleveland.

A group of 56 Venture Scouts, Ranger Guides and Leaders will travel to Zimbabwe in July/August 2000 to work for three weeks at a Primary School.

Dingani Primary School is at Dete in a rural area approximately 140km from Victoria Falls and is an area of growing population There are over 440 pupils at the school housed in only 6 classrooms. Two classrooms have serious damage to the floor and roof, termites have attacked the rafters, and two others have had a new, higher, roof fitted but the internal walls were not altered to suit. The water supply for the school is a borehole situated some 500m away.

The project plans to build a two classroom block renovate the existing rooms and make basic benches and tables. Prior to the arrival of our party we will have arranged for local craftsmen to fit a pump at the borehole and to lay piping to the school. Once there, our party will construct a water storage tank.. The party also plan to erect a fence around the local Clinic in Dete township in order to maintain the privacy of the patients.

The school grounds cover a large area and it is intended that our party will camp at the school. We are fortunate to have the full support of the Scout Movement in Zimbabwe with local Scouts and Guides joining the team for the duration of the project. The local community will, as part of their commitment for us to work with them, make blocks for the building and provide firewood for cooking.

To make this project work the team needs to raise the sum of £50,000 with each member raising an extra £1,250 to cover their own travel and living expenses.