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Upon arriving at S.P.A.C. one afternoon in mid 1942 to play a game of Rugby Five’s, I was waylaid in the entrance hall by Jack Hunter, still known to me as Etubom. “Toby”,he said, “you are just the man I was looking for. An American from the Fellowship Community Church contacted me to inform that they have just started a Boys’ Club and they would like my assistance in introducing Scouting activities for the youngsters”. I listened politely without much interest as he went on - “I immediately thought of you and would like you to join me next Saturday to go and visit this Boys’ Club”. My respect for Etubom was too great for me to refuse and once again he proved to have the gift to delegate work. That next Saturday was the start of my life as a Scouter, which, not long afterwards, would turn the Boys’Club into the Carajás Scout Troop.

There were some fifteen young Fellowship Church boys in the club, ranging from 12 to 15 years old, mostly from the Graded School. I took to them immediately but am ashamed to say that I can remember few names. In fact the only names that come to mind are, George Colman, Phillip Wrench, Garry Goble, Steven Lantos - and Bentley Duncan. They were all typical Scouting types and took to our methods and ideas like ducks to water. Meetings were held in the grounds of a house with swimming pool, in Vila Clementino. With support of the Fellowship Church Committee, which included a U.S. Consul, Mr. Colman, Rev.Duncan and other Church members, we developed the Club into a sort of non-uniform Scout Troop. Patrols were formed with Bandeirante names, tests and badges including first and second class were registered by means of knots tied to different coloured rope thongs, worn on the belt. In no time Old 2nd. São Paulo Cubs and Scouts, Maurice Burt, Ken Sumner, Bernard Barbosa, Barry Cleaver, Ernest Schwehr and others, including Doug’ O’May, Charlie “Brasileiro” Harrison, Jobito Lane, John Andrews, Eddie Harrison and Viviano Ferrantini, all joined the Club. The Fellowship Church made no objection; any Christian was welcome. With the influence of old members of the 2nd. São Paulo it was to all effects an underground Scout Troop and, most important, with the same “Scout spirit” of our old Troop.

Etubom, as I already stated, knew how to delegate, he kept well in the background but frequently invited me round to his house, across the road from St.Paul’s School, to borrow Scouting books from his extensive library and benefit from his wisdom and experience.

Dr. Job Lane, always a great Scouting supporter, gave us free use of Chacara Lane towards Sto.Amaro - open country at that time - and built a cottage in his grounds for our use, which became our out-of-town headquarters where we kept the camping gear.

The B.B.C. flourished for the next two years with some thirty members, and camps were held in “Chacara Lane”, a new site in Chacara Flora and in Morumbi. In late 1943 we went to Perus again. What a disappointment. The original Rio Juqueri was polluted; there was enormous road machinery working nearby, just alongside Amrosio’s cottage, the Anhanguera was being built and poor old Ambrosio was moving away. Driving along that highway our site was just off to the right of kl.25 as you come out of São Paulo. This camp commenced with quite an adventure. Some twenty Bandeirantes met, with full packs and camping gear, at the Luz station at the start of a long weekend, only to find the ticket queue going right around the station block. Seeing no chance of getting on to the train for Perus they took a local train to Lapa and hiked from there, stopping at the old Scout Hut in Pirituba to rest and build some stretchers with Scout staffs, to facilitate the carrying of gear and food. This happy band of boys then hiked past Taipas to Perus, to arrive and find that the “M”, the Perus/Pirapora daily wood burning train, had just left. Undaunted they went to the Cement factory Superintendent’s house, a Canadian just starting his before-lunch gin-tonic, and told him who they were and what had happened. “No problem”said he, “we’ll call the train back!!” And that is exactly what he did. The train shunted backwards for some two kilometres to Perus, an extra passenger wagon was attached and the boys poured in with all gear plus two crates of guaraná, being a gift from the friendly Superintendent. Those were the days!

Another camp was held on the same island at Parnaiba. Mr. and Mrs.Bowles were delighted to have us, and Etubom joined us. They all came to camp-fire which, at that time, had a special meaning. We discussed the war - still in a critical stage - and sang traditional songs, like Land of Hope and Glory, There will always be an England, God Bless America, etc. They were stirring occasions.

Other camps were held at Jandira and at the Macintyres’ “sítio”on the Billings reservoir. We cycled to this camp along the via Anchieta which was still under construction.

The Boys’ Club meeting place moved to the old premises of the Graded School and, in late 1943, to the “porão” of Pensão Thisted, near the Brigadeiro Luiz Antonio. Viggo Thisted was a Club member and had talked his mother into allowing us the use of the basement. Somehow Mrs. Thisted kept peace with her boarding guests who must have had to wear ear plugs every Thursday evening.

Bandeirantes Boys Club - Revision history

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