Sausage Sizzle 2009

9th of May, 2009, squashed firmly between the bank holiday weekend and the FA Cup, the Sausage Sizzle makes its appearance once again at 1st Letty Green Scout Hut. This annual fund raiser is the main support for the group over the coming year and last time we managed to raise more than £800 to go towards tents and camping equipment for all the kids and leaders alike. This looked like a tough target to beat and with fingers tightly crossed, everyone prayed for clear bright sunshine to encourage kids and adults of all ages, from near and far to join us in not only celebrating the thriving existence of the group, but also for a fun afternoon! Our wishes were answered and come 3pm the weather was perfect. For those of you who have never been to the Sausage Sizzle before, imagine a countryside fun fair, only concentrated down into a small space surrounding the Scout Hut on Pipers Lane.
Even from a distance you could hear the blaring, yet appropriate DJ, playing everything from “The Gorillaz” to “Take That”, and this definitely was “The Greatest Day” of our scouting year so far… Walking along the road towards the sound, the mouth-watering scent of hotdogs and onions drifts along the faint breeze and you realise how the event received its name. When you eventually make it to the Fayre, following ear and nose alike, there is always a sense of satisfaction, at least for us regulars that the Scouting creed is still popular as the grounds are literally bursting at the seams with people queuing anxiously for the already dwindling supply of hotdogs, or waiting excitedly to “Beat The Goalie” or thrown mop heads at multi-coloured cans or any of the other great games to play at the Sausage Sizzle. The event only lasts 2 hours from 3-5pm, so there is a lot to pack into your time. From Tombolas to Raffles, Jacobs Ladder to Pet The Bunnies, there is something for everyone, but my favourite (and the one I’m always helping on!) is the “Crockery Smash!” Pretty much self-explanatory, people queue, and yes they queue happily for this, to pay 50p for 8 wooden, tennis ball-sized balls which they can throw, as hard as they can at rows of plates, cups, mugs and bowls so that they explode in a satisfying tinkle of ruined pottery. The ultimate cure for stress if ever there was one. It is, of course one of the highest earners of the day and just as enjoyable as beating the scouts at the football. Letty Green Scouts are fast acquiring a good name for their footballing achievements, but anyone is welcome to try and “Beat The Goalie” on penalties. 20p for three shots, and if you score all three, your trophy is being one of the lucky few to choose a sweet from the precious treasury of Maoams or Gummy Bears. If you’re exhausted by all the excitement, or just need a break before you go out and challenge the goalkeeper again, there is plenty of space to sit and relax in the shade inside the hut, with tea, coffee or squash to help cool off.
All too quickly its 5 o’clock and the winners of the Raffle, Jacobs Ladder and the new Masks competition are read out (none of which I have ever won in the many, many years I’ve been to this event!) and it is time to go home. For another year everyone is thoroughly sausaged and sizzled out and after everything is packed away, its timed to count the days takings. With baited breathe, we all wait for the treasurer’s email, confirming the success of the day’s adventure. And sure enough, once again we have topped the top, with a whopping £906.61 made after all costs or expenditures.
Satisfied at a job well done, I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the day, especially Peter Kirk and his wife for cooking the amazing hotdogs and Charlie at CJ’s Disco for the great backing tracks. I would also like to thank Sarah Sullivan, Andy Chapman, Ken Hood, Mike Crafer and the scouts who helped set up the day before. Nikki , Glynis & Clive and anyone else behind the scenes, or on the stalls who helped make the day go smoothly. Until next year, hope to see everyone there again, and anyone new as well!

Tom Herbert CSL

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