A ‘SEND-off afternoon’ was held at the weekend in Hemyock Parish Hall for the village’s scouts who set off for Denmark at 5 am on Friday (July 25).

It is the 21st anniversary of an exchange between the scouts in Hemyock and their counterparts in Tonder.

This year sees 34 young people and leaders from the village heading to the camp in Denmark to mark the anniversary of their first meeting at a scouting jamboree in Watcombe, Torquay, in 1972.

The friendship has continued to this day with visits to each other’s countries every two to three years.

The Hemyock troop will take a coach to Heathrow Airport, fly to Copenhagen, camp in southern Denmark, stay in Tonder with their scout friends, and then take a coach to Hamburg, Germany, to return home with memories which should last a lifetime.

The ‘send-off afternoon’ included thanks to people who had helped to sponsor the trip, cream teas for villagers who went along to see the fun the scouts were looking forward to, a draw with prizes given by local businesses, and scouts preparing crafts to take as presents for the Danish scouts.

Old Rikki, a member of the group since 1960, chatted to the scouts and leaders, and heard how they were looking forward to meeting new people from another country, seeing new landscapes, flying, visiting Copenhagen, and generally having fun.

Other past members of the group were also present and joined in watching films of previous get togethers over the years.

More than 1,000 scouts from Hemyock and the surrounding areas have taken part in visits to Tonder and return visits by the Danish troop since 1972.

A spokesperson said: “It is quite an achievement for a rural scout group in Mid Devon.

“Well done, and long may it continue.”