Members of the Rotary Club of Douglas along with partners and guests enjoyed a “roaring success of a night” when they donned Scout uniforms for a charity event that raised more than ?1,000 for national emergencies around the world.

“We certainly followed the sentiments of the Scout motto, being in a ‘state of readiness in mind and body,’’ said Chief Scout for the night Gareth Hooson-Owen.   “Last year the theme for a similar charity fund raising event was ‘Bond, James’ Bond’ but for this year we decided to have a scouts’ theme night as a bit of fun and it certainly was.”

He added: “It all took place on a steam train and the atmosphere certainly allowed some members to wallow in nostalgia and look back to their days as Boy Scouts although middle-age spread had perhaps got the better of some old uniforms.

“Members of the Northern Adventure Scouts were on the train and did a really great job for an event kindly sponsored by Black Grace Cowley.  There were a couple of Scouts to each compartment who ran a number of quizzes, observation tests, knot tying etc.  At Castletown Station there was Prosecco and other drinks, all sponsored by Heron & Brearley.”

Menus were in the form of first-day covers with stamps, franked at both Douglas and Castletown stations.

“It was all in aid of a great cause which sees money raised for the Rotary Foundation going towards the provision of shelter boxes and Water Aid in those areas hardest hit by natural disasters plus the worldwide eradication of polio,” said Mr Hooson-Owen. 

Photograph: Douglas Rotary Foundation Committee:   From left – John Beckett, Douglas Rotary Club president Howard Callow, Foundation chairman Matt Evans, Charles Fargher MBE, Alex Thomson, Gareth Hooson-Owen and Ian Rigby.