Miroslav Pěchuvka

"Already the journey across bombed-out Germany was an ordeal, because in 1947 Germany was completely broken to bits. We were given an allotted plot of land where we built a typical Czechoslovak Scouts camp - platform tents, horseshoe shape, with a flag and a gate. We visited each other as Scouts. The word that filled the Jamboree was CHANGE, everything was constantly changing - badges, neckerchiefs, caps. We entertained foreign Scouts, foreign Scouts entertained us, so it was very pleasant. We communicated through our hands and feet of course, in any way possible. They looked after us, they provided good care, we had food to eat and nothing to complain about. Then when the Jamboree ended, we drove through France and we always got out in some city and paraded ourselves and sang songs, as we had two choirs, so we marched with them. So that was nice and interesting. There were many activities and no idling about. There was always plenty to do - right up to the last day."

"Scouting was bad in those days. It was Western-oriented, a Western ideology, Western culture, a Western upbringing that absolutely disagreed with communistic upbringing - that's how it was seen in those days, and of course the comrades were correct in that sense, so no one could protest or say it wasn't true. It was all given already."

"I think that Scouting influenced me a lot. I think that it was precisely one of the reasons. Nature, Scouting and all that. If I think about it, my father was a mechanic and my whole family worked more or less in that field. I didn't have much to do with forests before, so I think it influenced me to such a degree, that in the end I went to study a forestry school."

"I think that Scouting is a very good organisation. This has shown itself in a global scale, that Scouts are always amongst people of honour, those who loved their nation, but were also honourable and honest. So I wish that it continues to be so in the younger generation."