The following notes were written for the "Plas-y-Nant Excursion Leaders Book" (1951-1952)

Here your games must be of two kinds, either everybody in the room can take part, or if only a few are occupied, they must be amusing to watch.

Have a balanced sort of programme. Alternate noisy games with a quiet one or a song. Follow one requiring some intelligence and skill, with one of the pure luck variety. Attached are some suggested games, none of them require much preparation. The writer is well aware that this list is not exhaustive, there are many more games - but they usually need a lot of equipment.

On Saturday evening, when everybody is a stranger to each other, use games which will mix everyone up. Watch out for any of the bashful wallflower type — who are too shy to volunteer for anything — and rope them in forcibly. It’s not uncommon to have one or two hefty males who set out to win every game by means fair or otherwise. They are usually the "bull at a gate variety” and can be made to look foolish, best thing to do is disqualify them and ignore any protests they make.

A pianist is almost essential, if there is only one, be gentle with it and try not to overwork it. If there isn’t even one, you’d better go a walk to the lake !

VARIATIONS ON "MUSICAL CHAIRS.”

MUSICAL KNEES.
Chairs arranged thus, facing outwards.

Gent on each chair, lady on his knee. When music starts gents walk round clockwise, ladies anti-clock. Music stops each couple back to the chair they started from. Last to sit down remain seated ‘to end of game.

BLINDFOLD KNEES.

As musical knees except gents blindfold and led round by ladies. Gents led by their noses. (or ears)

BALANCING BOOKS.

Arrange chairs as for musical knees. One person on each chair. Each to have a songbook. Music starts and they walk round holding the book on their bead. When music stops, take hands from book and return to chair you started from ‘balancing book on head. Anyone dropping their book stays in their seat till the game ends, or if no—one drops their book, the last one to sit down remains seated.

MUSICAL ARCHES. Chairs arranged thus in pairs:-

One person chair, ladies on the inside gents on outside. When music starts ladies to walk in circle inside inner ring of chairs, gents outside the outer ring. Each couple to hold hands over the chairs. When music stops back to the chairs they started from, last couple to sit down remain seated.

FISHING

Chairs arranged as for musical knees. One person on each chair. Go round ring naming each four people as follows:- haddock - cod - plaice - salmon - haddock - cod - plaice - salmon, and so on until every person is one or other of these fish. The “fish” must ‘now obey certain orders from you.

The Orders.

“You’re all swimming” — Everyone walks round in a clockwise direction.
“ The tide turns” - Turn and walk in opposite direction.
“ It is very rough” - Run round.
“ You’re all caught” - Back to the chairs they started from.

The last to sit down remain seated. A typical string of orders would run:—
1. The salmon and plaice are swimming.
2. The tide turns
3. You’re all swimming.
4. You're all caught.
5. Haddock swimming.
6. It’s very rough.
7. Tide turns
8. You’re all caught
9. Cod and haddock swimming
10. Tide turns
11. Very rough
12. Tide turns again
13. All caught
and so on

NOTE: In all the foregoing games people are ‘Walking round a circle of chairs. Once they have gone past their chair they cannot turn back. If the music stops just after they go past their chair, they must continue on right round the circle. Anybody turning back should be disqualified. Two reasons for doing this A) people can get hurt when some turn back in a hurry, B) you can have a lot of fun by stopping the music as soon as everybody has gone past their chair.

CLUMPS

As many as wish to take part, form a circle and walk round to music. When the music stops call out a number. The circle has to break up and form clumps of that number. Any odd ones drop out. Music starts again, circle reforms. Another number is called, and so on until you are down to 3 people, 2 of whom must be the winners.

PASSING ARTICLES.

1. PASSING PENNY RACE

Several teams of say eight or nine. In parallel rows to each other. Penny is passed from forehead to forehead, without being touched by hand — down to the last member of the team, who fetches it to the front and begins to pass it down the line again. So on until the leader is back in position at the front again.

2. PASSING MATCHBOX COVERS.

Teams as above. This time passing a matchbox cover from nose to nose.

3. PASSING A CURTAIN RING.

As above, but everyone to have a match held between their teeth. The ring is passed from match to match.

GETTING THROUGH THE LOOP.

A length of string — a yard is about the best length, tied to form a loop. Teams as for “Passing Articles”, one loop for each team. Loop is pas over the body of the first member of the team who hands it to second member. On down to last member who brings loop to front, gets through it and passes it back. This goes on until original first member is back at front of team.

DRAWING GAME.

Divide company into small groups of about six or seven, and give a supply of scrap paper to each group. One member of each group comes forward and is given an article to draw. They go back to their group and draw it silently. Members of the group must try and guess what the article is. The Artist can only answer yes or no to their suggestions. The person who has guessed the article then goes up to the leader, tells him what the article was, and receives a second article. He returns to his group and draws it. This routine goes on until one group has reached the end of the prepared list of articles.

When making your list of articles — have about 20— start with easy everyday objects, like a “bottle of ink” and work through to more difficult drawings like ‘a sore throat”, finish your list with something really hard like “anticipation” or “frustration”. Choose some of your articles so that they require similar sorts of drawing e.g. Successive articles might be. “Romeo and Juliet” — “Antony and Cleopatra” and “Darby and Joan."

TRUE OR FALSE

Make up a list of statements of fact, some true, some false. Have two or three teams of say six. Two chairs in front of the teams, one marked “TRUE” and the other “FALSE” Read out a statement from your list. The first member of each team has to decide if it is true or false and sit on the correct chair. The one who sits on the chair first gains a point for his team. The second statement is now read out, and the No.2 of each team takes the chair. Have about 18 statements for teams of six.

BLOWING BALLOONS along strings held aloft by two people. One balloon and string per team of say six. They blow the balloon along the string, walk round the person holding it at the other end. Then blow it back again whereupon No. 2 does the same, and so on through the team.

POPPING BAGS.

Teams in parallel row seated. Paper bag under each person. Race starts by No. 1 of each team running round team and popping bag on return, this is signal for No.2 to go.

RADIO TIMES RACE.

Teams of say 8 or 9. Same copy of Radio Times on chair opposite each team at other end of room. From a prepared list call out an item from that copy of R.T. No. 1 of each team comes up to his copy and tries to find it. First one to do so gains point for team, and so on.  This game can be played using magazines or newspapers.

COLOUR TITLES. Company in groups. When group is pointed at they must sing a song with “Red” or “Blue” in title. First to default or repeat another group’s song is out.

GIANT BEETLE DRIVE. Dice for this are in office. Miss Coughlin knows how to play it, if you don’t.

BOUNCING TABLE TENNIS BALLS. One tumbler and one T.T. ball per team. Team members to come up in turn, bounce T.T. ball and catch it in tumbler.

Teams as above but blowing T. T. ball from one egg cup to another

Teams as above rolling T.T. balls up and down string “tramlines”

ON THE BEACH.

If the weather is bad, of course you’ve had it. Let us presume it isn’t. On arrival at the beach some people will be changing into costumes and seeing how cold the water is, others will be getting their clothing etc, sorted out. Best thing to do is have a general throw about (with a ball) until you can see how many are doing what. Then if needed you can organize something.

If you are organizing beach games you may find the following of use:

THROW ABOUT.
Boys versus girls. Tennis Ball thrown from person to person. Opposite sex try and intercept. The ball must not be taken forcibly from any person, merely intercepted when being thrown from one person to another.

ROUNDERS. (Plas Rules)
Pitch marked out thus:

Same number on each side. Each batsman may receive up to three balls, delivered between shoulder and knee. If he makes a stroke he must run. If he hits it behind him or into the sea he can only run to 1st base. He can be out by being caught, or by the base to which be is running being hit by the ball before he gets to it. He can avoid being out by returning to a base he has passed during the same run, provided it is still unoccupied. The whole side is dismissed. if two batsmen are caught out.

A special rule that applies only to Borth - y - Gest matches is:- If a batsman hits the ball into the gorse bushes, he is out, and he goes for the ball. A “rounder” of course is scored by a batsman running round all four bases — without overtaking anybody — during one run.

Avoid arguments by appointing an umpire.

BASE ROUNDERS.

Pitch and sides as for “Rounders”. Batsman are allowed one ball only - apart from noballs. Having made their stroke - whether they hit the ball or not - they must run round all four bases. The ball on being fielded is passed to 1st base, then round the other bases to 4th base. If the ball gets to base 4 in front of the batsman he is out. He may also be caught out. If he knocks the ball behind him or into the sea, he must return and receive another. Two catches — the whole side out.

Not everybody likes rounders. So have two innings each side - the two catches rule makes them reasonably short - then go on to something else.

TOUCH BALL.

A rectangular pitch to suit the number of players. It can be boys versus girls. The idea is to score “tries” by putting the ball down over your opponents end line. When a person is running with the ball if he or she is touched they must stop and pass the ball. “Soccer” rules apply to a throw-in. Fifteen minutes in each direction. With a ref.

PICKABACK TOUCH BALL.

Players in couples, one mounted on the others back. Same rules as “Touch Ball", except that instead of touching an opponent to make them pass the ball, they can be charged - but not pulled or tripped. Either horse or jockey can handle the ball, but they must not move while the jockey is dismounted. Four periods of 4 minutes, 1 minute rest periods. This game is good to watch, have two sides of say five couples each, and do not make the pitch too big.

RACES.

Easily organized and very popular with the younger ones.

1. Egg and Spoon (With T.T. balls).

2. Wheelbarrow race.

3. Three legged race.

4. Leap frog race (With a minimum number of leaps).

If there are a lot of athletic young people in you can organize Friday as sports day, with lists up during the week for entrants.

A lot of fun has been had in the past by having various beach activities such as sand castles, sand men, sand garden or general sand model competitions. Using sea shells, stones, seaweed. etc, some really outstanding models have been produced.

Even more fun has been had at meetings of the Plas - y - Nant branch of the “Amalgamated Societies of Grave Diggers,” and its associated body the “Ancient Venerable Order of Girl Duckers” — Betws Garmon East Lodge. These activities I’m afraid baffle description.