Scouts at the heart of Local Government

 

    

 

  

 

(Picture curtesy of Vanessa Slawson - Nick Scott Photography)

 

                 

 

 

Friday May 8th 2009

 

Fifteen Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers received Chief Scout Awards from the Chairman of New Forest District Council, Councillor Paul Woods.  In a ceremony filled with stories of challenges met and overcome, and watched by proud family members, Councillor Woods presented special certificates to each of the successful youngsters.

 

Welcoming the children and their families into the Council Chamber, Paul Woods said he was delighted to be able to present these awards.  "We hear so much bad news about the youth of today, it is wonderful to hear about the hard work, acheivements and service that these youngsters have put in to gain these awards.  I am sure that the efforts they have made and the skills they have learned will stand them in good stead in later life."

 

Each child described what they had done to gain the awards; a wide array of activities, hobbies, adventures and expeditions was revealed during the evening.  Learning about aviation was a favourite challenge for the Beavers, whilst fittingly for a Sea Scout Group, water bases sport featured in many of the stories.

 

After the presentation, Kerie Wallace, the new District Commissioner for New Forest North, presented Wood Beads to Gary and Nick.  He commented on the effort needed to complete the training which the beads represented; a tradition started by Baden Powell himself.

 

 

                                                                  

 

In the closing remarks, Paul Bullock, Group Scout Leader thanked Councillor Woods for allowing them to hold the ceremony in the council chamber.  He said, “the Group was going from strength to strength, as represented by the wonderful achievements they had heard about during the evening.  He was hoping for the day when the Group would complete its new Headquarters at Testwood Lakes

 

Thanking the parents for their support which made the awards possible the Cub Scout Leader, Vanessa Slawson, mentioned the six children who had not been able to attend the ceremony.  She also listed some of the famous people in history who had been Scouts and said that Ben Southall who had just landed “the best job in the world” had been a Scout in Hampshire.