Top awards honour decades of Scouting (From Romsey Advertiser)
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Top awards honour decades of Scouting
10:00am Monday 16th April 2012 in News
SCOUTS working behind the scenes have been brought into the spotlight thanks to prestigious awards.
Romsey Scout members John Mason and Les Herbert have received awards for distinguished long-term service – the Silver Wolf for Mr Mason and the Silver Acorn for Mr Herbert.
The Silver Wolf is rarely given for less than 30 years’ service and the Silver Acorn for less than 20 years.
Mr Mason has been involved with the Scouts for more than 65 years.
Thanks to the award, he is automatically able to attend the St George’s Day service at Windsor Castle.
Mr Mason became a King’s Scout in 1947 and started his Scouting career in Romsey as a Scout Leader at the 10th Woodley in 1967.
The 82-year-old, who was a parish councillor for 12 years and a governor of Mountbatten School, took on the role of district commissioner in 1983.
He has been a member of the county executive committee since 2004.
Mr Herbert has belonged to Romsey’s Scout group at Woodley and Crampmoor for many years. His adult career in Scouting started in 1966 in Essex.
Mr Herbert joined the executive committee of 10th Woodley in 1988 – he stepped down from chairman in 2004 but remains on the committee.
After retiring in 2009, Mr Herbert volunteered as group secretary and has also been researching the group’s history.
He has also been overseeing the refurbishment of a field next to the Romsey headquarters.
Seven Awards for Merit, recognising outstanding service, have also been given to Romsey Scouts.
These went to Ian Logan, from the 21st Nursling and Rownhams Scouts, district appointments secretary Les Mildon and to district badge secretary Barbara Knight and her husband Colin who is on the district’s executive committee.
Liz Holloway, a member of the district management and executive committees, is another recipient along with Andrew Putney, who is Scout leader at 10th Woodley and Crampmoor, and Shelia Caine, the former Guide divisional commissioner.
John Stevens, the district commissioner, said: “Without this dedicated band of volunteers, the young people of Romsey would not be receiving the quality of Scouting they have come to expect.”
