Queen Scout's Awards

Report Date 01/03/07

Alan Oakes and Robert Venus, two members of the Nexus Explorer Scout Unit on Hayling were presented with their Queen Scout Awards by Dick Whittington, the County Commissioner for Hampshire Scouts.

The award is the highest award any member of Scouting can gain and requires the participants to plan and complete a 5 day expedition in wild Country, attend a residential training course of their choice, develop a new skill and complete a 9 month community service project.

Following many months training they both took part in an expedition on Exmoor and they both chose to work with Cub Scouts in different groups for their community service projects. Alan also qualified as a Kayaking Instructor whilst Robert worked with the National Trust in coppicing and making charcoal.

On presenting the awards, Dick praised the two for their efforts and commented how this award is recognised by business as an outstanding achievement and demonstration of their commitment and dedication, two attributes so important today.

Alan and Robert each gave a short presentation on some of their memories from the various elements of the award which demonstrated the demands required of an individual but also much of the humour that they gained from the various challenges.

The evening was hosted by Simon Freston and Jill Saggers, two members of the unit and Alan & Robert were joined by the other Explorers, their Parents and the Leaders who had helped them throughout their Scouting lives.

They are the first Hayling Scouts to receive this award for a number of years and will now join with other recipients from across the UK at the annual St George's Day Parade Service at Windsor Castle where they will meet a member of the Royal Family.

The evening concluded with some "munchies" (the units name for food) prepared by Ciara Jamieson-Goode and other members of the Group Executive Committee. This included a chocolate fondue which naturally proved to be very popular.

The photograph shows (left to right) Alan, Dick Whittington and Robert.