John Owen shares his award with Scout friends.

For 16 years John Owen has lived with the daily ritual of coping with the debilitating condition cerebal palsy helped by his devoted parents Brendan and Janet. For John, life in a wheel chair is a 24/7 job as he bravely deals with paralysed limbs and eyesight and speech difficulties. Despite this, he has cheerfully taken part in all manner of Scouting activities. Now, just before Christmas, John has been honoured by Bear Grylls who has awarded him the Chief Scout’s Commendation for Meritorious Conduct and a special invitation to the 2012 St George’s Day Parade at Windsor.

John, who has just celebrated his sixteenth birthday, has been associated with Scouting all his life. He attended his first camp aged three months, but he is seriously disabled suffering with Cerebral Palsy and a visual and mobility impairment. His disability has not deterred him as he has been a Beaver, a Cub, and a Scout, gaining the Chief Scout`s Award in each of these Sections.

He is currently working toward his next goal his Duke of Edinburgh Bronze and Chief Scout`s Platinum awards putting him well on the way to becoming a Queen`s Scout and a ultimately a Leader.

Aaron Chamberlain and Christopher Panton with John on return from a camp in Holland.

Despite his disability he always remains happy and confident. He attended an international camp as part of a contingent of Explorer Scouts who visited Holland during the Summer.

John also completed a course gaining his foundation Amateur Radio Licence and enjoys being part of the team that run special event radio stations. He has taken the controls of a light aircraft under supervision and the tiller of a canal boat. He has also participated in more traditional Scouting activities such as fire lighting, kayaking, cooking and first aid. These regular activities take on a new and extraordinary challenge when approached from a wheelchair.

Away from Scouting he has been a member of the School Council and has undertaken serving duties at his Church as well as being a “Whizz-Kidz Ambassador”. He has started a campaign to get motorists to think about leaving space for pushchairs and wheelchairs when parking on the pavement. He recently took part in the “Relay For Life” as part of the Someries District Explorer team and cycled several laps to raise money for Cancer Research.

This prestigious award was presented to John on behalf of the Chief Scout by Icknield District Commissioner Martin Wesley who commented that in 30 years of Scouting this was the first time he had seen this award presented.

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