John Owen who is a Scout with the Blenheim Scout Group is one of very few Scouts in the Icknield District who have gained their Chief Scouts Gold award, But John is a Scout with a difference as he is severely disabled and spends most of his daily life in a wheel chair. This prestigious award was presented by the Assistant District Commissioner Scouts Nick Jarman, at a cermony in front of the district. Scouting is one thing that John enjoys, he is an active member of the troop and an observer would be hard pressed to notice he was in a wheelchair. John has been a keen member of the movement since he was six , during which time  he has attended camps with the help of his parents who are both members of the Scout and Guide movements.

John started his Scouting with the St. Andrews Scout Group before moving to the Blenheim Group he progressed through the Beaver Colony on to the Cub Pack and then became a Scout. A lot of the activities that John undertook had to be modified to meet his disability but still met the requirements for the Chief Scouts Award. There are Eight challenges that a Scout has to achieve and in the Creative challenge John learnt macrame , knitting and photography he also made and flew a model plane.

In the community Challenge  he took part in a “sleepover” in the Luton Mall in aid of the Noah appeal and researched the work of that organization.

The fitness challenge was very demanding and John undertook cycling on a specially adapted tricycle over a period of three months improving his distance and speed.

For his global challenge John studied amateur radio and passed the Foundation Licence exam and now operates his father’s amateur radio station. He helped with hospitality when a group of girl Scouts from Chile stayed in Luton after the World Scout Jamboree. For his outdoor challenge John spent a weekend at Milton Bryan participating in a comprehensive range of Scouting activities the highlight being taking part in a Rafting activity quite a feat for a boy who is unable to walk.

For his adventure challenge he went canoeing and canal boating, he also took the controls of a light aircraft. In the promise challenge John gained the My Faith activity badge and he regularly attends church parade where he is often involved.

Nick Jarman commented that this award is rarely attained by Scouts which emphasizes the magnitude of Johns achievement.     

His scout leader, Mike Peet, said “it has been great to see John progress through the challenges on the way to his award and hopefully this will be an inspiration to the rest of the troop to aim for gold”

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