His Grace the Duke of Bedford threw open the gates of historic Woburn Abbey last week to honour 186 Bedfordshire Scouts who have all gained their Chief Scout Award – Scouting’s top accolade. His Grace said, “Chief Scout Awards are not given lightly. I am well aware of all the effort and hard work you put in and congratulate everyone of you on your achievement. Well done.”

But for some, the event almost ended before it began. Two coaches from Bedford with 82 Scouts and parents on board were held up for 45 minutes by a burst water main near Junction 13 of the M1 motorway. The ceremony was delayed by 15 minutes to allow the anxious winners time to take their place.

As the Duke, County Commissioner John Duley and his deputy Nigel Taylor walked up the steps from the abbey, the Scouts burst into a well-rehearsed resounding cheer. It was a sound that shook the windows of the nearby Sculpture Gallery and started an event that will remain in memories for a long time.

To commemorate the event the Duke presented a special certificate to Beaver Scout  Gabrielle Garcia (7) from Totternoe Scout Group and Cub Scout Callum Andrews (8) of Henlow and Clifton Scout Group who accepted the award on behalf of all the 186 Scouts present.

The Scouts came from all over Bedfordshire. Apart from the massive Bedford contingent led by Group Scout Leader Michelle Watt, there were Scouts from Henlow, Dunstable, Flitwick, Maulden, Luton and the villages of Edelsbourough, Barton and Tilbridge.

Henlow Group Scout Leader Sarah Panton was thrilled with the idea. She said, “I found details on the internet and had an enthusiastic response from parents. Everyone wanted to be part of the action.”

There was a similar reaction from parents in Flitwick and Maulden. Scout leaders Helen Draycott and Belinda Wilson fielded numerous telephone calls as they co-ordinated the parents’ response to the idea.

In Luton, Scout Leader Jean Mitchell in Sundon Park had families who cancelled holidays just to be there. There was a similar reaction from parents in Stopsley and other parts of Luton. Cub Scouts from the 2^nd Someries Scout Group took time out to entertain their friends with a good-natured face pulling contest.

The children of many Scout Leaders were among the winners. Cub Scout Jenny Slade-Pendrick from Dunstable, daughter of District Commissioner Matthew, received her silver Chief Scout Award. She said, “I’ve looked forward to this for ages.”

To achieve the distinctions took two years commitment from the Scouts. They had to complete six challenges including, outdoor activities, a challenge based on the Scout promise, a creative challenge, personal fitness, global issues and a community spirit challenge.

In an informal walkabout, the Duke talked with all the Scouts about their individual achievements. Later he said, “I’ll have to enrol my daughter Alexandra into the local Scout group and my son Henry will follow when he is old enough.”

After the ceremony, the official photograph showed the enormous number of Scouts involved. The result will be shown on a 2 foot long panorama available to all the parents. Later, the Sculpture Gallery was packed with winners and parents for a buffet lunch amongst the statues and the marble pillars. In the early spring sunshine, many took the opportunity to stroll around the ornamental gardens outside.

The five coach contingent then went on a tour of the Woburn Safari Park to see the wild animals with a brief glimpse of the new baby giraffe. The day ended with a thrill-a-minute visit to Woburn’s famous Adventure Playground.

[Back to News Front Page]