After the presentations
Thirty-five 14 year old Surrey Scouts including eleven from Esher Scout District were presented with Chief Scout's Gold Award Certificates by Surrey County Councillor Lavinia Sealy at a special reception held at Holy Trinity Church, Claygate.
The highly coveted award is the top training award in the Scout Section and made only to Scouts who complete an exacting programme of personal development, training, helping other people and taking part in exciting adventurous activities.
The local boys included members of 1st Claygate, 1st Hinchley Wood, 1st Weston Green and 2nd Molesey Scout Groups.
The Scouts recounted to Councillor Sealy and the large audience of parents and leaders some of the challenges they had faced on the way to gaining the award. For some the highlight was a 2 day expedition in Snowdonia in very mixed weather. Carrying all their camping equipment and food for the duration the team of four Scouts hiked to their overnight 'wild' campsite in the foothills of Snowdon. After cooking dinner and breakfast they navigated over the hills to return eventually to the base camp where they were on a week's Summer Camp. For the two days the Scouts were entirely self reliant, putting into practice all their training, typifying the spirit of Scouting and of the Award - training, fun & adventure and helping others. Besides taking a full part in their Troops' activities such as camping, flying, canoeing, rock climbing etc, a very important part had been the gaining of leadership skills and giving of service to others.
The Mayor of Elmbridge, Councillor Martin Schofield, Richard Shortman, County Scout Commissioner and Tricia Griffin, Esher District Scout Commissioner, were in attendance.