Awards Celebrating Active Support

Tuesdays are always special at Lower Grange Farm as the active support team are there maintaining the 30 acre site and the mid-morning break with warm drinks and cakes is a great opportunity to catch up with everyone. The tea break on the first Tuesday in March was particularly special as 9 of the team received awards to recognise and thank them for their exceptional contribution to Scouts and, amazingly, five received the highest award in Scouting, the Silver Wolf.

The nine recipients have more than 325 years of service between them during which they’ve supported Scouting in local, district and county roles and detailed citations of how they consistently went beyond what we might hope for from our volunteers were provided when they were nominated for the awards. So here is just a taster of some of their service in recent years. (left to right)

John is a key member of the county training team, Ken manages the Scout Active Support at Lower Grange Farm and is a member of the county executive committee. Bunty and Beccy have championed volunteer support for Lower Grange Farm, leading teams delivering Cub & Beaver adventure days, the annual Macmillan coffee morning fundraiser, the week-long Christmas parties and much loved Christmas fair. Jim is the County Safety Advisor and is on the county executive committee. Des Harris has been County Chair for more than 6 years, Linda Waring is District Commissioner for Maidstone East, Ron Wells is a leader at Larkfield Scout troop, an activity instructor, and well-known as the warden at Lower Grange Farm. Dave Blake has volunteered at LGF for more than 10 years and we wish him well as he is leaving Kent.

Awards presented were;

• John Gurnett – Bar to the Silver Acorn
• Linda Waring – Silver Acorn
  
• Ron Wells – Silver Acorn
• Dave Blake – Commissioners Commendation

With other recent awardees pictured;

• Ken Ridgway – Silver Wolf 
• Bunty Ridgway – Silver Wolf
• Beccy Martin – Silver Wolf
• Jim Martin – Silver Wolf
• Des Harris – Silver Wolf