Chief Scout's Award - May 2013

Horsham Weald Scout District held our first Chief Scout’s Award ceremony on Monday, May 20, at Horsham Methodist Church.

Bronze, Silver, and Gold awards were presented to 79 Beavers, Cubs, Scouts that have been achieved since September 2012. 

These are the the highest awards that can be earned by members of the Scout movement in each of the sections. Scouts, Explorer Scouts, Young Leaders and  and Network members can also progress further and attain the Chief Scout’s Diamond and Platinum Awards, and ultimately the Queen’s Scout Award.

West Sussex Scout County Commissioner, Irene Orford, presented the certificates of congratulations and told the parents and members present that these awards are very important not only in recognition of the hard work and determination of the individuals to achieve them but for later in life when employers and colleges realise that a young person has been Scout - it certainly makes a difference!

It is intended that these award presentation events will take regularly in the future so there is the opportunity for more young people to have their achievements more widely recognised.

An article on the presentation evening will appear in The District Post in due course and photographs of the event will be available soon.

Jim Peters - Rest in Peace

Jim Peters 'Q' former member of 1st Roffey Scout Group, Assistant Scout Master and Assistant District Commissioner died peacefully at his home on 8th May 2013 aged 87 years.

Jim's son, Julian (GSL 1st Shipley), says that;

Dad 'was a Cub and a Scout at 1st Roffey before the War. After the War he became involved again and was an 'Assistant Scout Master', as it was then, for many years running the troop on his own for some time until he was joined by Alan Snelling (Skip) and Mervyn Hollands (Dutch). He was know as 'Q' presumably short for Quartermaster. The three of them ran the troop successfully for many years. 

In the early 70's he left 1st Roffey to become ADC (Scouts) when Fred Jeffery was District Commissioner and started a number of District Activities such as the Quiz and Cyclo-cross which continue today. 

He retired as ADC in 1976 or 1977 but continued his association with Scouts by helping to run the quiz with Joan Moule, John Shippen, Tony Priestley and others.

In his latter years he suffered from chronic respiratory disease which curtailed his activities to such a point that he rarely left home. His last 'Scouting activity' was to join at 1st Shipley for their 75th Anniversary in 2009 where he spent a long time reminiscing about the 'good old days' with friends and acquaintances.

The cremation is at Worthing next Thursday 30th May at 1.20 pm

Horsham Weald Scout District send condolences to Julian and his family at their loss and is grateful to Jim for his work and dedication to Scouting and his legacy of Scouting Spirit and tradition.

Peter Scofield

District Commissioner