Meet the Team

My scouting started with 4^th Thorpe Bay back in the late sixties as a Cub and then a Scout, and I now find myself returning as the Group Scout Leader, how did that happen ?

After leaving 4TB Scouts I joined Nore Venture Scout Unit (VSU) but in 1978 I returned to 4TB obtaining my first leaders warrant in 1980 as an Assistant Scout Leader. I later took over as the Venture Scout Leader of the Vulcan’s VSU, until 1999 when I moved away to Chelmsford. During those years, I completed my leader training gaining three Wood Badges for Scouts, Venture Scouts and Commissioners.

I was also Assistant District Commissioner for Activities from 1987 until 2005.

In 1983 I joined the Essex Scout Mountaineering Activities Team (E.S.M.A.T.) and have been an active member since, becoming County Mountaineering Adviser and Chairman of E.S.M.A.T. from 2000 until 2007. My role as County Mountaineering Adviser was to overview Mountaineering activities in the County. I gained the MLTB national Mountain Leader Award in 2003.

I was privileged to be awarded the Chiefs Scout Commendation in 1995 and the Medal of Merit in 1999. In 2005 I was awarded the Bar to the Long Service Decoration for 25 years’ service to Scouting, and recently I received my 40 Years’ Service Award.

I am delighted to be given the opportunity to return to my roots at 4TB and look forward to many years of fun scouting.

In the Autumn of 1977 by accident, I took over as Scout Leader here at 4^th Thorpe Bay and something must have clicked, as I have been connected with the group ever since.

My first introduction to Scouting was on my 8^th birthday when I joined 5^th Southchurch Cubs (no Beavers in those days) and became a leader with them as soon as I was 18.  After a stint as Cub Scout Leader at 5^th Southchurch, I then became the Scout Leader at 2^nd Southchurch where I met my wife who has put up with me for over 50 years. After spells with 1^st Shoeburyness and 1^st Thorpe Bay, I found my home at 4^th Thorpe Bay.

During this time I have been Assistant District Commissioner for Scouts for many years and also had a couple of spells as District Commissioner, plus Chairman of the Belchamps Management Committee for a while.

As a child I was a Brownie and then became a Guide and I attended meetings at a small hall at the bottom of Dalmatia Road in Southend. This was part of the Salvation Army Church.

I started at 4th Thorpe Bay as an adult helper in January 1993 when my son started Beavers there. I became the Beaver Leader in January 1995 and I now also help with the running of District Events.

I was a Brownie, Guide and Youth Group member and loved going away on camps. In 1981 I attended International Guide Camp which was held at Knebworth Park, 4 miles from where I lived, so of course we were made to hike there! When my son started Beavers I was keen to get involved again and became the Assistant Beaver Leader in September 1998.

I joined the group Feb 2017 after my daughter joined Scouts. She really enjoyed being part of the Scouting Movement and it was something I wanted to be part of too. My daughter also now volunteers at Beavers as part of her Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award.

I began with 4th Thorpe Bay Scout Troop in the Summer of 2008 when I was asked as a parent helper to assist at a camp. Later that year I started assisting with the Scout section and soon after I was asked to lead the Cub Section when I said “I’ll give it a try”, and never looked back. My daughter, Mowgli or Georgia, is my assistant and we run the section together with the help of two more volunteers.

I grew up as a Brownie and Guide; where I carried the flag at the Crystal Palace 75th Anniversary of Guiding and later became a Ranger. I feel that Scouting is a wonderful place for children to grow up in a wider family of friends. The skills that Georgia has learnt over the years of Scouting has been invaluable to her life skills and I believe has played a part in her career path.

I began scouting when I was 11 (2007) and have loved it ever since! Scouting has given me many opportunities that I would never have been able to encounter. Scouting offers multiple life changing experiences. Being chosen to represent the United Kingdom at the 22nd World Scout Jamboree held in Sweden as well as being chosen to be part of the Colour Party to lead the Queen Scout Parade at Windsor Castle are just two of the incredible opportunities that I have experienced. I believe scouting has encouraged me to improve my teamwork, team leadership, problem solving and communication skills and most of all grow as a person. My biggest scouting accomplishment is that I have achieved the highest award in Scouting – The Queen Scout Award.

I began my role in leadership at the age of 14 as a Young Leader for the Beaver Scout Section and completed my training and joined to be a Cub Leader in 2014 where I assist my Mum in running the pack. We work together to teach the cub scouts skills that they can take through life. Helping them to achieve their badges is something I thoroughly enjoy and I hope that one day they’ll grow to be Queen Scouts too.

I started my Scouting journey when I was 8, my parents decided it would be a ‘good thing’ for me to do. I enjoyed it, stayed with it and grew through all the sections. I have some great memories of camping, kayaking, hiking, cooking on open fires and hiking in mountainous areas. Despite my age now, those memories are still vivid and apart from a relatively short break, I have been continuously involved in Scouting.

I found I appreciated the time and effort those adults gave me and my friends to create great experiences. So I wanted to pass these same opportunities on to other young people and my own children. As a parent, one of the aspects I like about Scouts is that although there are so many benefits to living in a digital age, Scouting balances this by offering a practical focus, communication, team working, tolerance and many other life-skills that will play a part in young people’s future.

My scouting began early in life as my Father was a Scout Leader in Hawkwell when he was 18, so inevitably in due course, I was taken to camps by my parents from age 2!

I joined scouting as soon as I could locally. After a gap as an adult, I became involved again when my own children joined sea scouts and I have remained a leader in scouting ever since, the last 10 years or so at 4th Thorpe Bay. I saw the benefits my own children got from their time in scouts and it is rather poetic to see my Grandchildren happily climbing, Kayaking and thoroughly active in their scouting activities.

I only became involved in scouting through being a part of the Patriot Explorer Unit, after which I joined Scout Network. It’s given me the opportunity to try a number of unique events. I particularly enjoyed the Essex jamboree, which was an international camp of 10,000. I also enjoyed Ray-Day which involved canoeing along the Thames Estuary, although there are so many more things I could add. I am now looking to share my experience and my enthusiasm towards scouting in a new role.

I joined 4th Thorpe Scout Group at the age of 10 and continued through the sections to the Vulcans Venture Scouts unit. There I achieved my Queen Scout Award and met the late Queen Mother. During my time at Vulcans I became a Young Leader at 17 and helped to run the Scout section.

In 1989 I helped start a second troop which allowed girls to join for the first time and in
2009 the group decided to open an Explorer unit (Patriot ESU). In 2018 the Scout group was too large for our meeting place, so as a temporary measure I started a second Scout troop which is still running today due to the number of members we have. In 2018 I was selected as a leader to go to the 24th World Scout Jamboree in West Virginia in the USA, A fantastic opportunity and one of the best scouting experiences I’ve ever experienced.

I joined 4^th Thorpe Bay as a Beaver and have been involved with the group ever since. In 2009 I became one of the founding members of Patriot ESU which lead me to become a Young Leader for the Cubs section.

At 18 I became an Assistant Scout Leader for 2 years, then joined the Explorer section as an Assistant Explorer Scout Leader. In 2018 I took up my second leadership position and became an Assistant Scout Leader for a second time. This was due to the growth of the Scout troop and size restrictions of hall, meaning a second meeting night was required.

I joined 4th Thorpe Scout Group at the age of 10 and continued through the sections to the Vulcans Venture Scouts unit. There I achieved my Queen Scout Award and met the late Queen Mother. During my time at Vulcans I became a Young Leader at 17 and helped to run the Scout section.

In 1989 I helped start a second troop which allowed girls to join for the first time and in
2009 the group decided to open an Explorer unit (Patriot ESU). In 2018 the Scout group was too large for our meeting place, so as a temporary measure I started a second Scout troop which is still running today due to the number of members we have. In 2018 I was selected as a leader to go to the 24th World Scout Jamboree in West Virginia in the USA, A fantastic opportunity and one of the best scouting experiences I’ve ever experienced.

I joined 4^th Thorpe Bay as a Beaver and have been involved with the group ever since. In 2009 I became one of the founding members of Patriot ESU which lead me to become a Young Leader for the Cubs section.

At 18 I became an Assistant Scout Leader for 2 years, then joined the Explorer section as an Assistant Explorer Scout Leader. In 2018 I took up my second leadership position and became an Assistant Scout Leader for a second time. This was due to the growth of the Scout troop and size restrictions of hall, meaning a second meeting night was required.

Due to the Explorer unit requiring adult assistance I joined Patriot ESU in the Summer 2018 as an occasional helper. That occasional help was more regular than occasional and I was still helping Patriot ESU and 4th Thorpe Bay into 2020. In Spring of that year I became an Assistant Explorer Leader. I was previously involved in Scouting growing up, starting out as Beaver, Cub and then Scout at the 4th Rochford Scout Group.

I started volunteering in youth work in the 1970’s at Grapevine, the worlds first youth drop in sex education centre in London. I soon became a qualified Youth and Community Worker tackling inner city issues, such youth unemployment and diverting young people from drugs and crime. I have overseen the Duke of Edinburgh Award for several London Borough’s as well as managing a number of statutory Youth Services in Kensington and Chelsea and London Borough of Havering, I then became a Children Services Manager, overseeing not just Youth Services but also the Connexions Service, Education Welfare, Drugs Services, Youth Counselling Services, Information Shops for Young People and Grant funding to the Voluntary Youth Sector. Now retired, I’m proud to have been asked to support my local Scouts and look forward to the challenge and I hope I can assist all those who give their valuable time.