Three youngsters at 1st Adderbury have achieved the top award possible for a Scout.

 The Chief Scout’s Award is the culmination of a youngster’s time in Scouts and shows true commitment and determination through a series of difficult challenges and tests, completed over eighteen months.

On December 11th 2000 Banbury’s Assistant District Commissioner for Scouts, Kate Broome, presented Lawrence Putt, Luke Garrett and Howard White with their awards infront of the Troop’s other members and their families.   The Scouts will now attend the prestigious County Presentation in the spring.

Scout Leader Andy Green said, “Lawrence, Luke and Howard have worked really hard for this award.   To gain it they have given up many hours of their spare time, and performed valuable tasks in the community.   The Chief Scout’s Award is highly sought after and something which will aid them as they seek college or university places, and apply for jobs in the future.”

“The Chief Scouts Award will give all three a head start over their peers.   They have shown today that they have the skills any employer will be looking for in them tomorrow.”

“Just looking through the list of activities shows the commitment the lads have given to gaining the Chief Scouts Award.   I am very proud of them.”

Lawrence said, at the culmination of his time with 1st Adderbury, “This is a fine way for me to end one of the greatest chapters of my life so far”.

 The following are a selection of a few of the activities undertaken by Lawrence, Luke and Howard:

• Assisted with various tasks at Featherton Old People’s Home in Deddington and the Katherine House Hospice in Adderbury

• Took part in adventurous activities such as water skiing, driving high speed karts, and jet skiing

• Took part in and completed the thirty-three mile Cyril Gardner Hike around the Oxford area

• Took part in a weekend survival camp in an unknown area, surviving on just flour, water, chicken and wild berries and sleeping in a bivouac made from natural materials

• Cooked a high quality formal meal for six village VIPs

• Ran various exciting and fun camps and night exercises for other members of the Troop

• Performed songs as a member of a group infront of around 80 adults

• Studied the pressures young people are under to take up smoking, drinking and drugs, and talked to the Troop’s other members about the effects of these items

• Ran various activities for the Scout Group’s Cub and Beaver sections

• Attended a training day and learnt team building and man management skills

• Went hiking in the Peak District

• Assessed facilities for people with disabilities in the area

• Studies the Deddington Monthly Market and presented the findings to the organising committee

• Managed the Troop’s affairs and organised a very active programme as part of the Patrol Leader’s Council

• Plus other activities including looking after earth and chemical toilets; cooking a three course backwoods meal over a wood fire without utensils; exploring the countryside to solve a series of challenges during a day trip to France; and passing the Conservation badge.