Teesdale youngsters awarded Scouts highest award

FIVE Scouts from Barnard Castle have been awarded the organisation’s highest award for their age group.
The Chief Scout’s Gold Award went to Matthew Hodgkinson, William Backes, Oliver Welsby, Kieran Bleasby, Charlotte Singleton and Grace Tarpey.
It is the highest award they can get before moving on to Explorers. Three of the five were presented with the award last week. Oliver Welsby, 14, said he had been working towards the award since he began as a beaver several years ago. Like a number of others, he hopes  to become an Explorer.
He said: “We enjoy it – it’s about life skills but there is a good social side too.”
To get the award, they had to earn badges during activities, between the ages of ten and 14, including expeditions, teamwork and learning how to be team leaders.
Meanwhile, Cub Scouts who achieved the Chief Scout’s Silver Award were Abigail Clark, Robert Whiting, Conner McBride, Scott Kesterton, Finley Tunstall, Thomas Maughan, Joshua Leonard, Jake Porter, Madie Ainsley, Tabitha Anstey, Mia Dowson, Lilly-Beth Kelly, Joshua Andrews, Adele Dry and Tess Deere.
Other prizewinners were Beavers of the Year Oliver Hickey and Daniel Maughan.
Monday Cub of the year Joshua Andrews, second Aiden Marmount, third Madie Ainsley with best newcomer Alex Campbell.
Tuesday Cub of the Year Jake Porter, second Joshua Greenland, third Alice Whiting, and best newcomer Kaylie Shann. Wednesday Scout of the Year went to Jake Metcalfe, second William Backes, and joint third Matthew Hodgkinson and Matthew Hendry.
Sunday Scouts of the Year were Rhys Foster, second Lilly-Beth Kelly, and third Abigail Clark. Explorer Scout of the Year was Jonathan Hann.
The Group Scoutleader, Mark Fell, reported a successful year but said the pack was looking for an adult to lead a second Beaver Colony, ages six to eight. Contact Colin Clark on 07802 855604.