Service beyond call of duties
THREE exceptional Wear Valley scout leaders will be travelling to Windsor on Sunday to accept coveted silver acorn awards.Kate and John Anstee, from Stanhope, and Alan Mangles from Howden-le-Wear, will make the trip in the scouts¹ centenary year to St George¹s Chapel in Windsor.
A high profile royal, unknown as yet, will then meet the three leaders for the official presentation.
Chief scout, Peter Duncan, said: ³The huge contribution of these leaders to scouting has helped many young people to look beyond themselves and find real friendship. I thank them for making that possible.² The three leaders were presented with their medals on May 12 and will now watch the Queen¹s scouts in the famous quadrangle.
Alan Mangles has been involved as leader with Howden-le-Wear Group for almost 40 years.
When vandals left the headquarters beyond repair, Alan moved to the local school and soldiered on.
County manager for Durham scouts, Graeme Popay, said: ³During this time Alan never allowed the relentless attack to the scout property to dissolution him or smother his enthusiasm for Scouting.
³Any other group would have gone to the wall but Alan¹s has grown.² Kate Anstee has held a warranted appointment with the first Stanhope Cub Pack, which she started 30 years ago.
She has been the leader since then and worked hard to hold the packs good reputation and success in competitions.
Kate, who is a special needs teacher, has occasionally been asked to take in youngsters with learning difficulties to help them integrate and gain confidence with their peers.
This she has done with success which has been obvious as some of the children moving on to scouts and even one moving on right through the group to be an assistant leader.
Graeme said: ³Cubs travel up to 30 minutes to get to her pack as she is much loved by the children and well respected by parents and fellow leaders.
³Kate never misses a district or group activity or function and often fills in for missing or ill leaders ensuring the section night continues.
³Kate is one of scouting¹s unsung heroes² John, who is Kate¹s husband, has held a warranted appointment since 1967, working between the first Stanhope Scout Group and Crook and Weardale District.
He said: ³To have three silver acorns in one district is very good.
³I¹ve been a scout myself since I was 12 and find that children still like to do the old fashioned things like map reading and lighting fires.² He took over as Scout Leader for Crook and Weardale District thirty years ago and since then has bought climbing, hill walking and wild camping onto the menu.
John is now fundraising to send six Unit members to the World Jamboree in 2007.
