Bear Grylls agrees to continue as Chief Scout until 2020

Adventurer Bear Grylls (43) has agreed to continue as UK Chief Scout for the third time making him one of the longest serving Chief Scouts  in history.

His tour of duty now continues until 2020, an 11year record beaten only by Lord Rowallen and Baden Powell himself.

Bear said, “I am so proud that the largest youth movement on the planet has asked me to continue as their Chief Scout. My aim over the next three years is to encourage more volunteers to join us so that we can give more young people the thrills, fun and outdoor adventure that Scouting provides – and not forgetting the mud!”

When he was first appointed in 2009, two Bedfordshire Explorer Scouts were there to welcome him. Andrew Draycott and Lucy Onyango were chosen to act as guards of honour for him at Youlbury Camp Site in Oxford prior to the surprise announcement.

Andrew and Lucy said, “It was shrouded in secrecy at the time and even our close relatives did not know who the new Chief Scout would be.” They added, “With his daredevil approach, Bear Grylls has been an immense benefit for Scouting in the last eight years.”

The Chief Scout came to Luton Hoo on one of his whirlwind visits as recently as 2013 to meet Bedfordshire Scouts at one of the wettest camps on record. At the time his bodyguard were Luton Sea Scouts Hannah Thomas and Coby Doyle who accompanied him on a high speed launch on the lake and a tour of the site. They still recall the impact the visit had on them and the way Bear coped with the pouring rain.