JOHN OWEN NETWORK SCOUT REACHING THE TOP

John Owen a Scout Network member and helper with Blenheim Scout Troop was presented with his Chief Scout Diamond Award by Icknield District Commissioner Libby Bassam at the end of this week’s scout meeting.

This is the first Diamond award to be presented in Icknield district for about 10 years.
For John this is his fifth chief scout award, having gained the top award in each previous section and the final step on the way to his ambition to become a Queens Scout.
The criteria for gaining the award involve undertaking physical activity, service and developing a skill all for a period of six months.

John improved his photographic skills, learnt to swim on his front and used his volunteering at Trefoil House Care home. At Trefoil he is part of the activities team, visiting residents and he plans and leads a monthly act of worship, which is giving him valuable experience as he hopes to be accepted for training as a priest in the church and become a chaplain.

He attended Poacher 2017 an International camp and encouraged the scouts he went with to join in and make international contacts. He planned and led an international evening for the scouts at Blenheim. For the values activities he organised several evenings around Dementia awareness and helped the scouts to gain the Community Impact badge and also led a session looking at the main faiths comparing them, showing similarities and differences, this helped the scouts to fulfil part of the World challenge badge. The environmental clause was met by running an evening of activities based on global and environmental issues.

Finally as well as completing at least 12 nights away he planned and completed a three day, two night expedition looking at the wildlife around the River Ouse around Bedford.

Photo and write-up by Mark Chamberlain.