Badges Galore!

Written byBeaver Scout Izaak Strong, 14th Ayrshire Scout Group (Prestwick) 8 years old.

When it was lockdown I really missed Beavers but Fiona our Beaver Scout Leader said if we wanted to we could do extra badge work at home on top of our weekly session in person or on zoom. I asked my Mum and she said that would be a good idea as it would keep me busy and this was the start of my mission!

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Fiona set a new badge every week during Lockdown and I would split the badge work up and just did a bit every day, so I still had lots of time to play with my brothers. Sometimes the badge work was so much fun I would do it all in the same day. After I had completed the badge work I emailed it to Fiona and she would check it and then I would get the badge posted through my door! I really liked that part because she always wrote a wee note on the back on how much she liked it.

In the summer holidays Fiona sent my Mum a message saying because I had done so many activity badges during Lockdown, I only had 6 left to do before I completed them all! I knew this was my mission and I wanted to get them all before I moved up to Cubs.

My favourite badge was my gardening badge. My Dad has an allotment and I helped him do all the weeding and the planting. We grew potatoes, carrots, strawberries and raspberries. When my Dad was at work my Mum took me up to the allotment so I could keep an eye on everything and keep it all watered. This badge took a couple of months to do but I loved doing it and I still go up to the allotment with my Dad.

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My hardest badge was my faith activity badge. This badge took me a couple of weeks to do because I didn’t really know much about other religions. I found some videos on YouTube though that talked all about different religions and I watched them which helped me do my badge work. I am glad I did this badge because if I ever meet people that have a different religion I will be able to talk to them about it.

The badge where I learnt the most was my sailing badge. I had never been sailing before so I was a bit nervous but the instructors at Prestwick Sailing club explained everything to us. When we were out on the water it was so much fun, and I quickly learnt how to steer the boat. I think the most important things I learnt were to never sail out too far and if you fall in do not panic.

I am so happy that I managed my mission to get all 33 activity badges and I am going to miss Fiona and Adam lots but I know I will have lots of fun at Cubs too. “

“Beavers is the best group ever as it is just so much fun and I learn so many new things.” (Izaak Strong)

Izaak’s Mum Michelle said “I am bursting with pride for Izaak. He set himself a goal and he never gave up. “Izaaks leaders have given him so much support and guidance. They are fantastic role models.”

It took me two years to get all 33 Beavers activity badges,plus my Chief Scout Bronze Award.

Fiona and Adam, Beaver Scout Leaders for the 14th Ayrshire Scout Group (Prestwick) said: “Well done Izaak – it’s a real achievement to develop all the skills required to achieve all the Beaver Scout Badges. Achieving them is no mean feat. Izaak has shown grit determination and resilience.”

“He joins an exclusive and very small group of other Beaver Scouts around the world who have gained all their badges and in doing so have developed the skills they will need to make their way in life.”We are very proud of Izaak and of the volunteer Leaders from 14th Ayrshire Scout Group that have supported him on his Scouting journey. Well done. Now-let’s see what he does in Cub! Watch this space. “

If you want to get involved or join the east bay Scouts Association in Ayrshire we have groups across the Kyle and Carrick district. Find more information on Kyle and Carrick Scout District

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Every Good Friend Once Was A Stranger….

Article written by Nigel Bradey from the 100th Alloway Scout Group about his introduction to Scouting.

Beavers didn’t exist back in 1972 (they started in 1986), but my name had been down to join the 3rd Osterley (more about them later) Cubs for sometime, and I remember being very excited in the run up to being old enough to join! When the time finally arrived, it didn’t disappoint at all and I thoroughly enjoyed my time as a Cub Scout. Thankfully, I still have one photograph of my investiture and I’m very pleased to say that the lady investing me, Betty, or rather Akela, is still with us today. Sadly the other lady, Mary (Bagheera) passed away many years ago. 

My investiture into Cubs 1972

The Mighty 3rd Osterley! What a Scout group…  A lot of my good friends today are those that I met within the 3rd and many of the people that were involved in the group during my childhood and youth, still have some involvement. The irony is, however, that the 3rd Osterley was actually in Isleworth (look it up). Situated on the banks of the River Thames, the group had its own headquarters situated on land that gently sloped towards the river in addition to its own boathouse and slipway, for the 3rd Osterley was a Sea Scout Group. During my childhood, the area immediately around the grounds were very ordinary. A  recent visit, however, revealed a very different area, one which is now developed with a multitude of multi-million pound housing which completely surrounds the grounds. Developers have tried… really tried – but mercifully the 3rd continues to hold its position and reassuringly little has changed within the grounds of their HQ in all this time. Suffice to say, I believe that the 3rd Osterley are probably sat on one of the most expensive pieces of Scouting real estate in the UK today, and long may that continue!

What a Scout Group!

A lot of my good friends today are those that I met within the 3rd.

You’ve probably worked out that my Scouting journey didn’t end with the Cubs, for it followed the usual course of Scouts, Venture Scouts (no Explorers then) and then on to supporting Cubs as a Young Leader until I joined the Royal Navy. From that time on I remained in firm contact with the group and regularly attended group camps which eventually became a yearly event for previous group members of all ages, choosing to camp at the campsite (a farmers field) we first used when I was a Scout which was set in deepest, darkest and wettest Wales. My girlfriend and then wife, Nikki, was dragged – often protesting – along to these camping expeditions, and our two sons when they arrived had absolutely no choice, attending initially as babies until finally breaking free as teenagers. 

Twelve years ago I relocated with my job to rural Ayrshire and noticed that a local Scout group in Alloway required some assistance. Going against all my Naval training, I Volunteered – and became an Assistant Scout Leader.  I bedded in for a couple of years before taking over as Scout Leader when our existing leader moved onto pastures new.  After five years in that role, which coincided with my daughter Alice’s membership (ha, it was her turn now), I felt that the time was right to handover and stepped into the position of Group Scout Leader.

My daughter and me just before attending Alloway Remembrance Sunday service and parade 2013

The mighty 100th Alloway are a very different group to the 3rd Osterley. Firstly they were in Scotland… you’ll have to wear a kilt I was told… no problem, I’m happy and proud to do so. They’re land Scouts, I was told… no problem, so I took them to London for a week long camp in the grounds of my old group. They don’t have their own headquarters… not a problem either, for thanks to the generosity of Alloway Church the 100th have (or at least they did pre-COVID) a fantastic space in which to meet, store their equipment and with very easy access to great outdoor spaces. So although different, like all Scout groups, they share far more similarities than differences.

Sadly, the time has now come when I must leave Scotland as Nikki and I have chosen to return to live in the town of her birth, Shrewsbury. I shall shortly be handing over the role of GSL to Adam Pamment, who is no stranger to the 100th Alloway having served it in many roles for many years. To mark my departure, I have supplied four photographs which I hope will be of interest:

Me more recently at Brownsea Island

One I couldn’t resist. A recently discovered photograph of my father drumming in the band of the 6th Richmond (Surrey) Scouts back in 1954.

Scouting, in my opinion, is a very noble organisation. It crosses continents, countries, borders and boundaries, does not discriminate and can bring people from all over the world together in the hope that it will improve the lives of all involved for the better. A few years ago I was fortunate enough to visit the site of Robert Baden Powell’s experimental camp in 1907, on Brownsea Island in Dorset. As it was rather a miserable August day, I found myself totally alone at the actual site and admit to finding it a very emotional experience. The solitude and poignancy of the site, meant that I was able to reflect on all that Scouting has offered and given me in my life, and I especially remembered the many people and friends that I have met along the journey.

Kyle and Carrick District Scouts District Commissioner Deborah Olesen said ‘A huge thank you to Nigel for everything he has done, he will be greatly missed but we will keep him on as a member of the District Activity Support Unit and hope to see him at camps and events in the future. Also a big thank you to Nigel’s wife and family for their support too. The full district wish Nigel and his family the best of luck with their move South.’

If you want to get involved or join the Scouts Association in Ayrshire we have groups across the Kyle and Carrick district. All our local groups are always looking for adventures volunteers. Find more information on Kyle and

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