A COUPLE who have been involved in Scouting in various parts of the world for more than 40 years and who have presented Scout Thanks badges were the surprised recipients of their own last weekend.

Derek and Doreen Wilson were surprised to be invited to the Clifford Gardens club room on Saturday morning (March 18). They were even more surprised when they found out why.

Secreted there were several Beavers, Cubs and Scouts with Leaders, Trevor Waycott the Mid Devon District Scout Commissioner and George Davey Assistant DC.

George told Derek and Doreen that he knew they had been involved in Scouting in many places in the world for a long time, but never received any official thanks so far as he knew.

So he had set about putting that right with a Thanks badge for both and a presentation card for each signed by Chief Scout Bear Grylls.

This said it was because of volunteers like them that Scouting is into its second century offering fun and adventure to both young people and adults.

A Thanks badge is a rare thing to receive and not many have been presented in Mid Devon, not as many as even one a year.

Derek is from North Wales, his wife from Northumberland. They met in 1952 and have a son and a daughter, both became Scouts.

Derek first got involved in Scouting when he was serving in the RAF Regiment stationed near Shrewsbury.

“A police officer came and knocked on our door and said they wanted me as a Scout Leader because I taught first aid, could tie knots, do lashings and map reading and stuff,” said Derek.

“I said I’d never been a Scout, but he said that didn’t matter, I’d have training.

“I used to be involved seven days a week, Doreen always supported me. If they were away at camp and I couldn’t go with them, I’d always try to go to see them.

“Everywhere we went I was roped into Scouting. We came to Crediton 14 years ago and met George.”

Both help with the Scout Christmas post, running the Clifford Gardens “staging post” each year.

Countries where they worked with Scouting included Cyprus and Germany as well as various places in the UK. Derek had a posting to Malaya but was not involved in Scouting there.

Derek said he still has all his badges because they were sewn onto his camp blanket which his son would then use.

Doreen was always helping out and among her many memories was the time she was cooking stew for the Scouts in Episkopi, Cyprus when she found the lads on the station were queuing for her grub as well.

“When we were in Cyprus I got in contact with Scouts in Israel and was able to take 21 Scouts there for a fortnight.

“It was a lot quieter then, this would have been in the 1970s. We were treated royally everywhere we went because they knew we were Scouts,” said Derek.

“We had to raise money for the trip and one of the ways we did that was Doreen and the other mums making things to sell.”

When they were on one of their postings to Germany, Doreen started a Ranger Company.

Derek came out of the services in 1986 but they continued to live at Shrewsbury until their move to Crediton.

Although he does not do so much for Scouting now, 86 years old Derek helps around Clifford Gardens.

“I am still active and do what I can,” he says. Of Scouting: “As you get older you see the value of what you are doing for other people.

“I have worked with youngsters for many, many years. I have worked with older people.

“There are some who live on their own and once you make contact their faces light up, Scouting can give you that. It gives the young people an appreciation of other things,” he added.

Sue Read