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Luton Scouts |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1st Luton Sea Scouts pass Admiralty Inspection with flying coloursRoyal Navy Put Sea Scouts Through Their Paces
The First Luton Sea Scouts have come through their regular Admiralty inspection with flying colours at their headquarters on Luton Hoo. Around 65 Scouts and their leaders were put through their paces by inspector Lt Commander David Griffiths RN during a gruelling two hour series of water and land based activities to emerge with their important Admiralty recognition intact. Ellie Giles (13) was awarded the title of smartest Scout, the first girl to receive this honour. Important visitors at the event included County Commissioner John Duley and District Commissioner Karl Collins. Impeccably dressed Scouts, Cub Scouts and Beaver Scouts met Lt Cmdr Griffiths when he arrived promptly at 7pm. He met the two younger sections first and asked questions about the badges they had gained and what they liked about Sea Scouts. It was then the turn of the Scouts and Explorer Scouts to show their experience on the mirror like calm waters of the Hoo. Despite the darkening twilight skies, the Scouts were able to navigate around the water with ease. They share the lake with around a dozen swans who made a low level swoop before landing at the far end of the lake away from the action. The Scouts demonstrated their confidence on the water when they turned over sailing boats and made the waters churn with canoes performing rescue techniques and capsize drills. Scout Leader Nicola Marshall explained to Lt Cmdr Griffiths that they were not afraid of operating in the dark. They all had waterproof lights on their safety helmets and worked in pairs to look after one another. Once on land the inspector saw an operating balister constructed from logs and rope lashings that the Scouts used to hurl water filled balloons across the parade ground. Over at the traditional wood fire, Scout Gemma Montford (11), helped by Duane
Hutchinson (11) and Emma Coleman (10) cooked the Admiralty inspector a meal of
eggs in potatoes, with orange cakes and marshmallows in chocolate for afters.
David Griffiths went on, "You are incredibly well supported by your leaders and clearly have lots of fun. You also have a great variety of badges including a rarity amongst Sea Scouts - a badge for skiing!" At the end of the inspection, in front of County Commissioner John Duley and District Commissioner Karl Collins and other visitors, Lt Cmdr Griffiths announced his surprise selection of Ellie Giles (13) as the smartest Scout on parade. She had been with the Group for just two years and was the first girl to receive the distinction in the history of the Sea Scouts. Her twin sister Frances was one of the first to congratulate her. "We share most things but this one's just for her", she said.
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