Tribute to Baden Powell

This is what the Scout movement has done for me.

• Making friends, some lifelong.
• Sense of belonging
• Sense of achievement
• Greater self worth and personal pride
• A love of the outdoors and camping
• Holidays I would not have had
• Skills I would never have acquired
• Abilities – E.G. swimming
• Leadership
• Teamwork
• Self reliance
• Endurance
• Enhanced values and code of social behaviour

I am proud to have encouraged my children to be part of the scouting movement and glad that my children have done likewise with my grandchildren.

The positive impact on my life as a working class boy and later father cannot be measured. See the above list which could be expanded and elaborated to fill a book.

To target the Statue of Baden Powell in spite of his enduring legacy to millions including black and ethnic children and young people worldwide is self defeating and foolish for any otherwise laudable cause.