Chief Scout (The Scout Association)

The Scout Association's Chief Scout is the head of the youth programs. The role is now merely a nominal and titular ceremonial figurehead. The association's present Chief Scout is the British adventurer and TV presenter Bear Grylls.

History

Robert Baden-Powell made himself Chief Scout of his own Scouting organization, The Boy Scouts Association. Following his death, the association appointed Chief Scouts "of the British Empire", then "of the British Commonwealth and Empire", then "of the Commonwealth" and, since 1972, "of the United Kingdom and Overseas Territories".

List

The Boy Scouts Association's Chief Scouts of the British Empire and Commonwealth:

  1. Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, died 8 January 1941
  2. Arthur Somers-Cocks, 6th Baron Somers, March 1942, The Boy Scouts Association's Chief Scout of the British Empire
  3. Thomas Corbett, 2nd Baron Rowallan, April 1945, The Boy Scouts Association's Chief Scout of the British Commonwealth and Empire
  4. Sir Charles Maclean, later Lord Maclean, September 1959, The Boy Scouts Association's Chief Scout of the Commonwealth. He resigned as The Scout Association's Chief Scout of the UK in September 1971, but continued as The Scout Association's Chief Scout of the Commonwealth until August 1975.

The Scout Association's Chief Scouts of the United Kingdom and Overseas Territories:

  1. Sir William Gladstone, July 1972
  2. Major-General Michael J. H. Walsh, February 1982
  3. Sir Garth Morrison, May 1988
  4. George Purdy, March 1996
  5. Peter Duncan, 5 September 2004 [1]
  6. Bear Grylls, 11 July 2009 [2]

Appointment

The association's first Chief Scout, Robert Baden-Powell made himself the Chief Scout and chairman for life. The association's charter and bye laws made no provision for his removal, retirement or the appointment of a successor in either role. The association's subsequent Chief Scouts have been appointed by its Council, which Council elects its own members including office bearers, while others are appointed by the Board of Trustees (formerly Committee of the Council), with others nominated as representatives from councils around the United Kingdom (the majority of whose members are appointed by the Board or Headquarters) and overseas branches controlled by Headquarters.[3]

Changed role

Once the powerful leader of the association, the role of the association's Chief Scout was fundamentally diminished when the holder ceased to also be chairman of the Committee of the Council (now Board of Trustees). The role was further diminished in 2009 with the functions split with the appointment of a UK Chief Commissioner (Deputy Chief Scout).[4] The UK Chief Commissioner took over most of the administrative duties and now heads the adult leaders and administrators of the association. Working alongside the association Chief Scout's Committee, the association's Chief Scout is nominally responsible for the appointment of County Commissioners and County Presidents.[5] but this is merely ceremonially formal. The association's Chief Scout is now merely a iconic figurehead for publicity promotion of the association's youth programs.

Awards

Each section of The Scout Association has an award meant to come from the association's Chief Scout; in Beavers, the award is the Chief Scout's Bronze Award, in Cubs it is Silver, in Scouts it is Gold and in Explorers, Platinum and Diamond. The only award higher than this is the Queen's Scout Award.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The Chief Scout - Peter Duncan". The Scout Association. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  2. ↑ "Bear Grylls announced as new Chief Scout". press release. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
  3. ↑ "The Council of the Scout Association". POR: Chapter 6: The Structure of the Headquarters of The Scout Association. Retrieved 17 January 2009.
  4. ↑ "Bear Grylls announced as new Chief Scout". The Scout Association. 17 May 2009. Retrieved 22 October 2011. Working in partnership with Bear will be Scouting volunteer Wayne Bulpitt, who takes on the new role of UK Chief Commissioner.
  5. ↑ "The Chief Scout's Committee". POR: Chapter 6: The Structure of the Headquarters of The Scout Association. Retrieved 17 January 2009.
  6. ↑ "Awards, Decorations and Recognition of Service". Badges. Retrieved 17 January 2009.

External links

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