Scout Park welcomes the new Chief Scout!

For months, the first week in September had been blocked out for a ‘special HQ event’ – which has now been revealed to the world! Our new Chief Scout, Dwayne Fields, started his Scouting journey as a Wood Green Cub at the Wolves Lane Scout Hut, and chose to come back to the District where it all began to be welcomed as the 11^th Chief Scout.

For Scout Park, the week began on Tuesday with a team from Scout Adventures arriving to dress the park in Scout Branding and to set up the activities – and for the Scouts media team to arrive, together with Dwayne, UK Youth Lead Ayesha Karim and some selected young people to rehearse and record some ‘B’ reel. The set up continued Wednesday, then on Thursday parties of Explorers from all corners of the UK began to arrive during the day, forming the Chief Scout’s Inauguration ESU which was led by the Chief Volunteer for England, Liz Henderson. The Explorers were finally joined by Squirrels and Cubs from the 16^th Wood Green – the current group at Wolves Lane – and Beavers and Scouts from the 4^th Enfield. The young people had a chance to meet Dwayne, have photos and enjoy the activities on offer (climbing, soft archery, soft axe throwing, marshmallow toasting and paracord craft) with him.

Then everyone went to the campfire circle where UK Chief Volunteer Carl Hankinson and Ayesha Karim introduced Dwayne, inducted him as UK Chief Scout as directed by the UK Scout Council, and Dwayne, led by Carl, made his Promise as Chief Scout.

The younger sections departed while the Explorers remained for a traditional campfire before dinner, then turned in early.

Friday began at 5:00 am as the first broadcasters were arriving at 6:00. The Explorers began the activities at 6:00 and ITV and the BBC arrived with Sky and GBNews taking remote feeds from the media team’s video. Dwayne was interviewed by all these, and several radio stations over his phone, including the Radio 4 ‘Today’ programme. Young people were interviewed and the Park was a hive of activity, as seen on TV!

The BBC finished the last session at 09:30 and the activities shut down, there was a short debrief and thanks for the Explorers and the leaders who had brought them to Scout Park, and the Chief Scout’s Inauguration ESU was disbanded.

Farewells were said, and the Scout Adventures staff and the HQ team packed up and headed off.

Big thanks to Premises Manager Sean Sweeney for working long hours to support the event and make sure everyone had everything they needed – there was lots of praise for Scout Park from both the HQ team and the visiting Scouts.

A great honour for Scout Park and NLSD!