Scout leaders honoured for their work

The adults were presented with certificates and merits as thanks for helping to keep the organisation strong in the town.

The presentations were carried out by Scouting county commissioner John Spickett in front of family and friends. A celebration cake was made by Alison Wilson.

Bognor district commissioner Vicky Hennessy said: 'All those who received the awards provide an invaluable service to Scouting in the Bognor area. We couldn't function without the amount of work they put in.'

Three leaders were awarded the certificate of good service for outstanding service to Scouting and to the community -'“ David Birkinshaw, 1st Aldwick and Pagham assistant beaver leader and former group scout leader; Margaret Minty, group scout leader 1st Middleton-on-Sea; Peter Edwards, district scout leader.

Medals of merit were given to five Leaders who had given 20 years of service and given over and above the expectations of the duty to Scouting:

Dorn Muller, 1st Aldwick and Pagham group scout leader, who started his Scouting in Barbados and has never allowed the polio from which he has suffered since a child to stop him carrying out all his activities;

Tony Hurren, 11th Bognor cub leader and assistant commissioner for cubs, has been in Scouting since the age of eight. Makes sure all the cubs around Bognor enjoy Scouting to the full. Arranges days out and camps;

Denis Cooke, 1st Middleton-on-Sea scout leader who helped to get the Middleton-on-Sea scouts their headquarters;

Linda Barber, 11th Bognor Regis scout leader helps with Felpham sea cadets while running a cub pack and helping Brian Washington run the scouts. Took over from Brian when he passed away last year;

Sue Shimell, 2nd Bognor Regis group scout leader - devises the menus for the district camps as well as running the scout shop and being the district's special needs advisor.

The ceremony was only the second of its kind to be held in the Bognor district in the past five years.