A gathering of Gilwell Fellows were among the attendees as former Chair of the World Scout Committee (WSC) and Bronze Wolf holder Craig Turpie presented the Bronze Wolf Award to Gill Clay.
Craig shared the history of the award, its significance, and its connection with Baden-Powell, Gill’s grandfather, before reading Gill’s citation. He described how her lifetime in Scouting (and Guiding) has fostered a “spirit of unity and collaboration”. Her influence “transcends borders”, and extends “far beyond formal titles”. Gill is a prime example of servant leadership.
In accepting the award, Gill expressed her amazement at the honour. “It really feels like a dream,” she says, “when I think about all the people who have done so much to spread this wonderful movement”. “I accept this award, on behalf of all of those people”, she says.
Gill expressed the joys she feels seeing Scouting “flourishing, seeing gatherings in Mongolia, Vietnam, Namibia, mirroring what we do here, but being their own country with their own values. Having different cultures, doing Scouting, but in their own way, knowing we are true brothers and sisters with affection for each other. We sing the same sorts of songs, play the same silly games, and we learn the same lessons,” she says.
“I am so grateful for this extraordinary award”.
Gill is the 399th recipient of The Bronze Wolf, and The Heritage Team brought the first one (awarded to Baden-Powell), to the ceremony, along with BP’s six wood beads.
World Scouting’s post about Gill’s award: https://treehouse.scout.org/bronze-wolf-namibia-uganda-costa-rica-united-kingdom