It’s not every day that you get to invest a new member to your Scout Group, but it’s even rarer to invest someone into the 1st Gilwell Park Scout Group, with membership reserved to adult members who have completed their Wood Badge.
Today we met under The Gilwell Oak for a very special investiture: David Baden-Powell, 5th Baron Baden-Powell (great-grandson of Sir Robert Baden-Powell) who was invested to the group by members of his family: Gill and Robin Clay and Annarella Prime, who started the proceedings with:
“Normally I would say a spiel of ‘are you ready to join’ and all that, but I think we all know he is!”
Historically, the wood beads that are awarded were made from the branches of The Gilwell Oak – a practice that the tree clearly wanted us to resume, given it dropped two branches on us throughout the presentation! In David’s case however, he was presented with his dad’s wood beads in his honour.
“If Dad was here… He’d be absolutely stoked. I love it here – it truly feels at home. Thank you all for coming and I look forward to having a beer with you all tonight!”
It was at this point that the group burst out into song, for it is traditional (apparently) to sing Back to Gilwell – also known as The Wood Badge Song – when investing someone into the 1st Gilwell Park Scout Group. (Although they could have just wanted to get some practice in before campfire…)
As for what Dave’s doing next? More of the same – volunteering with his Venturers (Explorers) back in Melbourne. He doesn’t see earning his Wood Badge as the end of anything, he’s a firm believer in continuing to put in the work to become a better and better Scout leader. “I see it more as a recognition of ‘you’re doing a good job as a leader, keep on doing it!’”
