If you Google for New Chief Scout this very blog comes up as the first result, linking to my pondering post from almost a year ago entitled New Chief Scout in Summer 2009.
Well, albeit a couple of days late on this blog (see the previous post for my excuse), the new Chief Scout was announced at 11.59 on Sunday night. At least, that’s when the email hit my mailbox.
Bear Grylls has been announced as the new Chief Scout (Chief Scout number 10), ready to take over the role from Peter Duncan.
Getting over my initial shock on Monday that they’d gone with an alleged fake[1. Lots of unfounded news reports about Bear staying in hotels overnight when filming Survivor Man and giving the impression he stayed "in the wild"] and listening to (almost) reasoned discussion, I think that he’s a great choice.
When Peter Duncan was chosen it was widely accepted that it was because he was famous. He was appointed to the position as the appointments committee looked up to him when they were children. What Scouting needs is a public face that today’s youth look up to.
Bear Grylls is exactly that person. At 34 he’s done the lot, SAS, youngest man to climb Everest and Born Survivor are just three of his many achievements.
People will say that he has no Scouting experience. That is untrue, he was a Scout before joining the army. But, why does he need to have Scouting experience? The role of Chief Scout in the 21st Century is not the decision maker. It’s the figure head. That’s why the Scout Association has also appointed its first Chief Commissioner.
Wayne Bulpitt will be involved with the decision and policy making. He, I believe, has the Scouting knowledge to make the correct decisions. Of course, only time will tell. One thing he has got going for him though is that he started Scouting in 1st Warsash Scout Group, simply the best group in the country!
Good luck Bear and Wayne, you have a massive task. All you have to do is NOT screw it up.
You can find more information about the new Chief Scout and Chief Commissioner at the following links:
Bear Grylls – Chief Scout
Wayne Bulpitt – UK Chief Commissioner
You can find Bear’s personal blog here.
I humbly await the nay-sayers that will run amock with this news – I don’t believe that Dave has had his five words yet, and judging from the popularity of my last post there will be some others. Remember to be nice in the comments!
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Well,. I agree with most oif this except one little thing. How is it possible for 1st Warsash to be the best group when, I never went there? I personally as a young perosn should look up to the chief bloke, and Bear Grylls be a good choice. If you forget about the rumours of his cheating and look and the definates, he is the perfect choice! So heres to a new chief scout (that I’ve actually heard of!!!)