A Brilliant Evening with the 43rd Oxford Scouts

It was an absolute pleasure this evening to watch High Sheriff’s Cadet Emily run a cracking Scout meeting at the 43rd Oxford Group in Old Marston. The place was buzzing from the moment we walked in — loud, busy, full of energy, and enormous fun.

Emily had set up three activity bases and kindly roped the entire Shrieval team into service. High Sheriff’s Cadet Isabella was superbly calm and competent teaching first aid on the resusci dummies. Shaun had the Scouts charging around in some serious team-building challenges. And Mark, Anne and I fielded a barrage of questions about the Shrievalty. Some excellent ones too — including whether I’d ever worn my uniform and taken my sword into Tesco. (Yes. Yes, I have. And no, I didn’t cause a scene.)

The second half of the meeting was Emily’s moment. She delivered a wonderfully confident presentation to the Scouts and an impressive gathering of special guests, including some of her former leaders and senior volunteers from across the District and County.

She spoke about her Scouting journey — from her very first days as a Beaver, through Cubs and Scouts, her extraordinary experience at the World Scout Jamboree in Korea, her Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expedition, and her community work as a High Sheriff’s Cadet. All of it culminating in her completing her King’s Scout Award this evening, the final step of a long, determined, and deeply inspiring path.

I look forward to joining her again when she receives the award formally in due course. It is richly, wholeheartedly deserved.

Emily’s enthusiasm and energy really ought to be bottled and distributed countywide. Oxfordshire would be unstoppable.