A Night with 1st Langford Village Cubs

This evening brought a particular joy, and a trip down memory lane, with a visit to the 1st Langford Village Cubs. It was working with Cubs in Bristol in the early 1980s, as service for my Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award, that set me on the path of more than 40 years of volunteering with Scouting, and my first career as a teacher.

The pack is in brilliant hands under the leadership of Ellie Thompson, Rosie, and two excellent young leaders. The Cubs' energy, curiosity and teamwork made the evening a real pleasure.

I found myself fielding questions about the role of the High Sheriff – whether I’d met the King and the late Queen, and why on earth I wear the uniform. We then shifted into a lively conversation about the children’s aspirations for the future of Oxfordshire.

• For a greener Oxfordshire, there were some imaginative ideas, including putting a target at the back of rubbish bins so that people could enjoy aiming their litter.

• For a fairer Oxfordshire, the Cubs suggested that every school should have an excellent playground – they were acutely aware of inequity.

• For a more connected Oxfordshire, there was strong support for better internet (though whether they meant faster, cheaper, or more widespread broadband wasn’t entirely clear!).

• And for a healthier Oxfordshire, they wanted to see smoking and vaping severely limited.

It was wonderful to see the Cubs working so well together. They’re clearly used to the balance of mixed age groups in their Sixes – learning, supporting, and laughing alongside each other.

A memorable evening, with some very big ideas from some very thoughtful young people.