Chief Scout (The Scout Association)

Head of The Scout Association

The Scout Association's Chief Scout is the head of its youth programmes. The role is now merely a nominal and titular ceremonial figurehead. The association's present Chief Scout is the British adventurer and TV presenter Bear Grylls.

## History[edit]

Robert Baden-Powell made himself Chief Scout of his own Scouting organisation, The Boy Scouts Association. Following his death, the association appointed its Chief Scouts of the British Empire, then of the British Commonwealth and Empire, then of the Commonwealth and, since 1972, of the United Kingdom and Overseas Territories.

### Association’s Chief Scouts of the British Empire and Commonwealth[edit]

1. Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, died 8 January 1941
2. Arthur Somers-Cocks, 6th Baron Somers, March 1942, The Boy Scouts Association's Chief Scout of the British Empire
3. Thomas Corbett, 2nd Baron Rowallan, April 1945, The Boy Scouts Association's Chief Scout of the British Commonwealth and Empire
4. Sir Charles Maclean, later Lord Maclean, September 1959, The Boy Scouts Association's Chief Scout of the Commonwealth. He resigned as The Scout Association's Chief Scout of the UK in September 1971, but continued as The Scout Association's Chief Scout of the Commonwealth until August 1975.

### Association’s Chief Scouts of the United Kingdom and overseas territories[edit]

1. Sir William Gladstone, July 1972
2. Major-General Michael J. H. Walsh, February 1982
3. Sir Garth Morrison, May 1988
4. George Purdy, March 1996
5. Peter Duncan, 5 September 2004[1]
6. Bear Grylls, 11 July 2009[2]

## Appointment[edit]

The association's first Chief Scout, Robert Baden-Powell made himself the Chief Scout and chairman for life. The association's charter and by-laws made no provision for his removal, retirement or the appointment of a successor in either role. The association's subsequent Chief Scouts have been appointed by its council, which council elects its own members including office bearers, while others are appointed by the board of trustees (formerly committee of the council), with others nominated as representatives from councils around the United Kingdom (the majority of whose members are appointed by the board or headquarters) and overseas branches controlled by headquarters.[3]

## Changed role[edit]

Once the powerful leader of the association, the role of the association's Chief Scout was fundamentally diminished when the holder ceased to also be chairman of the Committee of the Council (now Board of Trustees) following Baden-Powell's death in 1941. Baden-Powell had made himself Chief Scout and chairman for life but, upon his death, the committee determined that it had the power to appoint subsequent Chief Scouts and chairmen. Not only were the roles separated but the committee assumed power over the roles. The role was further diminished with appointments of Chief Scouts for limited terms and diminished further still in 2009 with the functions split with the appointment of a UK Chief Commissioner (Deputy Chief Scout).[4] The UK Chief Commissioner took over most of the administrative duties and now heads the adult leaders and administrators of the association. Reducing the capacity of the Chief Scout to make decisions on their own, a committee was appointed to work alongside them. Working alongside the association Chief Scout's Committee, the association's Chief Scout is nominally responsible for the appointment of County Commissioners and County Presidents,[5] but this is merely ceremonially formal. The Scout Association's Chief Scout is no longer a voting member of its Board of Trustees. The association's Chief Scout is now merely an iconic figurehead for publicity promotion of the association's youth programmes.

## Awards[edit]

Each section of The Scout Association has an award nominally given on behalf of the association's Chief Scout; in Squirrels, the award is the Chief Scout's Acorn Award, in Beavers, the award is the Chief Scout's Bronze Award, in Cubs it is the Chief Scout's Silver Award, in Scouts it is the Chief Scout's Gold Award and in Explorers, the Chief Scout's Platinum and Diamond Awards. The only award higher than this is the King's Scout Award.[6]

## See also[edit]

* Scouting portal

* Silver Wolf Award
* Chief Scout (Scouting Ireland)

## References[edit]

1. ^ "The Chief Scout - Peter Duncan". The Scout Association. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
2. ^ "Bear Grylls announced as new Chief Scout" (Press release). The Scout Association. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
3. ^ "The Council of the Scout Association". POR: Chapter 6: The Structure of the Headquarters of The Scout Association. Archived from the original on 14 April 2009. Retrieved 17 January 2009.
4. ^ "Bear Grylls announced as new Chief Scout". The Scout Association. 17 May 2009. Retrieved 22 October 2011. "Working in partnership with Bear will be Scouting volunteer Wayne Bulpitt, who takes on the new role of UK Chief Commissioner."
5. ^ "The Chief Scout's Committee". POR: Chapter 6: The Structure of the Headquarters of The Scout Association. Archived from the original on 14 April 2009. Retrieved 17 January 2009.
6. ^ "Awards, Decorations and Recognition of Service". Badges. Archived from the original on 20 August 2010. Retrieved 17 January 2009.

## External links[edit]

* Meet the Chiefs
* The Passing Years – Milestones in the progress of Scouting.

* v
* t
* e

The Scout Association

Organisation

| For young children|

* Squirrel Scouts
* Beaver Scouts
* Cub Scouts

|

For adolescents|

* Scouts
* Sea Scouts
* Air Scouts
* Explorer Scouts
* Young Leaders

For adults|

* Scout Network
* Scout Active Support

Other|

* Scout Counties
* National Scout and Guide Symphony Orchestra
* Scoutlink Extension Scouting

Advancement and recognition

* Programme, badges and awards
* Cornwell Scout Badge
* Queen's Scout
* Silver Wolf Award

Notable people

* Chief Scout
* Robert Baden-Powell
* Percy Everett
* Francis Gidney
* J. S. Wilson
* Arthur Somers-Cocks, 6th Baron Somers
* Thomas Corbett, 2nd Baron Rowallan
* John Thurman
* Charles Maclean, Baron Maclean
* Sir William Gladstone, 7th Baronet
* Major General Michael Walsh
* Garth Morrison
* George Purdy
* Peter Duncan
* Bear Grylls

Scout Adventures and National places

* Scout Adventures
* Baden-Powell House
* Brownsea Island
* Downe Scout Activity Centre
* Gilwell Park
* Youlbury Scout Activity Centre

Countries, regions and territories

| England|

* East Midlands
* East of England
* Greater London
* North East England
* North West England
* South East England
* South West England
* West Midlands
* Yorkshire and the Humber

|

Scotland|

Scouting in Scotland

Northern Ireland|

Scouting in Northern Ireland

Wales|

Scouting in Wales

Crown Dependencies|

* Guernsey
* Jersey
* Isle of Man

Overseas Territories|

* Anguilla
* Bermuda
* Cayman Islands
* Falkland Islands
* Gibraltar
* Montserrat
* Saint Helena and Ascension Island
* Turks and Caicos Islands
* British Virgin Islands

Sovereign countries|

* Saint Kitts and Nevis
* Tonga
* Tuvalu
* Vanuatu

* v
* t
* e

Scouting and Guiding topics

Movement|

* Scouting
* Scouting for Boys
* Scouting Round the World
* Scout method
* Scout Law
* Scout Promise
* Scout Motto
* Wood Badge
* Girl Guides
* Jamboree
* World Scout Jamboree
* World Scout Moot
* Scout Leader
* Non-aligned organisations
* Scouting controversy and conflict
* Traditional Scouting
* Scouting in popular culture
* List of Scouts
* List of highest awards in Scouting

Sections|

* Age groups in Scouting and Guiding
* Beavers
* Cub Scout
* Scout
* Venture Scout
* Rover Scout
* Rainbow Guides
* Brownie Guides
* Girl Guides
* Ranger Guides
* Air Scouts
* Extension Scouting
* Lone Scouts
* Lone Guides
* Sea Scout

Pioneers|

* Robert Baden-Powell
* Olave Baden-Powell
* Agnes Baden-Powell
* Daniel Carter Beard
* Frederick Russell Burnham
* Lawrie Dring
* Charles Eastman
* Bear Grylls
* William Hillcourt
* László Nagy
* Ernest Thompson Seton
* Jacques Sevin
* Francis Vane
* J. S. Wilson

Places|

* Baden-Powell House
* Brownsea Island
* Edith Macy Conference Center
* Foxlease
* Gilwell Park
* Kandersteg
* Pax Hill
* Philmont
* Scouting memorials
* Baden-Powell grave
* Scouting museums
* WAGGGS World Centres
* Kusafiri
* Nuestra Cabaña
* Our Chalet
* Pax Lodge
* Sangam

International
organisations|

* Confederation of European Scouts
* International Catholic Conference of Scouting
* International Union of Guides and Scouts of Europe
* International Scout and Guide Fellowship
* Order of World Scouts
* World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
* World Federation of Independent Scouts
* World Organization of Independent Scouts
* World Organization of the Scout Movement

Other|

* B-P's footprint
* Ging Gang Goolie
* International Scouting Collectors Association
* Oldest Scout groups
* Outdoor education
* Leave No Trace
* Religion in Scouting
* Scout handshake
* Scout prayers
* Scout sign and salute
* Scout Spirit
* Scouting memorabilia collecting
* The Handbook for Girl Guides
* The Hackney Scout Song Book
* The Jungle Book and Scouting
* The Wolf Cub's Handbook
* SPICES
* A Boy Scout Around the World
* World Scout Emblem

* Scouting portal

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