County leader’s delight at success of big parade by town’s Scouts

SCOUTING’S county leader was full of praise during his first visit to an annual parade in Bognor Regis.

Robert Sawyer took the salute during the St George’s Day parade as some 350 young people marched through the town centre.

He said: “This is the first time I have been to this parade and I found it very good. I thought the parade was brilliant. The turnout was really amazing and the weather has been good as well.

“This shows a lot of commitment by the young people. It’s good to see so many of them turn out and having fun.

“The service was really good and they were enjoying themselves.”

Mr Sawyer was appointed to his role as the movement’s county commissioner earlier this year. He paid tribute to the work of the retiring Bognor Regis district commissioner, Ally Dodd.

“She should be very proud of how it has gone,” he said. “The district has grown to over 600 people, which is amazing and it’s going to be about finding space for so many of them in the future.

“The numbers in this district are growing and growing and they are the largest they have been for some time.”

The district has more than 600 members in Scouts, Beavers, Cubs and Explorers to lose its status of several years as the smallest in the county.

So many were in the parade it filled the length of the High Street between the London Road precinct and Clarence Road on the way to and from Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church where a service was held.

A series of new Scouts made their pledge and presentations were made during the event.

Taking part in the parade on Sunday for the first time were the Jaguar Air Explorers of the Bognor Regis district.

Leader Philip Penberthy and his assistant, Emma Thurston, were joined by 12 of their 16 members.

Philip said: “It was a proud moment for the young men and women to take part with everyone else in Scouting.”

The Explorers were formed last January for those aged 14-18 with an aviation interest alongside traditional Scouting activities like camping and earning badges.

“I’m delighted with the success of the Jaguars so far,” said Philip, a former leader with the 1st South Bersted Air Scouts.

“We started the Jaguars to give members of the 1st South Bersted Air Scouts the chance to carry on if they wanted to.

“We had land Explorers and sea Explorers but none for the air. I’m hoping to get the aviation side of things going in the next few months.

“It would be good to get some gliding in at some point. I am also hoping to link up with the town’s Air Training Cadets.”

The parade began in the London Road car park and marched to the precinct and along the High Street and followed the reverse route to end in the London Road car park.

As well as Mr Sawyer, dignitaries present outside the Royal Mail collection point for the march past included the town’s MP, Nick Gibb, its town mayor, Cllr Pat Dillon, and Cllr Stephen Haymes, Arun District Council’s chairman.

Mrs Dodd was given a rousing send-off by the assembled young people before she dismissed them from the parade to end her five years in the role.

“It’s been very emotional and I’ve shed a few tears,” she said. “But it’s been a fabulous afternoon and the turnout has been spectacular.

“There must have been 300-350 in the parade and we have outgrown the church. We had to sit the young people in the side aisles and bring in extra chairs. Not many parents were able to come in either.

“It’s so nice the young people want to come out and march through the town.

“I think Scouting has lost the ‘bad’ image it had for a long time and it’s now realised how much young people can get out of it.

“The activities on offer are incredible and there is so much going on.”

Caleb Slingo, ten, of 1st Bognor Regis Scouts, carried its standard for the first time during the parade.

“I know St George was a knight who killed dragons and is the patron saint of England,” he said.

“This is the fourth parade I’ve taken part in.

“I was in the colour party last year standing next to the standard bearer but this was my first time as the standard bearer.

“It was fun but it was heavy and I was a bit nervous. I’ve been in Scouting for four years and I like everything about it, including going on camps.”