A lifetime of dedication to Scouting has been recognised with an extraordinary award for Isle of Wight couple Val and Don Sambrook, who have each clocked up an astonishing 70 years of service.
The pair, aged 89 and 90, were presented with their awards at the recent Isle of Wight Scouts AGM by Lord Lieutenant Susie Sheldon and High Sheriff Jacqueline Gazzard – both Scout Champions. Each received a certificate alongside a heartfelt message of congratulations from the UK’s Chief Scout, Dwayne Fields.
Dwayne said:
“Huge congratulations on reaching the magnificent milestone of 70 years’ service to Scouting. Both of you are shining lights for our movement, selflessly supporting both volunteers and young people throughout this time. Both of you truly live your promise to help other people,”
Val and Don began their Scouting journeys in Birmingham, where Don’s father and uncles were also involved. Don recalls helping to pull a disused canal boat by hand into Birmingham’s basin to be converted into a floating Scout headquarters – a memory that still stands out decades later.
The couple married in 1957 in what was dubbed the “Jamboree wedding of the year” by local press, with the entire wedding party in Scouting uniform. That same year, the 9th World Scout Jamboree was held in Sutton Coldfield.
After moving to the Isle of Wight in 1967, Val became involved with the 1st Sandown Sea Scouts and went on to establish the Island’s first Beaver Colony in Sandown. Don also supported the group and later worked with Venture Scouts. Together, they have remained at the heart of Island Scouting for more than 5 decades.
Among their fondest memories is a 1963 trip when they took 24 inner-city young people by boat to Norway for a 14-day camp. Val and Don recall one youngster, who had only ever seen the local canal, asking: “Where’s the other side?” upon first seeing the open sea. Their then 3-year-old son Mitchell accompanied them and still remembers “mountains and sky” as his first childhood memory.
Congratulations! in a world where nothing seems to last more than 10 minutes! it’s lovely to see long and dedicated service : )