Ron Shewry awarded for outstanding services to Scouting

Val Butcher and Ron Shewry

Ron Shewry received the Silver Acorn award for outstanding services to Scouting at Kidlington Scout Group's AGM on 13th May.

Assistant County Commissioner - Adult Support, Val Butcher, presented the award, which can only be given to those who have completed at least 20 years of specially distinguished service. Her presentation speech is below.

"Ron's Scouting career began in November 1974 when he joined 33 Oxford (Kidlington) Scout Group
as Assistant Sea Scout Leader. A year later he became Leader of the Sea Scout troop, and held that
role until 1997. During that time, he took his Scouts on many adventurous activities including
canoeing, hiking, hill climbing and skiing. He was also the County's adviser on water activities and hill walking.

Ron set up links with Scouts in Oxford's twin city of Leiden in The Netherlands and arranged
exchange trips between the Kidlington and Dutch Scout groups over many years.

His connection with the Oxford Leiden link and his boating skills once saw Ron being asked to skipper a sailing boat shaped like a Dutch clog down the Thames to promote Anglo Dutch relationships!

(L-R) Group Chairman Margaret Boggs, Group Scout Leader Andrew Innes, Val Butcher, Ron Shewry and District Commissioner Anthony Morris

After taking a small break, Ron became Group Scout Leader of Kidlington Scout Group, and held that post until 2004 when he gave up his uniform and joined the Group Executive Committee as Group Administrator.

In addition to this role, Ron has been Group Deputy Chairman since 2013.

Ron's work with the Group has been, and still is, invaluable and this award is richly deserved."