MALCOLM and Cathy Withall received their long service awards for volunteering for 1st Holsworthy Scouts on Wednesday, July 13, at the 1st Holsworthy Scout Group annual meeting.

Malcolm was awarded for his 25th year serving the Holsworthy Scout Group and Cathy for her 15th year.

Aaron Squirrel, Beaver Scout, was heard asking Malcolm if he had really done 25 years and was amazed when Malcolm said he had.

Heather Prouse, chairperson, thanked them both for their dedication and hard work.

Cathy said: “It’s 15 years since I became a leader with 1st Holsworthy Scouts, I was previously involved as a Scout and Venture Scout with 2nd Bideford Scouts and one of the first girls in Scouting in the area.

“I met my husband, Malcolm, through Scouts (he was already a leader with 1st Holsworthy) and we’ve been married for 13 years. I’d like to thank the other leaders and helpers, past and present, who have supported us both, and the young people we’ve seen develop and mature in scouting.”

Scouting offers a wide range of opportunities, as Cathy explained: “We’ve done a lot, from international camps with thousands of people attending, to survival camps with half a dozen Scouts.

“We’ve been abseiling, caving, gliding, sea fishing, had sleepless nights and early mornings and sometime the two have blended in the middle!

“Some of the most memorable times of my life have happened on scouting events, we’ve met scouts from as far away as Iceland and Australia, and made a lot of friends.”

Both Cathy and Malcolm were delighted to have been presented with the award, although Cathy added: “The awards aren’t really important, except that I hope it encourages other adults to volunteer their time to help young people to reach their full potential.

“You don’t need any special skills or training, just a willingness to join in and be part of the biggest family in the world — over 25-million Scouts worldwide.”