Bear Grylls, the Chief Scout, flew in to Croydon yesterday on the final leg of a tour of Scouting organisations around the country.

Chief Scout Bear Grylls, third left, and Steve Backshall, right, helping Croydon cubs and scouts on their visit yesterday

The television adventurer arrived by helicopter at Pinewood Scout Centre in Shirley where he met cubs taking part in their Silver Chief Scout Award Activity Day and scouts taking part in a survival weekend, as well as the various volunteer organisers.

Although Scouting organisations have more volunteers registered with them than the combined workforces of the BBC and McDonalds, they still have a shortage of adult volunteers to run their activities at present; there is a waiting list of more than 400 youngsters who want to be Cubs or Scouts in this part of London.

“I met a lot of inspiring young people who play a positive part in the adventure that Scouting provides,” Grylls said of his visit.

“One of my main objectives for the weekend was to encourage more adults to volunteer with the Scouts to ensure that all young people have the opportunity to join in the adventure that Scouting offers to all its participants. I’m so proud to be Chief Scout and it’s always humbling to see at first-hand the adventures that our members are taking part in and their enthusiasm in making a difference.”

Accompanying Grylls on the visit was naturalist Steve Backshall, who has also featured regularly on television wildlife programmes.

Steve French, the Croydon district commissioner, said, “Our young people were really excited about meeting Bear Grylls and Steve Backshall and haven’t stopped talking about it.

“Volunteering as a leader is easily one of the best things I’ve ever done. There’s nothing more fulfilling than helping young people get the most out of life. Volunteering with the Scouts has provided me with an opportunity to give something back to the community, while developing lots of transferable skills that I can use in other areas of my life. It has been easy to commit to Scouting as the movement allows volunteers to be flexible around their other commitments and to volunteer part-time as well as full-time.”

• For more information about how to join or volunteer with the local Scouts, and for more images from Bear Grylls’ visit to Pinewood Activity Centre, click here

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  Coming to Croydon

  • Thornton Heath local election hustings, May 14
  • Norwood Society Talk: West Norwood – a place of change, May 15
  • David Lean Cinema: The Invisible Woman, May 15
  • Broad Green local election hustings, May 15
  • Coulsdon West local election hustings, May 16
  • Mrs McMoon and Signor Baffo at Stanley Halls, May 17
  • Croydon RFC charity memorial day, May 17
  • Warehouse International Palywriting Festival, May 17-18
  • Riverside Animal Centre Open Day, May 18
  • Coulsdon East local election hustings, May 19
  • St Giles’ primary school open morning, May 21
  • David Lean Cinema: The Rocket, May 22
  • Greek Myths: stories and mask-making, May 27
  • Howard Marks: Scholar, Smuggler, Prisoner, Scribe, May 29
  • David Lean Cinema: Dallas Buyers Club, May 29
  • Tales from Ancient Greece, Upper Norwood Library, May 29
  • Upper Norwood Library Book Club, May 31
  • Stitch Pitch quilting workshop, Upper Norwood Library, June 2
  • Croydon Tech City “summit”, June 6
  • Lakes Playground Action Group fun day, June 14
  • Elm Tree Cottage garden open day, June 15
  • Norwood Society Talk: The Concrete Church, June 19
  • Classic Car Show at Purley Rotary Fields, June 22
  • Crystal Palace Overground Festival, June 26-29
  • South Norwood Allotments open day, June 28
  • Elm Tree Cottage garden open day, Aug 10
  • Norwood Society Talk: War Memorials, Sep 18
  • Norwood Society Talk: From Fire Station to Theatre, Oct 16
  • Norwood Society Talk: Lambeth’s Archives, Nov 20

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