Farah Lodhi being congratulated by the County Commissioner, Neil Findlay

Farah Lodhi has only been helping to run a new Beaver Scout troop in Purley for a couple of months. But with the help of some Scout training, she has already been awarded with a special commendation medal from the Chief Scout, Bear Grylls, after her quick-thinking helped to safe the life of a woman who had collapsed on the street.

Lodhi helps to run the 30th Purley (Masjid) Scout Group, which was established in September.

Lodhi had attended a Scout-run first aid training session one Sunday in September, and the very next day was flagged down in her car and asked to help a woman, who was unconscious on the pavement and not breathing.

Lodhi checked for vital signs and commenced with CPR, until the ambulance crew paramedics arrived a considerable time later.

The paramedics reckoned that without Lodhi’s quick thinking, the positive result achieved would not have been possible. Her patient that evening is understood to have made a full recovery.

In one of his last formal duties as Croydon’s District Commissioner, Steve French presented Lodhi with the Chief Scout’s Commendation for Meritorious Conduct medal.

Greg Cook: Croydon’s new District Commissioner

The presentation took place at a District Networking event held in the Great Hall at Royal Russell School earlier this month, where Greg Cook was officially invested as the new District Commissioner for Croydon Scouting.

Cook takes over in January, replacing French, who is standing down after serving two five-year terms in the role.

Cook has held a number of leadership roles in the former Purley Scout District, receiving his 25-year service award in June 2000 and awarded the Medal of Merit in 2003.

The Scouts certainly made their mark at Royal Russell School on the night

At his investiture, Cook spoke of the need for all adults involved in local Scouting from Leaders to executive members and supporters to enjoy what they do and to ensure that together we offer the young people the very best Scouting experience.

The event was attended by more than 150 members from Croydon Scouting and guests, including Sarah Jones MP, councillors and local community and business heads.

Guests arriving to Royal Russell were greeted by a 20-foot Croydon Scouting logo projected on to the tower of the school’s chapel.

In her speech, Jones talked about the positive impact of Scouting and other youth organisations and the importance of building close working relationships with the local authority and the various communities in the borough.

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