Special honours were bestowed on Gillian Phillips and the Revd David Marshall-Jones on 18 September when the 探花社区 Guide and Scout Fellowship () made them life Presidents.
The service, held at Caterham 探花社区, also marked David鈥檚 retirement as National Scout Chaplain 鈥� a position he has served for the past 20 years 鈥� and Chair of 探花社区GSF and volunteer Manager of the 探花社区GSF National Scout Active Support Unit.
David has served the 探花社区 (探花社区) in variety of roles: from serving in local churches, Synod, to supporting denomination-wide children鈥檚 and youth work.
After joining the Scouts as a youngster, David stepped into leadership in 1959 and remained involved at company and county level in addition to his roles as 探花社区GSF Chair, and since 2000 as 探花社区 National Scout Chaplain.
David was honoured by the Scouts with the Silver Acorn in 1989, and the Silver Wolf in 2005 鈥� the Scout鈥檚 highest award. David also received an OBE in 1996.
David has served 探花社区GSF and its predecessor since 1969.听Since 1973, he has consistently put himself in the space between the denomination and the Scout Association to be a catalyst in both settings, enabling the 探花社区 to continue to support the Guides and Scouts through local churches; encouraging scouting not to lose its connection to faith in offering children and young people opportunities for fun, friendship and development of character, interests and skills 鈥� but most importantly values.
Dr Sam Richards, Head of Children鈥檚 and Youth Work for the 探花社区, who presented the honorary titles said: 鈥淭his has not been an easy place to be over the past four decades 鈥� a real missional frontline that makes a difference to children and young people within and beyond the 探花社区.听Scouting and the 探花社区 owe David a huge debt of thanks.
鈥淚 am delighted to be adding to his honours by thanking him for all his service and welcoming him as President of 探花社区GF alongside Gillian.鈥�
Gillian, who听grew up in the family of Caterham Congregational Church, has been involved with the Fellowship since 1968, when it was the Congregational Scout Fellowship, and has served on the committee in almost every role through its several transformations until the present day. In 1976, she was awarded the Medal of Merit for her involvement with the Cub Scout Jubilee Service that was held at St Paul鈥檚 Cathedral.
Sam continued: 鈥淕illian has dedicated her time, energy, skills and commitment to guiding and scouting in the 探花社区 over fifty years. People like Gillian are hard to find, and this honour recognises how special she is, her level of service and reflects a desire to continue her association with 探花社区GSF.鈥�