A Barrow man is one of 120 Scouts from across the UK supporting the thousands of people paying their respects to the Queen in London.
Liam Edgley, 21, is Cumbria’s Queen Scout and has been volunteering to help at the queue to see the Queen lying in state.
Liam recently completed his Queen’s Scout Award, The award – now the King’s Scout Award – is the highest honour in scouting and awarded for service to others and skills development.
The honour is achieved by young people aged between 16 and 25 who have completed a range of challenges, which includes service to their community, completing an expedition in wild country, undertaking a five-day residential project in a new environment, developing an existing talent, or learning some new skills to build on what they have already learnt in the Scouts.
After being selected to represent Cumbria, Liam who had been camping in Lancashire the weekend before had to arrange time off work before heading down to London to support Operation Feather.
Arriving at the national Scout Headquarters at Gilwell Park on Tuesday afternoon, the volunteers were briefed and shown their accommodation. They spent the rest of the afternoon getting to know each other, sharing a meal before turning in for an early night before the long day ahead.
Liam was part of the first team which headed into central London for the first shift at 5am on Wednesday, and has continued on early shift all week, with teams on duty 24 hours a day.
The teams were split up between three sites – the Tate Britain Art Gallery to help visitors with accessibility needs, Archbishop’s Park to help with flowers and visitors’ bag drops, and Victoria Tower Gardens to help with the growing queue of mourners.
Liam said: “I’m proud and honoured to be supporting the nation during its period of national mourning. Every Scout pledges to do their duty, and there is no greater duty than this.”
Liam is a Scout Network member in South West Lakes District and an assistant Cub Scout Leader at 1st Barrow-in-Furness Scout Group.
He joined the movement as a Beaver aged seven, progressing through Cubs, Scouts, Explorers and Young Leaders.
Liam, who attended the World Scout Jamboree in North America in 2019, is now leading the Cumbria Contingent to the next World Jamboree in South Korea in 2023.
Chief Scout Bear Grylls OBE said: “We will remember her, and give thanks for her kindness, her service, and the unwavering support she showed our movement over many decades,” he stated.
“She was truly a friend to Scouts everywhere. For 70 years, The Queen has stood at our side, encouraging our volunteers and inspiring our young people to learn new skills, help others and shine brightly.
“Her sense of duty was an outstanding example to every single Scout. On behalf of every Scout, we thank The Queen for her service. We will never forget her.”
Cumbria Scouts county commissioner, Eddie Ward said: “We’re full of pride to be involved in this special occasion and to do our final duty to The Queen. A massive thank you to Liam for helping with the lying in state and representing Cumbria so well.”
