Former Stewards student Kirstie Wright has achieved the highest honour in the scout movement; she has become a Queen’s Scout  and been presented with the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award.  Kirstie has spent 3 years completing a range of challenges to qualify for the awards, which included service to her community by helping lead an Explorer unit in Loughborough , undertaking a five-day residential project doing conservation work in Epping Forest ,  developing her existing talent by playing football  for her University and completing a five day canoe paddling expedition 60 miles along the Caledonian Canal  in Scotland. 

Kirstie, along with 300 other scouts who were presented with their award this year, took part in the St George’s Day Parade  of Queen’s Scouts at Windsor Castle on Sunday. The great honour of holding the St George’s Day Parade at Windsor Castle, followed by the National Scout Service in St George’s Chapel, was first granted in 1934 by His Majesty King George V. Since the Queen’s Scout Award was instigated , over 100,000 of these awards have been presented to young men and women for outstanding personal achievements and service to their local communities. The Queen’s Scouts paraded from the Royal Mews, through St George’s Gate into the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle and assembled in ranks on the lawn. This year The Queen was represented by Hon Mary Bayliss, Lord Lieutenant of the Royal County of Berkshire, who along with Chief Scout, Lt Cdr (Hon) Bear Grylls RN and Chief Executive  Mr D. M. Twine reviewed the Queen’s Scouts, speaking to each one individually and congratulating them on their achievements. Afterwards the Queen’s Scouts marched to St Georges Chapel for the National Scout Service.

 Kirstie Wright : ‘Completing my Queen’s Scout Award was one of the proudest moments of my life and being able to parade at Windsor Castle was the icing on the cake. It was a long journey that lasted three years but it was a rewarding experience and I would encourage every scout to get involved and achieve the award. Scouting has given me the opportunity to learn new skills and try many new and exciting activities.’

 Chief Scout Bear Grylls said: ‘ All these young people have lived the adventure of a lifetime to achieve their Queen’s Scout Awards, and I admire that spirit so much. They are huge inspirations to the other 500,000 scouts in the UK and I am so pleased that Scouting  has honoured them today. They are amazing.’

 Kirstie at this present time is reading Accounts and Financial Management at Loughborough University with a view to becoming a Chartered Accountant.