Generations of current and former scouts arrived en masse on Wednesday to celebrate Telstar International Scout Group’s 40th anniversary here in Luxembourg. As the only English speaking scouting group in the Grand Duchy, they are quite a diverse group with 229 people of 27 different nationalities.

The evening was hosted at the official residence of UK ambassador Alice Walpole, who since her arrival here three and a half years ago has been the patron of British scouting in Luxembourg.

A “real fan of scouting”, Walpole stated that she wants to be more than just a figurehead and so tries to get involved as much as she can, participating in and hosting several events in the past couple of years. “Scouting is a great activity in a world where young people don’t have an opportunity to get out as much, an opportunity to serve their community and, for some children, to feel part of a British community,” she said on Wednesday.

Chris Garratt, who was Telstar’s Luxembourg group scout leader from 2003 until last summer, told Delano during the reception that he has been involved in scouting since the age of 9 and still likes to be part of it, explaining “once you’re in, you’re hooked, it’s for life”.

Peter Dawes, the area commissioner responsible for all Telstar scout groups outside of the UK--from Luxembourg to China and Dubai--said he also is a “diehard scout”. “I love it, which is why I do it. As someone who has been through scouting from a young age, seeing the next generation come through is something that is very rewarding.”

The Luxembourg Telstar group is quite unique compared to all other British scouting groups, not only in the Grand Duchy but, indeed, the rest of the world. This is because it is the only Telstar group that does not currently have a home, a base of operations of its own. This is a “top priority”, current president Rani Roloff said during the ceremony.

In her view, the group manages to “get the best out of two scouting cultures”, being affiliated with FNEL (the National Scouting Federation of Luxembourg) as well as the British Scout Association.

“Expedition Belt” awards

As well as a being a celebration of their 40th anniversary, another celebration took place within the event, which was six scouts being awarded their “Expedition Belt” award, the first time it has happened in the Luxembourg group’s four decade history.

The experience entails the young scouts being completely self-sufficient. They have to organise, plan and carry out their own 10 day expedition, which this time was in the Czech Republic, and at the same time learn something about the place they were visiting.

Scout leaders said the trip was a success with the young men and women adapting to the task on hand expertly whilst learning about communism in the Czech Republic and the effect it still has today.

Telstar leaders said it welcomes anyone interested in joining the scouts, having fun outdoors and to being part of their community.