Goring Scout Master awarded Silver Wolf medal

Highest honour in movement bestowed on Goring Scout Master

A GORING Scout Master who has been prepared for more than 50 years has received the movement's highest service award.

David Cooksley, group scout master at 2nd Goring and Streatley Scout Group and UK chief commissioner for the British Boy Scout and British Girl Scout Association was presented with the Silver Wolf Award at the Scout Group's St George's Day Parade at St Thomas' church in Goring for “services of the most exceptional character.”

The highly-valued award is an unrestricted gift of the Chief Scout, and was first granted to Lord Baden-Powell in 1932.

He said he was “overwhelmed” to receive such a prestigious honour.

“The first time it was awarded was to Lord Baden-Powell so it was quite an achievement,” he said.

“I see it as my duty to give back to society what I took out as a child. I had a very good Scout Master when I started and I always tried to out do his very-high standards.”

Next year 67-year- old Mr Cooksley celebrates his 50th year as a Scout Master, and he said he has no intention of slowing down.

“Still going strong, it keeps me young. We are going cycling around the Isle of Man shortly, you have to be fit to stay in this game.”

Mr Cooksley has run the 2nd Goring and Streatley Group since he formed it in 1982, having joined the 1st Goring Wolf Cubs aged seven.

He moved up to the senior Scout group, and following the retirement of the Scout Master, started running it and the Cub group himself aged just 17 so as to stave off closure of both.

Too young to be issued with a leader's warrant, he ran the group until his 18th birthday when he was given an assistant Scout Master's warrant, after which he controlled the group almost single-handedly for more than 10 years.

After a period studying architecture, Mr Cooksley returned to Scouting and formed the 2nd Goring and Streatley group in 1982.

Next year the group will celebrate it's 30th anniversary.

The award is another honour for a family who have dedicated their lives to Scouting.

Mr Cooksley's wife Kathleen, the group's lady beaver leader, and daughter Karen Wake, also received long-service awards.

Mrs Cooksley has served as leader for 20 years and Mrs Wake has been group leader for 22 years from the age of 18.