We are excited to announce that Michael Cranfield has recently joined the 14-25 team as the Top Awards Co-ordinator. Micheal will be supporting those working towards their
top awards including their Queen Scout Award, Scouts of the World Award and Explorer Belt,
We caught up with Micheal to find out a little more about him.
Hi Micheal, tell us a little bit about yourself
I have lived and Scouted in Hitchin all my life, married to Sara with son Timothy who is currently a post grad student in Newcastle. I am currently working as Clinical Director for an employee owned social enterprise, which I established in 2011, providing dental care for people with additional needs. When not Scouting I enjoy church bellringing, woodwork, walking and narrowboat holidays.
What is your scouting background?
I joined Scouting as a cub (Beavers didn’t exist then) and worked my way up through Scouts, Senior Scouts/ Venture Scouts. I achieved Leaping Wolf in cubs, First Class and All Round Cords in Scouts, through to Gold D of E and the Queens’s Scout Award in Venture Scouts. Then becoming a Scout Leader, an Explorer Scout Leader and now in addition Top Awards Coordinator.
What is your role entail?
Promote the Queen’s Scout and Scouts of the World Awards to Explorers and Network members and provide guidance to Leaders and Supporters to support members achieve the awards.
What motivated you to want to apply for the role?
Wanting to help Scouts gain the recognition that they deserve for achieving so much through Scouting.
What are the top 3 things you want to achieve in the role?
1. Improve the support that Leaders and Supporters can give to Explorers and Network members with these awards.
2. Increase the number of these awards that are achieved in Hertfordshire each year.
3, To re-establish ‘recognition’ for these top awards and hold QSA events.
Camp breakfast! What’s your favourite?
Porridge, then bacon and egg!
Best camp you have ever been on?
Cycling through Holland, visiting Amsterdam, windmills at Kinderdijk, Museums in Utrecht,
Tea or Coffee (and how do you take it?)
Coffee, a flat white
Your favourite scout memory
Winning Philips national scout tape recording competition and having a trip to Holland by Philips staying with other Scouts. (It was my first flight in an aeroplane!)
Tell us a little known fact about yourself.
I have a passion for Land Rovers and have a 1968 Series 2A Station Wagon with a rare 6 cylinder engine, originally belonging to my father
If you could meet anyone from the past and have a sit down around the camp fire with them who would it be
Stan Rainbow, my old Scout Leader and talk about how scouting has changed in tandem with life.
Proudest moment in scouting
Seeing my son gain his Queen’s Scout Award.
What’s the highest award you have received and what was it for?
Bar to the Medal of Merit for outstanding service to scouting.
And finally, whats your favourite campfire song
Just plant a watermelon seed upon my grave!
Comments