Queen’s Scout Awards 1967
from School Archives
thanks to John Davey and Trevor Burrows for helping with this item
Gerwyn Davies and Trevor Burrows (ABGS 1965–67) were in 8th Aberdare Scout
Troop (Toc-H);
whilst Denis Birdsall (ABGS 1960–67), Howard Davies* (ABGS 1960–68) and
Barrie Griffiths (ABGS 1960–67) were in the ABGS 9th Aberdare troop.
We don’t know what happened to these boys, except for Denis Birdsall who became
a headmaster and after that a school inspector in the Midlands. He died suddenly in
December 2013, aged 65.
Other former pupils mentioned in the caption are G. Spencer Bird (1912–15)
and John Davey (1951–58)
*Howard Davies was the son of the biology master Mr D.D. Davies.
A transcript of the caption
Queen’s Scout badges were awarded at the annual meeting of the Aberdare and
Mountain Ash Scouts Association last week.
The Valley Commissioner, Mr. Phil Griffiths, who was partnered by the Association’s
President, Mr. G. Spencer Bird, presented Queen’s Scout badges to Denis Birdsall
(Gadlys), Howard Davies (Aberaman), Barrie Griffiths (Aberdare), Trevor Burrows (Penywaun),
and Gerwyn Davies (Cwmbach).
In addition, Howard Davies was presented with a Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award Certificate
by Mr. Spencer Bird.
Gerwyn Davies is an apprentice at the A.B. Metal Products factory and the other
four recipients are Aberdare Boys’
Grammar School pupils, each of them sitting the General Certificate of
Education ‘A’ Level examination this year, and hope to go to training college
or university in the autumn.
Responsible for training the five lads to Queen Scout standard — something
not easily achieved — was Assistant District Commissioner John Davey, who said
that these were the first members of the Aberdare District Senior Scout Troop to receive
the Queen Scout award.
With the new-form Venture Scouting commencing in October the Association hoped to
see more Aberdare boys becoming Queen’s Scouts – an award signifying a quality
of character which really stood for something when young men were seeking entry into
college or looking for worthwhile jobs.
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