The highest honour in Scouting, The Silver Wolf Award, is to be given to a Selkirk man, for ‘services of the most exceptional nature’.
Graham Coulson, 60, has been involved with Scouting in the town since the age of eight, and has been an adult leader for 44 years. He is currently a Cub Scout leader and acting group Scout leader at Selkirk.
Over the years, Graham has also represented the UK association at European level and worked for seven years as part of a team modernising Scouting in the UK.
“I was absolutely taken aback when the letter came. I’m really chuffed to get it,” he said.
Isabel McNab, regional commissioner for south east Scotland, said: “Graham has been involved in Scouting since boyhood and his commitment to the highest ideals of the movement continue.
“Graham is a popular and a very highly respected member of the Scout movement and a worthy recipient of the highest award in Scouting, the Silver Wolf.”
However, Graham said the award really recognised a team effort, because without the support of numerous people he would not have been able to fulfil his national roles.
He told us: “I didn’t go into Scouting to be rewarded.
“At the end of the day the best reward is that the young people come back week after week because they are enjoying what they are doing.”
Despite his national positions, Graham said he was always prepared to give them up to concentrate on the local group if he had to.
He explained: “I’ve never been prepared to give up my local commitments because that is the only way I felt confident about what young people wanted – by working with them on a weekly basis.
“I see the award as really nice for me and my family, but it’s about my bigger family, the Scouts in Selkirk.”
Normally, the award would be presented at the Scouts’ St George’s Day event in London, but due to other commitments Graham has asked for it to be presented locally.
This will also enable members of the Selkirk Scout group to become involved in the ceremony.