IT took about 1,000 Scouts to honour the patron saint of scouting St George with an energetic show of what scouting is about.

The parade, comprised of at least 25 different groups in Colchester, was about half of the young people actively involved in scouting across the borough.

Colchester Estuary District and the scout band led the parade through the town centre before a short ceremony in Upper Castle Park.

The march paused briefly while mayor Peter Chillingworth and district commissioners from two Scout districts took a salute.

Cub leader and parade marshal Duncan Kury, this year led his centenary group from the front rather than the back, where he would usually be.

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

More senior members lead the young ones along

He said: “The main reason for parading around the town is it shows off scouting to the whole community, and then we renew our promises each year in Castle Park.

“A lot of the time it gets confused with St George being the patron saint of England, but the reason is, he’s the p atron saint of scouting.

“This year we had a community choir do a song then members of our Gang Show performed one also, which got the young people moving and joining in.

“Then the renewal of promises and awards so any long-service awards for any of the adult leaders and also some for the young leaders.”

In true British style, spectators were indifferent towards the morning rain showers and came out to support anyway.

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

A photo of the High Street during the parade

“Lots of parents you see several times because they’ll catch the parade in St John’s Street then cut through town so you spot them again on the High Street taking photos all the way around which is quite nice,” added Duncan who has been with 12th Colchester Sea Scouts for 22 years.

He said: “There’s at least two-times as many young people involved with scouting than were in the parade.

“Some of the more outlining villages have their own parade and also some of the older youth members work at the weekends so can’t take part.

“Every other year we have the Guides parade with us too which swells our numbers.”

The number of young people joining Scouts groups in Colchester continues to rise.

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Lark Strong poses with a beaver mascot

Duncan is a third generation Scout and all his four children - the eldest being 34 - were once involved in it.

Two of them still are.

He said: “The biggest challenge we have is finding enough adult leaders because people have busy lives.

“That tends to be the hardest challenge which affects us doing all the things we want to do.

“We have leaders in our group who had no previous experience whatsoever, and our new county commissioner who attended the parade similarly had no Scouting experience.

“But we like to have a mix of people who will enjoy their scouting life.”

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