As some Masons may know the Grand Master, HRH The Duke of Kent, is also President of The Scout Association and visited a Scout and Guide Activity Centre in Ollerton on the 17th June.

The Grand Master was welcomed to the activity centre by Matt Rooney, who is Deputy County Commissioner for Nottinghamshire Scouts and Junior Deacon in Walesby Forest Lodge. He then received a tour of the centre and met some of the Scouts and Guides who use the centre.

The state of the arts centre, which opened last year, is used by around 200 young people and is one of the most eco-friendly Scout Headquarters in the Country.

As well as his interest in what Nottinghamshire Scouts is doing for young people in our communities, it was of particular interest to His Royal Highness that the Centre was built using sustainable resources and energy efficient materials and will result in a considerable drop in utility bills and significantly reduces carbon footprint.

THE Grand Master was also delighted to hear from Bro.Rooney of the tremendous support The Province and Walesby Forest Lodge has, and is continuing to give, to Scout and Guide projects in Nottinghamshire.

Colin Mackie ( Secretary Walesby Forest Lodge)

Photos

1 Bro Matt Rooney greeting The Grand Master 2 HRH The Duke of Kent meeting young Scouts (only this photogarph used in Nottinghamshire Mason website) 3 HRH The Duke of Kent meeting older Scouts

Notes to editor: (which I have included here as interesting reading- well done, Peter Olko)

Nottinghamshire Scouts is the largest co-educational voluntary youth organisation in the County. With almost 6,500 youth members supported by over 1,600 volunteer leaders.

The Scouts in Nottinghamshire is a registered charity and has an annual turnover of over £300,000. As well as providing fun and challenging activities to children and young people and providing adults with a varietyof voluntary opportunities and free practice-based, accredited training, it also runs its own Sherwood-based charity shop, a meeting and conferencing centre in Linby and 2 large scale theatre productions.

Nottinghamshire Scouts have a variety of volunteer roles that may appeal to many Free Masons, including; trustees and board members at all levels in the organisation, treasurers, secretaries, group managers, strategic planning, training and development and of course direct youth work.

For more information and to volunteer please visit www.notts-scouts.org.ukor contact Bro Matt Rooney on 0115 9523617