I was absolutely delighted to accept the invitation from the World Organization of the Scout Movement to be one of the keynote speakers at their inaugural education congress. The slides and some of my speaking notes are available for download by clicking here: WOSM Congress
This evening, I am probably more angry than I have ever been in my life. My mother turns 80 this year. She is active, feisty, articulate and, I am reliably informed, the Devil to beat at bridge. A leading print and broadcast journalist in her younger days, she broadcasts on Radio Gloucestershire regularly with Dominic Cotter….
I no longer actively work with a Section, I do other things as a Scout volunteer, but I was a leader in UK Scouting throughout the 80s and 90s, when being gay in Scouting wasn’t something you admitted to. Indeed, the institutional homophobia at the time was palpable. Since then, things have changed for LGBTQI+…
I was honoured this week to receive an Honorary Doctorate in Social Science from the University of Bolton. As one friend commented – “Dressing up and a show; perfect way to celebrate, John!” It wasn’t quite the normal show of a graduation ceremony that you’d expect to see. Covid rather put paid to that… Instead,…
The unique nature of Scouting – an article for local publicationDeveloping Scouting – Gilwell Reunion 2001
For the second time in a week, the UK Scouts have made the news. Last week, they announced the publication of new (and excellent, in my opinion) sexual health materials. Today, they have let the world know that, for the first time in the Movement’s history, more girls have joined in the last year than…
