Memories of the Queen.

My earliest memory of the Queen is seeing her drive past somewhere in West Cumberland, I can't have been more than 7 or 8.

IN 1974 my mother was awarded the Silver Acorn for 44 years of "distinguished Services to the Scout Association.  This was (probably still is) the highest award she could have received.  She started as a Cub Leader and Assistant to the Scout Troop Leader, before the war.  When the Leader left for war she promised him there would be a troop on his return.  She continued as a Cub leader until 1947 which meant she had a toddler and myself, a babe in arms.  After that, she worked tirelessly supporting the troop, fundraising, and infact in any way she could.  This included going to the annual camp with a neighbouring town's troop as well.

The newspaper write up describes two ceremonies one at our local Scout Headquarters where she was awarded by the County Commissioner, who had been the Scout Leader she promised he would have a troop to return to.  The other which is my memory of the Queen took place at Windsor Castle alongside others, particularly Queen's Scouts from all over the country.

We weren't allowed to be among those meeting the Queen but we were in the Castle watching from a suitable distance.  The Acorn is inscribed on the back Mrs. A Kane 23.4.74  There seems to be a discrepancy between the dates in the newspaper presumably one is the local presentation and the other the Windsor visit.