Honour
for Kate McCreeBy Marilyn Burroughs
In May the Bucks County Commissioner for Scouting, representing Chief Scout Peter Duncan, came to a special celebration at Lee Common Scout Group HQ. He presented to the McCree family the Chief Scout’s Commendation and Medal, which honours the commitment and dedication Kate had shown in her role as Beaver Scout Leader, while undergoing protracted cancer treatment. In the five years she gave to the group, until her death in December, her enthusiasm and patience never wavered, and the activities she organised with her team of helpers gave the many Beaver Scouts in her colony lasting happy memories. She was well known for her quirky ideas, good humour and approachability, even at the most difficult of times.
The citation on her framed certificate reflects an important part of the Scout Law: “A scout has courage in all difficulties”, which all leaders and scouts aspire to.
Kate’s parents, sister Jill and a large gathering of parents and members of the group witnessed the presentation of the award, which was accepted by 10-year-old Nick McCree, a cub scout, watched by his father Mark and brothers Jamie and Danny. Mark has given a memorial bench to the group, installed next to the flagpole at HQ.
Thirty of Kate’s friends – ‘Kate’s Mates’ – continue her unstinting support of Cancer Research UK by running in this year’s Race for Life, which will be dedicated to Kate’s memory.