10th February 1956 
The Youngest Queen’s Scout

For two Pontefract Boy Scouts, Peter Bowers, of Kingsway, and Roy Taylor, of Southgate, both aged 16, Tuesday was probably the most important day in their scouting careers. They became Queen’s Scouts, and at their group headquarters, in Knottingley Road, Pontefract, each received the famous badge and a certificate signed by the Queen, from the County Commissioner for Central Yorkshire, Mr. Davis Burrows.

Members of the 1st Pontefract Scout Troop, Peter and Roy joined the troop when it was founded in 1952. After being coached in scouting by their Group Scoutmaster, Mr. C.D. Atkinson, and their Troop Scoutmaster, Mr. F. Evans, they past all the scoutmaster tests with flying colours and thus acquired the highest technical Scouting award - the small green and red badge with a coronet. Nearly 30 parents and over twenty scouts saw the presentation and Mr. Burrows congratulated the boys, who are now the youngest in Pontefract to hold the award. It is two years since a member of the Troop won the badge.

Pontefract Scout officials hope that the accomplishment of the two boys will be an incentive to other scouts in the district. They emphasise that Peter, who attends the Wakefield Technical School, and Roy, who is a pupil at the King’s School, Pontefract, are only ordinary boys, and it is possible for any reasonably intelligent Scout to become a Queen’s Scout if he works hard.