Scouts and their families gathered in Reigate recently for the presentation of Scouting's highest award to six young people.

Surrey Scouts County Commissioner Roxanna Bostock visited the scout hut hq of 34th Reigate (Meadvale) Explorers in Somerset Road to present coveted Queen Scout Awards to six of its members.

Max Smithson, Max Kelsey, Dan Chaney, Tristan Mitchell, James Verdon and Sam George were all awarded the badges and royal certificates having completed an array of challenges.

34th Reigate (Meadvale) Explorers Leader Spencer Mitchell said: “They have completed many different activities including two different 60-mile hikes, working with the National Trust for their residential projects at Headley, visiting Switzerland and learning new skills in First Aid, martial arts, football refereeing and helping at Cubs and Scouts.”

He said: “This gives the unit a total of 29 Queen Scouts in nine years.”

For a small unit, the record marks a big achievement in Scouting, he said.

A presentation was also made on the Queen Scout residential project completed last summer by Chris Rimmer, Lauren Freeman, Hannah Glasgow and Izzy Smithson, and Toby Hillier Wood, Laurence Hillier Wood, Zoe Hillier Wood and Demi Dale were presented with Chief Scout Diamond Awards, while Robert Atkinson was presented with his Chief Scout Platinum award.