A SCOUT group enjoyed a special awards ceremony to mark its success stories of 2022.

Last Friday night, the Silver End Scout HQ was turned into an awards ceremony venue for their ‘Osacrs’, with the red carpet, flashing lights and all the glitz and glamour.

The awards are voted on by the Scouts.

The ceremony also welcomed councillors James Abbot and Bob Wright, as well as Witham MP Priti Patel, who joined them along with members of the Scouting community.

The Scouts left their uniforms at home and dressed up in their best party clothes to see who would win the various awards such as Best New Scout, Hardest Working Scout and Most Improved Scout.

Braintree and Witham Times: Priti Patel presents the Oscar for the Best Educational Activity 2022 (Picture: Stuart Gulleford)Priti Patel presents the Oscar for the Best Educational Activity 2022 (Picture: Stuart Gulleford) (Image: Stuart Gulleford)

Ms Patel was there to present the Oscar for the Best Educational Activity of 2022. 

It was a closely fought competition but the narrow winner, by just three votes, was a Remembrance-themed night in which they were visited by a historian dressed as a Second World War ARP warden.

He gave a lecture about life on the home front and the Scouts were able to see and handle objects from the 1940s – including stirrup pumps for putting out fires. 

Speaking after the ceremony, Ms Patel said: “I was thrilled to be there for the Scouting Oscars ceremony and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing about the many wonderful achievements of the Scouts in my constituency. 

“The breadth of activities that they have participated in during the last year was hugely impressive.  I was particularly impressed with the winners of the Best Educational Activity, who chose a very inspirational theme. 

“I strongly support the Scouting movement because of its long history of encouraging young people to develop new skills which help them to develop their own lives and also to help people in their communities.”

After the awards, there was then an after show party and a disco.

Assistant Scout leader Phil Kilburn said: “It was an excellent night in which some very worthy winners received their Oscars.

“It is always good to see hard work rewarded.”