Dedicated Tameside Scout Daniel Barton is one of a select number of scouts from across the country chosen to assist at the Queen's lying-in-state.   

The 20-year-old from Hollingworth is one of just 120 scouts from across the country, and one of only two from Greater Manchester, specially chosen to help at the process. 

Daniel, who achieved his Queen’s Scout Award recently, is volunteering in shifts with the other Scouts in Victoria Tower Gardens, directing members of the public and keeping them safe as they join the many tens of thousands of people paying their respects to Her Majesty the Queen, now lying-in-state at Westminster Palace. 

Daniel said: “It’s an honour as I’m the only one from Greater Manchester East and only one of two from Manchester. It’s a historic event and I’m honoured to do my duty.” 

Daniel, who attended Longdendale High School and Ashton Sixth Form, travelled to London on Tuesday and has already completed the first night shift. 

He is a dedicated Scout having joined the movement as a Beaver aged just seven, progressing through Cubs, Scouts, Explorers and Young Leaders.  

He is now undertaking his training to be a leader with a group in Stockport, having previously been with 2^nd Dukinfield and Tame Valley Scouts. 

Daniel, who attended the World Scout Jamboree in North America in 2019, is set to go to the next World Jamboree in South Korea in 2023 as a leader. 

Scouting certainly runs in the family, with Daniel’s mum Louise currently a Cub leader at 1^st Longdendale, having been a cub leader herself for 11 years. 

She said she was ‘amazingly proud’ of Daniel, who is now a finance apprentice at THG in Manchester. 

The Scouts helping in London are aged between 18 and 25 and have joined volunteers from Samaritans to offer help where it is needed. They are all on hand to assist members of the public wanting to pay their respects and keep them safe. 

There’s been a special relationship between the Scouts and HM Queen, with Scout volunteers supporting her coronation in 1953.  

Throughout seven decades, HM The Queen, as Patron of the Scouts, has encouraged Scouts to do their best and do their duty to help others. Those joining the Scouts promise to do their duty to the Queen and follow in her selfless service.  

The highest award in Scouting was the Queen’s Scout Award, where young people followed Her Majesty’s example of community, kindness and duty to the country. 

The Queen’s Scout Award (now the King’s Scout Award) was the highest honour in Scouting and awarded for service to others and skills development.  

This honour is achieved by young people aged between 16 and 25 who have completed a range of challenges, which includes service to their community, completing an expedition in wild country, undertaking a five-day residential project in a new environment, developing an existing talent or learning some new skills to build on what they have already learnt in the Scouts.  

Since the Queen’s Scout Award began, more than 100,000 of these awards have been presented to young men and women for outstanding personal achievements and service to their local communities. 

Locally flags are flying at half-mast at scouting HQs across Tameside and Glossop in respect to the Queen’s memory. 

Local leaders shared the words of their Chief Scout Bear Grylls OBE, this week. 

“We will remember her, and give thanks for her kindness, her service, and the unwavering support she showed our movement over many decades,” he stated.  

“She was truly a friend to Scouts everywhere. For 70 years, HM The Queen has stood at our side, encouraging our volunteers and inspiring our young people to learn new skills, help others and shine brightly. 

“Her sense of duty was an outstanding example to every single Scout. 

“On behalf of every Scout, we thank HM The Queen for her service. We will never forget her.”  

All scouting groups have been encouraged to hold their regular meetings as usual throughout the period of mourning in their continued support for young people.   

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