Congratulations to Peter Lamb

Story: Michelle Cook. Photos: Kamida Khan

At the AGM of the National Catholic Scout Fellowship, of which he is Vice President, 80 year old Peter Lamb was awarded the membership of the Brotherhood of St George. This is the highest honour that can be bestowed by the International Catholic Conference of Scouting.

Nominations to membership recognizes service “of an exceptional contribution that has been given through International Scouting to the education of young people and to the development of their personality, faith and personal involvement in society in the spirit of Baden-Powell.”

A member of the Scout movement for 55 years, he has held several appointments at local and County level, been Treasurer of the Catholic Scout Advisory Council for 20 years and Treasurer of the National Chaplaincy Trust for England & Wales.

A member of the Sheffield Norfolk District and British Rail Scout Fellowship, he organises the railway First Aid Competitions each year, and has been an instructor for the First Aid badge for Brownies Guides, Cubs and Scouts.

Mr Lamb worked for the railways for 45 years, moving to Sheffield in 1972, following his promotion to a Controller of Freight at Tinsley, when he was approached by St Catherine's scouts, who needed a new leader. Mr Lamb went on to do this job until he had to hand in his warrant at 65, then he continued as a trustee. For five years he was County Quartermaster and has fond memories of preparing porridge and prunes.

In his role as National Treasurer of the Fellowship, he and his wife Bernadette attended the international conference in Paris, where her French teaching skills were invaluable in translating the notes. Peter and Bernadette have five children, eleven grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Peter has also been involved in the Peace Light project, in which a light from the Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem is taken all over the world. Passage in Britain was originally organised by the British Rail Scout Fellowship; this is difficult nowadays as trains are owned by different companies. After the tragedy of 9/11 the light was taken to Ground Zero on Christmas Eve.

Peter said he used to enjoy the scout parades in the city centre, but it is now very expensive to hire venues like the City Hall and the Sunday shopping has made it difficult. Peter has attended jamborees around the country and met Lady Baden Powell. and the Duke of Norfolk.

The couple are very involved with local life; Peter has been a voluntary patient escort at the Northern General and Bernadette is a member of the Burngreave Historical Society. This latest achievement in a long career of devotion and service to the scout movement is one which he should be rightly proud, and we are proud to have such a person in our community.