Cambridgeshire Beaver Scout Meets the Queen
07/02/2010
1st Bury and Upwood Beaver Scout Freedom Scott G. R. Tansley met with the Queen when she attended morning service at West Newton Church on the Sandringham Estate last Sunday, February 7th, 2010. The weekend also marked the Queen's 58th anniversary of her accession to the throne.
Freedom Scott greeted the Queen by saying, "Hello, Your Majesty" and he bowed politely to her. He gave the Queen a bouquet of flowers and a photo of himself and the Queen together on Christmas Day.
When Freedom Scott presented Her Majesty with a red tissue paper poppy, she asked him, "Did you make this?" He had made the poppy as a project for Remembrance Day at a Beaver Scout meeting. "I knew the poppy was a perfect gift for the Queen", said Freedom Scott explaining that he had attended a service at Saint Paul's Cathedral where the U.S. Ambassador stated that 80,000 U.S. troops stationed in Britain lost their lives during WWII and he learned the Queen served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service.
The Queen wrote Freedom Scott a letter after they'd met at Christmas. In the letter Her Majesty said she was aware of the sacrifices made by the families of personnel in the Armed Forces and that she sends her best wishes for the New Year to all families stationed in the United Kingdom.
Freedom Scott wrote a reply to the letter from Her Majesty and in it he included, "I am in Beaver Scouts and this week I was chosen as Top Beaver Scout of the Week, so I get to bring Bobby the Toy Beaver with me everywhere I go this week. He will come with me to meet you. We are both very glad to see your Majesty."
He shared his story of meeting the Queen at a 1st Bury and Upwood Beaver Scout ceremony when he received the Chief Scout's Bronze Award, which is the highest achievement for Beaver Scouts. His Beaver Scout Leader leader, Alison Hurrell (aka Adder) said, "Freedom Scott has been a joy to have at Beavers and has had a go at everything that has been asked of him. He has always been polite, helpful and enthusiastic; all the things that a Beaver Scout should be."
"It was an honour to meet the Queen. She is a very friendly lady and has a lovely smile for everyone." said Freedom Scott Tansley, age 7.
