Meet the people who make it all possible
Let us help you put some names to the faces that you'll see on a weekly basis
Dr Lewis “Skip” Hitchen
Group Scout Leader
With overall responsibility of the Group, Lewis manages the leadership team and takes the lead running the Shire Explorer Scout Unit.
Kelly “Q” Astle-Williams
Assistant Group Scout Leader
Primarily responsible for running the Scout Troop, Kelly also helps Lewis manage the Group and ensures that we have an amazing programme.
John “Coxswain” Newsome
Group Chair
John leads the Group Executive Committee which supports Lewis and Kelly as they run the group, and looks after the Group's accounting and policy.
Stella “Tic-Tac” Taylor
Group Secretary
The first face you'll see when you arrive, Stella is responsible for taking weekly subs and making sure the group runs smoothly. She's also our camp cook.
Angela Riches
Group Treasurer
Peter “Sparks” Westwood
Assistant Section Leader - Scouts
Responsible for helping Kelly deliver the Scout programme, Pete helps out across the entire group and is never far away from his knife and axe.
Anthony “Baloo” Williams
Assistant Section Leader - Beavers, Cubs
In addition to being the Assistant Beaver and Cub Scout Leader, Anthony helps with group administration and the Online Parent Portal.
Andrew “Kaa” Head
Assistant Section Leader - Beavers, Cubs
Andrew helps create and deliver our Cubs programmes, and was the Group first adult volunteer to have made his Promise in British Sign Language!
Paul “Bagheera” Morgan
Assistant Section Leader - Cubs
Paul is one of our minibus drivers, acts as our resident DJ and helps deliver our Cub Scout programme.
Nickey "Rusty" Westwood
Assistant Section Leader - Beavers
Nickey has been with us since September 2021, takes up the reins as a Beaver Leader. With a passion for craft, Nickey creates Beavers programmes and loves to show how to make lots of crafty things.
Alison ''Keeo" Palmer
Assistant Section Leader - Beavers
Hannah "Hathi" Head
Section Assistant - Beavers, Cubs
Hannah helps out at nights with our Beavers and Cubs and at camps. Hathi has a passion for photography and is never without a camera taking group photos.
Laura "Bubbles" Beddows
Occasional Helper
We think you’d be a great volunteer!
You don't need to be Bear Grylls, and we don't need you to help out every weekWe're always looking for adult volunteers to join the group and help in any way. Not just leaders, but people with skills and expertise that will give us the ability to help our young people, raise funds, build our resources and foster links with local businesses and organisations that can help us achieve our goals.
Joining doesn't mean you need to make a huge commitment to a pre-determined schedule, nor does it mean giving a fixed amount of time every week. The amount of support that you offer and the time you give to us is entirely up to you. You don't need to make the Promise, and you don't need to wear the uniform either. Help out on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly or even on an event-by-event basis.
If you work for a company that can help us, we've also got some great information on how you can help, as well as some stories that show how companies have helped us to deliver an amazing programme in the past.