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List of Former Chief Scouts

Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, died January 8, 1941

Arthur Somers-Cocks, 6th Baron Somers, March 1942, Chief Scout of the British Empire

Thomas Corbett, 2nd Baron Rowallan, April, 1945, Chief Scout of the British Commonwealth and Empire

Sir Charles Maclean, later Lord Maclean, September 1959, Chief Scout of the Commonwealth. He resigned as Chief Scout of the UK in September 1971, but continued as Chief Scout of the Commonwealth until August, 1975

Sir William Gladstone, July 1972, Chief Scout of the United Kingdom and Overseas Territories

Major-General Michael J. H. Walsh, February 1982. Chief Scout of the United Kingdom and Overseas Territories

Garth Morrison (later Sir Garth), May 1988, Chief Scout of the United Kingdom and Overseas Territories

George Purdy, March 1996, Chief Scout of the United Kingdom and Overseas Territories

Peter Duncan, July 2004, Chief Scout of the United Kingdom and Overseas Territories

Edward Michael Grylls, nicknamed Bear, (born 7 June 1974) is a British adventurer, writer and television presenter. He is best known for his television series Born Survivor, known as Man vs. Wild in the United States and Canada. He is one of the youngest Britons to climb Mount Everest, doing so at age 23. In July 2009, Grylls was appointed the youngest ever Chief Scout at the age of 35.

Bear Grylls is the youngest ever Chief Scout of the UK Scout Association.

When asked why he chose to volunteer for the UK’s largest mixed youth movement, Bear said: ‘In short, because I love adventure and I love hanging out with good friends. For me this is what Scouting is about.’

He first got involved in Scouting aged eight as a Cub Scout. Bear attributes this time as part of the inspiration behind his adult adventures presenting TV shows such as Born Survivor: ‘So much of who we are as an adult is formed when we are kids,’ said Bear. ‘What Scouting says to people is: “it’s okay to go for it in life”.

‘Every child has a right to have an adventure. Life is about grabbing opportunities. The prizes don’t always go to the biggest, the best and the strongest – they go to those who persevere. These are simple life lessons that Scouting teaches people.’

THE CHIEF SCOUT