British Consul General celebrates shared scout heritage at luncheon, marking 115th anniversary
This week, Scouting Boston hosted a special luncheon at the Hampshire House, where David Clay, the British Consul General to New England, was welcomed to celebrate the 115th anniversary of Scouting's founding in the U.S.
The event highlighted the strong, shared history of Scouting between the United Kingdom and the United States.
The gathering was hosted by Tom Kershaw, owner of the historic Beacon Street mansion, which now serves as an elegant event space. Kershaw, a longtime Scouting supporter and Eagle Scout since 1954, opened the event with a nod to the deep-rooted connection between the two nations.
Consul General Clay and Scouting Boston Scout Executive John Judge reflected on Scouting's beginnings, from its 1907 founding in Britain to its arrival in the U.S. in 1910. They noted that both countries' ongoing commitment to the movement is one of the many shared values between them.
'It was in 1909 that Chicago publisher William Boyce, lost on a foggy London street, was guided by an unknown Scout,' Judge shared. 'That single act of service inspired him to bring Scouting to America, forever changing the landscape of youth development.'
The luncheon also featured Kim Kulasekaran, volunteer leader of Cub Scout Pack 617 in Chinatown, who praised the positive impact of Scouting programs on Boston's youth.
Kulasekaran showcased several videos of young Scouts sharing their favorite activities and what they have learned through their experiences.
'Kim's heartfelt story reminded us why Scouting is more relevant than ever—building character, fostering friendships, and connecting young people with the outdoors,' Judge said.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Christiane Amanpour Now Treats Travel To U.S. 'As If I Was Going To North Korea'
British journalist Christiane Amanpour said she treats travel to the U.S. under President Donald Trump 'as if I was going to North Korea.' The longtime CNN correspondent talked about her experience flying to the U.S. on her podcast, 'The Ex Files.' 'I must say I was afraid,' Amanpour told her co-host and ex-husband, Jamie Rubin, on Wednesday's episode. Amanpour was traveling to the U.S. last week to give a speech at Harvard University, which has come under increased attacks by Trump, including revoking the university's ability to enroll international students. Trump has also ramped up his attacks on immigrants, using agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to snatch people off the streets and imprison them without due process. And on Thursday, Trump announced that citizens of 12 countries would be banned from visiting the U.S. and seven others that would face restrictions. 'I'm a foreigner,' Amanpour said. 'I don't have a green card. I'm not an American citizen. I'm fairly prominent, and I literally prepared to go to America as if I was going to North Korea. I took a burner phone, Jamie. Imagine that. I didn't take a single … not my mobile phone, not my iPad, nothing, and I had nothing on the burner phone except a few numbers.' Amanpour said she also spoke to CNN security about what precautions to take. 'I've heard that many, including British citizens, have been stopped at the border and been questioned for hours and hours and hours,' she said. Thankfully, Amanpour said she went through airport security without any issues. 'I was welcomed,' she said. 'The immigration officer at Boston, where I came in, could not have been nicer. Huge sigh of relief I breathed.'
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
If we do not control our borders, Britain will not exist in the next century
It is the truth that dare not speak its name. The daily reality for millions of people in this country. Britain is changing before our very eyes. And, for years, our two-faced leaders have been pretending it isn't happening. Even now, as the Prime Minister throws off the cosy blanket of immigration denial and embraces the brave new world of 'smashing the gangs' and 'strangers' in our own land, I get the feeling that Westminster still doesn't get it. Countless politicians continually pitch up on TV programmes and radio shows branding anyone who wants to safeguard our borders as far-Right. Just this week, when newly elected Reform MP Sarah Pochin dared to ask during PMQs whether our illustrious leader might consider banning the burqa, a collective groan rose from the Chamber. There was also a sharp intake of breath as the incumbents of the Commons realised just what exactly was going on. Of course Sir Keir Starmer refused to even consider answering the question. Along with the majority of MPs he finds such questions all rather distasteful. They would rather declare war on Russia than admit that immigration has changed the fabric of our country forever. Never before have our elected representatives been so out of touch with the British public. They have been gaslighting us for years. Boris Johnson supported globalism and immigration. He never really meant it when he promised to reduce net migration. Theresa May was useless whenever she went to negotiate with Brussels on freedom of movement. And when she tried to create a hostile environment for illegals, she was painted as some kind of cross between Attila the Hun and Pol Pot. No government has been truly honest with the electorate about immigration. Time after time we have been told not to be bigoted. We've been encouraged to embrace a multicultural society. We've learned that kebab shops and Turkish barbers are enriching our society. After all, diversity did build Britain, didn't it? And it's our greatest strength, isn't it? Well now the chickens have truly come home to roost. I've been telling my audience at Talk for years that mass immigration – which has allowed millions of people to come and settle here in the past decade or two – is unsustainable. And this week that same audience has signalled that enough is enough. Entire towns, cities and neighbourhoods have been transformed – and not for the better. But does your MP care? Does your local council worry about what might be happening? We have come a very long way from the time when local administrations from John O'Groats to Lands End decided it would be a great idea to rename the local High Street Nelson Mandela Way. Now, thanks to a fascinating study by Professor Matt Goodwin, we know that the effect of mass immigration on this country means that we are losing our identity. According to Goodwin, white British people will become a minority by 2063. The foreign born and their children will be a majority by 2079. And, incredibly, roughly one in five people will be Muslim by the year 2100. This news should come as no surprise to anyone who has been listening to Talk since 2015. Visit parts of Birmingham, Rochdale, Blackburn, Manchester, Sheffield and Leeds: what you will find are communities which are not British. English is not spoken as a first language by many. British mores of conduct, behaviour and politeness have gone out the window. And yet, despite what we see before our very eyes, our politicians are busy trying to convince us that this is all good. Heaven forbid you should question government policy. Make no mistake; the Tories were no better than this current lot. In fact, on their watch, immigrants became ever more bold in their attempts to come here. No one with a brain will think that immigration is all bad. Of course there are brilliant things that different people from all round the globe bring to a country like Britain. We can wax lyrical about amazing restaurants, cool festivals, convenient food delivery and the joy of learning about different cultures. But please, don't pee down my back and pretend that it's raining. There is a world of difference between people who come here to make a new life for themselves and those who are connected to criminal gangs. There can never be a justification for welcoming young men who brandish swords and machetes in our high streets. And families who arrive on our shores while refusing to integrate or learn our language should not be welcome in our future. The gaslighting is over. The die is cast. If we do not reverse the current state of play on our borders, we won't make it to the next century. Mike Graham presents Morning Glory every weekday morning from 6-10am on Talk Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
‘Nice to help people out': CEO of EMS company empowers local EMT's to provide basic needs
EMTs and paramedics are trained to respond to medical emergencies. In nine communities along Rt. 495 in the Merrimac Valley, they're now empowered to help people with a much wider range of problems. David Daly, the CEO of Pridestar Trinity EMS, created a program called 'The Give.' 'We met people in really difficult circumstances and a lot of them didn't actually need medical treatment,' he said. 'They were in a challenging situation. We'd notice they didn't have a jacket, or they haven't eaten in a couple of days, or they needed a new pair of shoes.' As someone who started his career as an EMT, Daly knows his workers don't have a lot of extra money. 'So we started 'The Give' and it's a program that we give our staff the ability to go out and buy a meal for a person that needs it, who hasn't eaten, or a buy new pair of shoes. . . ultimately, it's at the discretion of the employees to choose what fits and they're allowed to do it without even being questioned.' Jaden Maldonado, a 4th grader from Dracut, was surprised when two EMT's presented him with a new bike. 'I was like, oh yea!' he said. EMT Kevin Gustafson said, 'We got called to an auto-pedestrian accident, car versus bike. So, we got to the scene, and it was obvious he had had a little accident. He was all bumped up, little bumps and bruises, nothing major. He was more shaken up and scared that it had happened and his bike was ruined.' Gustafson and his partner Billy Krikoris knew a bike was a big deal for a 4th grader and that Jaden's family would be hard pressed to replace his mangled set of wheels. So that's when they decided to use The Give and buy Jaden a new bike. 'Obvious, we primarily focus on the medical aspect first, but if we, while we're doing everything, notice hey, like they could use something like this, that's just something we keep it in the back of our minds. After they're out of the hospital and whatever, we can see if we can help them out with it,' explained Krikoris. This program comes at a time when the EMTs say they're seeing more people in need. 'The city is definitely busy,' said Sam Coutu as he cruised the streets of Lowell. For example, they buy a lot of tents for homeless people. 'Pillows, just stuff they need to be more comfortable in the elements.' Coutu also said they aid many senior citizens in the area. 'So, like an old woman, her house is really hot and she's lethargic and we notice it's hot in the house, we'll try to buy her an air conditioner. We notice someone's fridge isn't working, we can try to do something about that.' Krikoris added, 'It's nice to help people out, especially when they're already in a bad place.' Daly believes this program has a positive impact on his staff. He says they see many troubling situations in the course of their work, and this empowers them to step in and help – no questions asked. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
