Name: Barry Rust
Age: 29
Current Role: Scout Leader
Scouting Accolades: Patrol Leader, Explorer Scout Leader,Assistant Scout Leader

Time involved in scouting: I have been involved for a total of about 10 years over the last 22!

Background outside of scouts: I have regularly worked with kids starting from my time as a Sunday School leader, through to a Youth Leader and football coach. By day I work at B&Q and have been involved in retail for over 7 years. I am an avid sport fan and it has been my passion for sport, scouting and giving back to both that has inspired me to do what I do.

Scouting Background: I took part in all three sections at 1st Britwell in Slough. I was a sixer in cubs and a PL and APL in scouts. I missed my final year when I moved to Stevenage and never got back into going once I had moved. This is one of my regrets. I was invited back to Slough for the 50th anniversary of 1st Britwell and from there commuted every Monday to Slough for Explorers where I worked for a year, culminating in a fantastic trip to Finland where a large group of Explorers gained their Duke of Edinburgh award with help from me and the other leaders. It is a thrilling experience. As an overlap I joined 12th Hitchin to get back into the "proper" camping and scouting experience.

Greatest Achievement: in scouting would be organising and running some truly good camps for the youngsters which got good feedback. In life though at the moment it would be writing the match report for the official stevenage website at the FA trophy final at Wembley! This was followed by commentating on 3CR at the next FA Trophy Final!

Best moment at Scouts: It's difficult to say. I have had so many great experiences and learnt so many good things. I think that if I had to pick one stand out moment it was the whole of the trip to Finland. I made some good friends there and managed to find someone with a sense of humour akin to mine! Hours of fun was had there! I love Scouts and am just pleased that I have so many great memories. I wish I could write them all down!

The thing you enjoy most about Scouting and your role: The thing I most enjoy about Scouting is the opportunity it gives youngsters and leaders alike. It's amazing to get out into the country or woods and there is no greater feeling than starting a safe fire and cooking your dinner on it. Sitting around a campfire or just a small one is an almost spiritual feeling. It's always so peaceful. 

The best thing about my role is to be able to give something back to the youngsters. I get the privilege of helping them to grow and show them things that will hopefully stick with them. Finally I get the chance to provide them with their own memories that they will feast on forever!

Hobbies: Football, Scouting, Reading, Music and Sport in General. I enjoy spending time with people. I am a massive Stevenage Football Club fan and have written match reports regularly for the Official Website and also in the Comet newspaper. I have written match reports and commentated and also written for the programme.

1 Interesting Fact about you: I once fell in a river in Amsterdam before finally walking home to find my hotel!