TWO Scout leaders have been treated to a surprise meal cooked by TV chef Ainsley Harriott and 150 Scouts, Beavers and Cubs.
The group gathered at Wickham CofE School, where the 1st Wickham Scout hut is, to honour the hard work of Barry Samways and his wife Chris.
The duo have been Scout leaders for over 20 years and have been instrumental in fundraising for a new hut after the old one burned down in an arson attack in 2006.
The event was planned in secrecy and Ainsley helped the Scouts and leaders of the Scout group to create a meal around the campfire.
The surprise was set up as part of BBC1 show The One Show, and will be aired sometime in the next couple of weeks.
Barry and Chris were nominated as part of The One Show’s community champion section.
Teams of Scouts spent the morning with Ainsley working for food in and around Wickham.
The Scouts helped out in many different shops in exchange for goods.
Stainers Bakery gave them bread rolls for cleaning the oven, Stewart’s Butchers gave 100 burgers and sausages for cleaning windows and McCarthys Super Stall gifted vegetables and charcoal in exchange for shelf stacking and pricing.
Ashley Wilson, assistant district commissioner, from Wickham, helped to plan the day.
He said: ‘All the Scouts enjoyed themselves and Ainsley was a friendly guy. Barry and Chris knew nothing about it. I only told the parents six days before, who then told the Scouts on the morning of the day.
‘They were gobsmacked when they saw the effort we had been to and there were a few tears.’
Maria Ackland, headteacher from Wickham CofE School, said: ‘It was brilliant, it was a big surprise and well deserved after all the effort they put into getting the new building ready.’
The new Scout hut will be officially opened on Saturday, March 16 at 3pm by Wayne Bulpitt, Scouting’s UK chief commissioner.
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