Crossgar BB teen’s audience with Queen

Crossgar BB teen’s audience with Queen

22 August 2012

A CROSSGAR student has enjoyed an audience with the Queen after being granted the highest award in the Boys’ Brigade.

Nineteen year-old James Scott was selected for the visit to Balmoral Castle after successfully completing a programme that qualified him for the prestigious Queen’s Badge.

The Queen’s Badge is the highest accolade within the Boys’ Brigade of which James has been a member for 14 years.

After successfully competing for the the top badge as a member of the Trinity Boardmills Boys’ Brigade, he was picked from a group of other Queen’s badge recipients to travel to Balmoral with three other Boys’ Brigade members from England, Scotland and Wales.

James said he was honoured to meet the Queen, who he said has been patron of the Boys’ Brigade.

“This was an occasion for the Boys’ Brigade to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee,” he said.

“The merits you need to achieve for the Queen’s badge are on a par with the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme and include several elements.

“”For me it included rugby and cricket, learning to drive and voluntary work.”

James described his meeting with the Queen was “surreal.”

“I learnt in March that I had been picked to go but because I had university exams I put it to the back of my mind,” he said.

“She was so relaxed and put everybody at ease and she had her corgis with her and we spoke about them.

“She also talked about the Olympics and about Northern Ireland golfers and how well Rory McIlroy has done.

“It was a real honour to be there and I feel very privileged to have been put forward for the visit.”