AN ENTHUSIASTIC Wee County man has received the highest Scout award before going on to give a speech in front of a Palace of Holyroodhouse audience.

Tillicoultry's Brodie Robertson, 19, and of the Hillfoots Explorer Group, has been awarded the Queen's Scout Award, understood to be the first in Clackmannanshire in the past 10 years.

The top achievement came alongside, and was supported by, a gold Duke of Edinburgh award, which also saw Brodie attend a ceremony at the Palace of Holyroodhouse this month.

At the celebration, Brodie was invited to give a speech in front of thousands of guests and host Prince Edward as a representative for this year's gold award recipients.

The former Alva Academy student has been instrumental in raising the profile of both the Scout network and the DoE awards in his school and across the area.

Scouting runs in his blood, his father Scott also being a Queen's Scout Award recipient and both his parents being Scout leaders.

Brodie told the Advertiser having to give a speech in front of so many people was nerve-wrecking but a fantastic experience with the Earl of Wessex giving him some valuable advice.

He has been involved with the Scouts since the age of six or seven and can only encourage others to get involved.

Brodie said: “Duke of Edinburgh awards and Scouting are amazing opportunities that can really help getting you jobs, they can be absolutely amazing opportunities to help folk in the local community and to develop skills.

“Anyone that I hear is involved in Scouting I always just know that they know what they are talking about and that they are good people, it's well worth getting involved.”

There is a long list of requirements for the prestigious Queen's Scout Award, including holding a gold DoE award and two international trips.

As part of that, Brodie had travelled to Kazakhstan before the pandemic, meeting Scouts there, building bridges and working with communities close to home and far away.

He was also successful in raising the profile if the DoE awards in his school with scores of other young people embarking on their own journeys.

Brodie is now a Scout leader in Tillicoultry and is keen to build the organisation's profile while helping young people who are getting involved.