A SOUTHAMPTON Scout leader has been presented with the highest award in Scouting for her outstanding five decades of service.

Southampton Scouting stalwart Gail Langton is now the proud holder of the Silver Wolf Award after being saluted for her outstanding services to Scouting, stretching more than 50 years.

It is the highest award in the Scouting world and was introduced by the founder Robert Baden Powell.

The highest award a leader can receive, there are only a few awarded each year to leaders with long active loyal service.

Suspended from a dark green and yellow ribbon, it has remained the unrestricted gift of the Chief Scout since it was introduced by Lord Baden-Powell.

She said: “I did not expect it but I was delighted. Scouting has been my life.”

Although her Scouting service officially started when she was 18, Gail was 13-years-old when she started as a Cub Instructor – the equivalent of today's Young Leaders.

Gail has seen many changes but one of the most dramatic has having to switch meetings from Scout halls to Zoom as the world finds ways of coping with the Covid pandemic.

She did not know what to expect when a letter landed on the doormat of her Colden Common home marked “Scouts.”

It was from the Chief Scout Bear Grylls, who took her completely by surprise with the news that she had been awarded The Silver Wolf.

Now she is looking forward to the picking up the award at Windsor Castle during the traditional Queen Scout Parade, depending on whether there are still Covid restrictions.

Gail spent 20 years as the Group Scout Leader of the 2nd Southampton Scouts taking over from her dad Alf Longhurst.

She has also been Group Scout Leader of the 7th Southampton, and is the group's current Beaver Leader as well working with Beaver colonies across the district.