As he retires from active scouting after more than 50 years of service, Lynley Lutchmedial is hoping that eventually, there will be a scout presence in every school in the country.
Lutchmedial was honoured and celebrated for his service to scouts during an appreciation day organised by his friends and comrades at the San Fernando District Scout Headquarters on Saturday.
Lutchmedial joined the fraternity as a cub scout in 1967 and moved up the ranks and was eventually promoted to scout district commissioner of San Fernando, a post he held for 30 years until his retirement last year.
The highlight of Saturday’s event, however, was an exhibition of snippets of Lutchmedial’s scouting life, as well as a wide range of items he collected from his journeys across the world while representing the local scout fraternity.
Dave Gopaul, Honorary Scout Commissioner, who was one of Lutchmedial’s mentors, said this was their way of saying thanks to Lutchmedial for his service and contribution to scouting. Lutchmedial attended seven World Jamborees and for six of them he was the contingent leader.
He said Lutchmedial realised one of his dreams when the flagship district scout headquarters was constructed in 2006.
“We have an exhibition on today that highlights a massive collection of badges and items he has collected worldwide throughout the years,” Gopaul said
Gopaul added that Lutchmedial not only contributed to scouting, but also to nation-building and the development of young people.
“The work he has done, the many camps and scouting activities, training camps, life skills training and programmes, all to the benefit of the young people and it’s been thousands and thousands of young people that scouting, and through Lynley’s work here as the District Commissioner in San Fernando, has really worked to the development of the young people,” he said.
Lutchmedial has also authored five books, three of which were on the history of scouting.
Lutchmedial, who joined the fraternity in 1967, said scouting is important in everyone’s lives, as it teaches life skills from cooking to first aid.
Commenting on the serious issue of violence among school children, he said, ”Scouts will assist in the violence in schools because most of the schools that have the violence don’t have scouting. That is one of the reasons why scouting is needed in schools.”
Noting that scouting involves voluntary work, he said it was difficult to get trained leaders.
“Teachers today don’t like to become leaders because it is national duties and it is not paid. Scouting is not about being paid, scouting is voluntary,” he said.
A biography prepared by the organisers hailed him as an inspirational leader who touched many a life old and young.
“A brother to all scouts he has been loyal, trustworthy, helpful, kind and generous to a fault. A man of humility. We say thanks Lutch,” it further stated.
Lutchmedial also has a scout museum, the only one of its kind in the country.
