Some 160 years of scouting, 100 years worldwide and 60 in Fermanagh, were marked at a weekend celebration at Gortatole Outdoor Activity Centre last weekend, with two major awards handed out and a who's who of scouting in Fermanagh, including two scouters who conquered Everest last year.

The weather wasn't kind, more or less scuppering a packed Saturday night programme, during which Raymond Hassard and Neil Elliott, the two Everest men (Fearghal Corrigan, the third team member was also present) were supposed to have lit a beacon to represent the future.

However, it was lit on Sunday morning by the two Queen's Scouts Award recipients, Graeme Sowden and Jonathan Douglas of 1st Lisnaskea. They were presented by Rosemary Forde, the Fermanagh Commissioner.

Following the cancellations of most of the previous evening's programme, including the parade, Mrs Forde was more upbeat on Sunday.

"The camp was visited by the Chief Commissioner for NI, Dr Wilfred Mulryane and Ken Gillespie, and, on Saturday night, we had Joe Owens, the Chairman of Scouting Ireland and Tony Smith (SI) who led the camp fire singing, and, also, Liam McMulkin, their Secretary.

"We had warm greetings from the Chairman of Fermanagh District Council, John O'Kane, and among our Saturday night guests was Carol Graham, the County Commissioner for Girl Guiding."

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