Chief Scout Bear Grylls congratulates Melton Scout Adam for quick-thinking action to help injured cyclists

Adam Tate (24) took part in last month’s National Scout Parade at Windsor Castle along with 640 Queen’s Scout awardees and 50 gallantry and bravery award recipients.

Adam received The Chief Scout’s Commendation for Meritorious Conduct in December. He was nominated for the award for giving first aid to two cyclists who came off their bikes in Melton during the 2014 Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic event.

Adam, of Brentingby Close, was among the Scouts in St Mary’s Church for the annual St George’s Day service when a woman came rushing into the church saying someone was needed quickly. Being the only qualified first aider Adam rushed out into the Market Place to help the cyclists. He applied pressure and a bandage to stop one of the cyclist’s deep wounds from bleeding while ‘cleaning up’ the other rider’s thigh wounds.

He was quick to help the cyclists despite suffering from his own injuries, which he still suffers from, incurred in a zip wire accident in Long Clawson in 2014. He’s having ongoing osteopathy and will need to continue to go for sessions every year. He’s also been seeing doctors for an as yet undiagnosed brain condition.

Adam, a former Sherard and King Edward VII School pupil, received his Chief Scout’s Commendation for Meritorious Conduct award ‘in recognition of his strength of character whilst coping with injuries sustained from a zip wire accident, his determination for Scouting and his great presence of mind at a Scouting event which resulted in him administering first aid to two cyclists who had injuries following an accident while disregarding his own poor health.’

He said: “I was truly overwhelmed and flattered to be presented with The Chief Scout’s Commendation for Meritorious Conduct and thank the people who nominated me for it.

“The two injured cyclists were in need of help and I just did it because I was the person there who could help. It was a team effort. My skills and training as a Scout allowed me to quickly and competently sort out the scene and administer first aid.”

He added: “Windsor was absolutely fantastic. I got to meet so many inspirational young people and adults, each with a very poignant and interesting story to tell.

“For me there were many highlights - getting to meet Chief Scout Bear Grylls, speaking with Cub Scout Ambassador Steve Backshall and being presented with a certificate by the Chief Commissioner of Wales Gareth Watson.”

Adam, who recently finished a master’s degree at the University of Oxford, is currently in the process of setting up his own training and consulting company and is founder of the Fahr Beyond charity - one of only two dedicated charities in the world dedicated to Fahr’s Disease - a rare neurological disorder.

He is also still involved in Scouting, helping groups around the Melton district, and as a county trainer.

l Thirteen Queen’s Scouts from Leicestershire also took part in the National Scout Parade at Windsor Castle. The Queen’s Scout Award, the highest honour in Scouting, is awarded for outstanding personal achievement. The award holders taking part were Jacob Baines, Eleanor Barker, Andrew Brine, Matthew Corcoran, Bethany Pilling, Callum Rea, Lucy Sparling, Charlotte Sparling, Sarah Grady, Jennifer Kirk, James Waterworth, Will Thornton and Callum Thompson.