Bear drops into Bradley Wood Scout Camp

The adventurer and TV presenter arrived by helicopter to the scout camp in Shepherds Thorn Lane, Brighouse, to an excited crowd of 1,000 cub scouts to take part in a day of activities in celebration of the 100th year of Cubs.

After signing autographs and giving hundreds of high fives, Bear toured the site followed by a huge crowd of his number one fans.

During his visit Bear invested the two new County Youth Commissioners for West Yorkshire and also presented a special commendation as part of the Scouts’ “A million hands” initiative to Joshua Capper who was recognised for his working in helping cleanup during the boxing day floods.

Samuel Wakefield, Deputy Youth Commissioner, aged 23, from Huddersfield, said: “It was fantastic to see all the Cubs meeting and high fiving Bear, there was a real excitement across the camp when he arrived and then to meet him and be invested into my new role by him was the highlight of the weekend.”

The surprise visit to West Yorkshire was part of a UK wide “Bear in the Air” tour taking place where Bear was visiting numerous Cub events as part of the centenary of Cub Scouting.

This incredible tour is the first stage of his plan to meet Scouts in every part of the UK over the next five years and aims to inspire both young people to get involved in scouting.

He said: “It’s great to be going out and meeting so many people at some really amazing events. Scouting is all about adventure – letting adults and young people go wild and have fun.’

No stranger to adventure having crossed oceans in an open boat and flown a powered paraglider to 29,000ft in the Himalayas, he was named as the UK’s Chief Scout in 2009 and was the youngest person to hold the position aged 34.

He was the youngest Briton to climb Mount Everest, aged 23, and has presented television programmes such as Born Survivor and Escape to the Legion. Last year it was announced by the Scout Association that the former Special Forces soldier, will occupy the role until 2018.