Keith Nickless is a Scouter Extraordinaire

When Keith Nickless, of the Downend Ward, Bristol Stake, attained the Queen's Scout award in 1961, he went to Manchester to receive the certificate from Sir Charles MacLean. There he met Brain Day, who was also a fellow Queen's Scout from Bristol. They became life-long friends.

At work Keith met an LDS girl, Mo Pulman, who, along with Brian, was instrumental in helping Keith join the Church. He was baptised by Brian Day in 1967.

In 1992 Keith received a medal of merit and was a member of the camp staff for the Iceland International Jamboree in 1999. Keith has held numerous positions at district and county levels and was an assistant Scout leader of the 38th LDS Bristol Scout group. This group is the oldest continuous LDS Scout group in Britain.

Keith estimates that more than 50 of these boys and leaders have served missions. He feels that Scouting provides a superb range of activities for the youth with supervised adventure activities, The social skills Scouts develop provide useful preparation for boys to serve missions since they are able to relate with other faiths and communities.

Keith is looking forward to the 23rd World Jamboree in 2007 at Chelmsford, Essex, celebrating the 100th anniversary of Scouting. - David Rush, Clevedon Branch, Bristol Stake

Missionary Follows In His Ancestors' Footsteps

On 22 December 1999, 19-year-old David James of the Gloucester Ward, Cheltenham Stake, began his mission in the United States. David, a fourth-generation member, will be following in the footsteps of his ancestors.

Members of David's family were among those who emigrated from England to the United States and took part in the great pioneer trek to the Salt Lake Valley. Now over a hundred years after his ancestors left England for a new life in America, David, will be taking the gospel to that country. - Jennifer Mason, Gloucester Ward, Cheltenham Stake