THEY were given a rapturous home-coming after spending almost three weeks working on building projects in the Gambia.

Family and friends gathered at Copythorne on Saturday to greet 34 jet-lagged Explorer Scouts and nine leaders who arrived back in the UK hours earlier from their mission – helping repair roofs and making gardens in the village of Soma in a bid to help people in the community become more self-sufficient. Before being reunited with family the Scouts staged a video presentation of the work they had been doing in the Gambia.

Vice President of Hampshire Scouts, Roy Farmers said: “The brilliant presentation, which was given by all explorer Scouts with film and photographs had been devised during the morning and was witnessed by well over 200 people including family and friends who had eagerly queued at Copythorne Parish Hall to welcome the young people home.”

Amongst those in the welcoming party was the chairman of New Forest District Council Maureen Holding along with Hampshire’s Deputy Lord Lieutenant Sara Locock who stood in for former Lord Lieutenant Dame Mary Fagan who was ill.

The Scouts flew out to the Gambia to continue on-going work by Hampshire Scouts in the area. Scouts first went out to the Gambia about 25 years to build Kaira Konko Scout Lodge community centre which is now run by the Scouts as a business.

Mr Farmers added: “The Explorer Scouts clearly explained what they had achieved at the Kairo Kongo Scout Centre, a project that has been supported by Hampshire Scouts for well over 20 years. Construction on new roofs, making concrete blocks, building walls and garden projects were included in the programme but they all empathised that it was their deep relationship with the Gambian people that impressed them particularly when they had to leave. Several of the Scouts had been before and others wish to return.” The Kairo Kongo Centre has accommodation for up to 30 people in dormitories and twin rooms and it is run by several local Scouts in the Gambia.

The explorers were interviewed about their mission in the Gambia by BBC TV South and they were also interviewed by BBC Radio Solent’s Nick Girdler.

County Scout commissioner Adam Jollans, who spent some time out in the Gambia with the Explorers praised them and the leadership of Jackie Heath who is based at Copythorne with the Explorers.

He said she had “excellent leadership” qualities and expertise planning for expeditions to the Gambia over the years.

Mr Jollans presented Jackie with the County Commissioner’s award in recognition of her work. It was the first time this award has been given in Hampshire.

Assistant Explorer leader at Copythorne, Paul Stubbington, also received the award.