Obituary | Lord Robert Crause Baden-Powell, 3rd Baron of Gilwell
Lord Robert
Crause Baden-Powell – the grandson of Scouts founder Robert Baden-Powell – passed
away on the 28 December aged 83, having struggled with illness over a long
period.
Robert was born
15 October 1936 in Johannesburg, South Africa, the son of the 2nd
Baron, Arthur Robert Peter Baden-Powell, and Carine Crause Baden-Powell (née Boardman). He was educated at
Bryanston School in Blandford. Robert succeeded his father as the 3rd
Baron of Gilwell in 1962, and married Patience Hélène Mary Batty (who sadly passed away in 2010) a year
later.
As his
grandfather Robert Stephenson Smythe Baden-Powell had founded Scouts in 1907,
it was only natural that Robert took an active involvement and interest. Joining
as a Cub Scout in 1946, he went on to become an Assistant Scout Leader with the
100th Nottingham Group between 1959 and 1962. He moved to London and
became Group Scout Leader and Venture Scout Leader of the 6th Putney
Group from 1965 until 1969, and was also a leader with the Ripley Venture Scout
Unit. As a leader, he passionately believed that Scouts should evolve as
society changed, with young people being given more opportunities to lead
rather than being led by adults.
Robert held
the following appointments: Chief Scout’s Commissioner (1968-1982); President
of West Yorkshire Scout Council (1972-1988); Member of the Committee of Council
(1972-1978) and General Purposes Sub-Committee (1973-1981) and Vice-President
(1981-2019). In the UK, he was awarded the
Silver Acorn and Silver Wolf, as well as the Canadian Silver Fox. Robert also
fostered Scouts around the world, leading the UK contingent to the World
Jamboree in Norway and more recently the opening of the 2007 World Centenary
Jamboree held in the UK. Robert was awarded the Bronze wolf for services to World Scouting in 1983.
During the
1950s, Robert undertook National Service in the Royal Navy including the Suez
Crisis of 1956. His career involved time as a motor car salesman, wine
merchant, public relations officer with the BBC, Chairman of London and
Cheshire Insurance Company (1961-1966), money broker (1964-1984), Director of
City Share Trust (1964-1970) and Bolton Building Society (1974-1988), and
Managing Director of Fieldguard Limited (1984-) and Highline Estates Limited
(1986-1995). He was also a member of British Quarter Horse Association between
1984-1989, and Chairman in 1990. In addition to this, he was Chairman of
Quarter Horse Racing UK (1985-1988) and President of Camping and Caravanning
Club (1992-2002).
His interests
included the breeding and racing of Quarter Horses at Clandon Manor Farm in
Surrey where he also lived. He also enjoyed swimming, fishing, model making,
gardening, bee keeping, badminton and music.
Robert and
Patience had no children, and therefore the title of 4th Baron
Gilwell moves to his brother, The Honourable David Michael Baden-Powell, who
lives in Australia.
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