‘I had a massive smile on my face’.
That is how Kester Sharpe described her reaction to opening a letter to say that she was to be recognised in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.
The Molescroft mum has been awarded an MBE for services to young people especially during the pandemic.
The 46-year-old was deputy UK chief commissioner, the most senior female volunteer in the country, for the Scouts for almost five years until September 2021 and was recognised for her work continuing the movement during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is such an honour to receive an MBE and I am absolutely delighted, as it is great recognition for the Scouts too.
kESTER SHARPE
Kester received notification of her MBE in November and managed to keep it under wraps until New Year’s Eve when the list was officially announced.
Having been a leader with the Scouts since the age of 15, Kester, who leads 1st Molescroft Scouts, said she was warmed to receive countless messages of support.
“I have been part of the Scouting movement all of my adult life having first been a young leader at 15,” she told Beverley Life.
“I’ve held a variety of roles, including deputy UK chief commissioner, however I have always remained local and still lead 1st Molescroft Scouts.
“In March 2020, everything the Scouts does went up in the air and suddenly we could no longer meet face to face.
“For an organisation which continued through the wars, that was a big deal.
“However, within 24 hours of telling everyone they had to stop, we had an incredible response and found a way to operate under constraints we could have never expected.
“The MBE is primarily for work I have done over the last two years and it was such a surprise when I received the letter.
“It was really surreal and I had a massive smile on my face as I read the letter.
“It is such an honour to receive an MBE and I am absolutely delighted, as it is great recognition for the Scouts too.
“I kept it quiet until New Year’s Eve and it has been fantastic to be able to share the news with people.
“The most touching aspect of it all has been the lovely messages I have been sent from people formerly in my groups, some of whom I haven’t seen or heard from for many years.”
Kester, whose latest project is part of the management team for the 2023 World Scout Jamboree in Korea, said she hopes to be able to take her family with her to London to receive the medal.
“My letter stated that it will be a while until I actually receive my medal due to a backlog from COVID,” she added.
“I think it will be at either Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle, which is fantastic.
“At the moment, you are only able to take one guest, but it was three guests pre-COVID, so I’m happy to wait a while to receive it in the hope that I can take both my husband and my daughter.”
