Bear Grylls on board with a recipe to raise roof for Dromore’s Scouts

Up to 90 young scouts, aged 4-18 , meet weekly in the hall to learn many of the skills Bear uses in his acclaimed television series, such as Man Vs Wild and Born Survivor.

However, due to a leaking roof, the hall is gradually disintegrating and Bear – the youngest ever Chief Scout to lead their organisation – has sent them one of his favourite campfire recipes for their fundraising recipe book – with not a frog, caterpillar or insect in sight.

The community effort has likewise been given a royal endorsement with another recipe from The Duke of Kent.

Dromore Group Scout Leader, Harry Maguire, said: “The fabric of our building is being eroded by the leaking roof and eventually the hall would become unusable.

“So the parents committee has got together to organise a series of fundraising efforts to replace it.

“It is a nice morale-builder when our chief Scout Bear Grylls has taken the time to lend us some support with his Mexican campfire chilli recipe.

“We all breathed a sigh of relief when we saw we would not be asking our supporters to find any frogs, bats, insects or caterpillars to make it.

“We strongly believe that any voluntary youth organisation that instills an awareness of others and helping others is of value to the community.”

One of Dromore Scouts’ more famous alumni is Tyrone Howe, who played rugby for Ulster, Ireland and the British Lions.

“People can get behind us and buy a copy perhaps for that Christmas stocking filler,” Harry added. “What is obvious from the names of many of the recipes supplied to us is the sense of family history and fun behind them.”

Anne Brown, Bear’s executive personal assistant, wrote to them: “Bear was interested to learn that the Dromore Scouts have been raising money to replace the roof of the Scout Hall and wishes you ‘good luck’ with all your fundraising efforts.”

Similarly the Duke of Kent wished the parents’ committee “every success in your fundraising to replace the rook on the Dromore Scout Hut” and sent along a beef stew recipe.

The A4 ring-bound cook book carries a message of thanks from Dromore Scout Leader Harry Maguire, a picture of a cooking scout by “Toby age six” and a full colour A4 signed photo of Bear.

It is packed full of 100 pages of fun and quite a few people have disclosed treasured family recipes, including Auntie Muriel’s Chicken Curry, Elliot’s Sticky Toffee Pudding (Dentists Beware), Granda Jim’s light and creamy Tiramisu, Nana Sheila’s Shortbread and Great Granny Meta’s Lemonade.A sponsored walk has already raised £1750 towards the roof and over £1000 has been raised through the recipe book so far although the total amount needed to safeguard the hall £17,000. Recipe books can be bought from Graham’s newsagents and the bookshop in Bridge Street. For more copies or to donate contact parents committee secretary, Claire Crawford, 3 Church Meadows ,BT25 1LZ, [email protected]