Top award goes to Commissioner Noel

Commissioner for the

Lisburn and District area, Noel Irwin, has been awarded the Silver Acorn by the Scout Association for his outstanding contribution to Scouting within Northern Ireland.

The Silver Acorn is the second highest award the Scout Association can award to its adult leaders.

It is only awarded to those leaders with not less than 20 years of distinguished service.

Although now a Waringstown resident, Noel was born and bred in Lisburn and does all of his Scouting here.

He joined the 1st Ballymacash Scout Group as a Cub in 1971.

In 1975 he joined 1st Derriaghy Scout Troop but he returned to 1st Ballymacash Scout Group as an Assistant Beaver Leader in September 1983.

Noel took over the Cub Scout Section at Ballymacash in September 1984 and has been there ever since.

He’s the longest serving Cub Leader in Lisburn and District Scouts and one of the longest serving in Northern Ireland.

Noel was appointed District Commissioner for the Lisburn City Council area in February 2005.

Under his leadership, the District now has 15 active Scout Groups stretching from Annahilt Village through to Maghaberry Village to Seymour Hill and all points in between.

With over 1,100 members it is one of the biggest, most vibrant and most active Scouting Districts in Northern Ireland.

In addition to his Scouting, professionally, Noel is a Civil Servant with the DHSSPS.

He is also the Head Coach of Lurgan Rugby Club Under 13s squad, whom he guided to third place in their respective League during 2013/14 and to Cup success in May of this year.

He also helps out on the cricket side with coaching the Under eights and until recently was involved in the Waringstown Village Development Association.