A scout troop at risk of closure after serving the community for more than 90 years has been saved after an appeal for volunteers proved successful.

Last week, this paper ran an appeal about the 1st Knebworth (Earl of Lytton’s Own) Scout Troop urgently needing to recruit a new leader and assistant leader after the two exisiting volunteers had to suddenly step down due to personal reasons.

The troop hasn’t been able to meet since before the summer holidays and senior group scout leader Steve Palacio, who has been involved in scouting for more than 20 years, feared the troop would be forced to permanently close.

But the appeal has proved successful and the troop has been saved. Steve said: “It’s been very positive. On the day the story appeared on your website we had two ladies give us a call.

“They are two existing leaders who have been helping out at other scout groups in Stevenage.

“I met up with one of them and, subject to a bit of admin, they will be the new Knebworth scout leaders and will be taking over the troop in the new year.”

Steve is now in the process of contacting the exisiting scouts to tell them the good news, and a number of Knebworth cubs will now be able to progress through to scouts.

Steve said: “I also had a phone call on Saturday from a man who is interested in helping out the group as well. He is quite keen to get involved and will either become another leader or will help the cubs out.

“It’s been brilliant. The troop has been saved – definitely. There’s no chance of it closing down now.

“We had a committee meeting last night and I was able to give the members the good news.

“It would have been a crying shame if we couldn’t get anybody to take over.

“As the new volunteers are already existing leaders, they don’t have to go through all the training, so we can open the troop up again in January.”

The troop meets every Wednesday and there is also a varied programme of camps, competitions and other events.

Steve said: “It’s a great group and the friendships scouts make and the self-assuredness they gain is fantastic.”

For more information about membership or volunteering, call Steve on 07787 530668 or email hsteve.palacio@live.co.uk.