Warwickshire Scout ambassador Tony Guy is made an MBE in Queen’s Birthday Honours

Mr Guy, who is an ambassador for scouting in Warwickshire and a director of the WAGS Gang Show, joined 20th Blackpool Scouts some 70 years ago and has been actively involved ever since.

He received his Queens Scout Award in 1954 and represented West Lancashire at the St George’s Day Parade at Windsor Castle in the presence of the Queen.

As a rover scout he was chairman of the Blackpool Bowler Hat Brigade and started the Blackpool Gang Show in 1961 - a show which has run continuously for 54 years.

He went on to produce the Warrington and North East Lancashire Gang Shows.

In 1971 Mr Guy moved to Warwickshire and started the Warwickshire Gang Show (WAGS), becoming assistant county commissioner for image and communications and community development while working for Scouting for the Unemployed.

In 1982, Mr Guy led 400 Scouts and leaders to stage WAGS Gang Show in Dallas and Forth Worth, Texas, and featured in a television documentary about the trip named Dallas or Bust.

On their return, the scouts performed at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre annually for three years and were proud to have Princess Anne at the show in 1984.

Mr Guy continued to produce the show for 25 years when he handed over to a new team; he continues to be responsible for promoting WAGS as business director.

From 1999 to 2009, Mr Guy was chairman of the County Scout Executive Committee, becoming ambassador for Scouting Warwickshire in 2012.

He has now taken on the responsibilities as county communication Manager, developing communications and media for scouting throughout Warwickshire.

In 2005 he was awarded the highest scouting award the Silver Wolf and he also received a 50-year Long Service Award in 2013.

Mr Guy said: “Being in scout gang shows it is great to see the youngsters develop, gain confidence and go on to achieve greater things in their lives.

“Some of the former Gang Show cast members have gone on to work in theatre in the West End and one has become the lighting director for one of the national touring shows.”

As a youngster, Top Gear’s Richard Hammond was once involved in the WAGS Gang Show and has written that he has benefitted from the experience and that it helped build his character.

Mr Hammond said that he has “felt the benefit down the years” and considers himself “lucky to have been part of scouting and the WAGS Gang Show”.

Mr Guy has been happily married to Joyce for 54 years, has three children - Darren, David and Alison - and one granddaughter, Charlotte .

He lives in Preston Bagot in a 200 year old lock Keepers Cottage on the South Stratford Canal.