Gone Home: Sir William Gladstone

World Scouting mourns the loss of Sir William Gladstone (1925-2018), former Chairman of the World Scout Committee and Chief Scout of The Scout Association.

Sir William joined Scouting when he was a student, and was an educator by profession. Driven by his confidence in Scouting’s non-formal educational method, he advocated tirelessly for the empowerment of young people, regardless of their background, through Scouting.

Naturally, he was known for his relentless efforts to reach out to young people in the United Kingdom, particularly those disadvantaged, to create better lives for them. In 1972, he received the Silver Wolf Award from his National Scout Organization for his exceptional services.

Sir William contributed immensely not only to The Scout Association, but also to the worldwide Scout Movement by assuming key roles, including Chairman, in the World Scout Committee from 1977 to 1983. He received the Bronze Wolf Award in 1985, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Movement.

He passed away peacefully on 29 March 2018, leaving this world a little better than he found it. We are confident that his legacy will live on, especially in the lives of Scouts and volunteers whom he had touched in his lifetime.