Nearly 75 years of scouting
HALL OF FAME AWARD
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IT'S NEARLY 75 years since Stevie Martin first donned a neckerchief and woggle.
Indeed, it's impossible to think of scouting in County Wexford without thinking of Steve Martin in his trademark blue scouts uniform.
Over seven decades he has been a champion for the scouting movement, and has encouraged countless young people to join the ranks of Scouting Ireland.
Steve joined the scouts in 1936, becoming a Rawly Scout in 1937. His first troop was the 2nd Wexford, based in Wexford town, and he achieved the National Scout Award in 1943 and the Silver Palm in 1944.
He held ranks of Assistant Scout Master, Scout Master, Knight Errand Chief, Assistant Diocesan Commissioner and Diocesan Commissioner. He served on the National Camping Team from 1966 to 1997. His scouting accolades include Member of the Silver Wolfhound, which is the highest accolade a scouter can achieve.
He helped set up other troops as Diocesan Commission over the years including the 7th Wexford in Selskar and the 9th Wexford in St. Peter's College.
He also worked in Stafford, UK, for a period, but remained tied to scouting in Wexford, never breaking his service.
In 1973, as Diocesan Commissioner he saw the parish of Clonard beginning to expand and set up the 13th Wexford.
Steve's dedication to scouting was matched and supported by his late wife Alice who passed away in 2003.
The scouting tradition continues in the family through his sons Dave and Richard, and his grandchildren, who are all involved in scouting to this day.
