Upwood Beaver Scout meets Queen Again

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RAF ALCONBURY, United Kingdom --  It's not every day a 7-year-old boy gets to meet the Queen, let alone twice.

Freedom Scott, a First Bury and Upwood Beaver Scout, met with the Queen for the second time when she attended morning service at West Newton Church on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk on Feb. 7. Freedom Scott is the son of Major Dennis and Peg Tansley. Major Tansley is assigned to the 423rd Medical Squadron.

The Beaver Scout greeted the Queen, "Hello, your Majesty," then gave the Queen a bouquet of flowers and a photo of himself and the Queen together on Christmas Day.

Freedom Scott also gave the Queen a red tissue paper poppy he made as a project for Remembrance Day at a Beaver Scout meeting.

"I knew the poppy was a perfect gift for the Queen," Freedom Scott said.

He said he got the idea for the gift while he attended a service at Saint Paul's Cathedral, during which the U.S. Ambassador spoke. The ambassador mentioned that 80,000 U.S. troops stationed in the UK lost their lives during World War II. Freedom Scott believed that the poppy would have special meaning because the Queen served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service during the war.

The Queen also wrote Freedom Scott a letter after they'd met at Christmas. In the letter Her Majesty said she was aware of the sacrifices made by the families of personnel in the Armed Forces and sent her best wishes for the New Year to all families stationed in the United Kingdom.

Freedom Scott wrote a reply to the letter from the Queen. In the letter he said, "I am in Beaver Scouts and this week I was chosen as Top Beaver Scout of the Week, so I get to bring Bobby the Toy Beaver with me everywhere I go this week. He will come with me to meet you. We are both very glad to see Your Majesty."

He shared his story of meeting the Queen at a 1st Bury and Upwood Scout ceremony when he received the Bronze Award, which is the highest achievement for Beaver Scouts.

"Freedom Scott has been a joy to have at Beavers and has had a go at everything that has been asked of him," his scout leader said. "He has always been polite, helpful and enthusiastic; all the things that a Beaver Scout should be."

"It was an honor to meet the Queen. She is a very friendly lady and has a lovely smile for everyone," Freedom Scott said.

(Information courtesy of Tansley Family)