Kuala Lumpur. The World Organization of the Scout Movement was saddened to hear of the recent passing of Lord Robert Crause Baden-Powell, grandson of the first Lord Robert Baden-Powell of Gilwell and and Lady Olave Baden-Powell, who died peacefully at his home on 28 December, 2019 at the age of 83 following a long battle with cancer.
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1936 as the eldest son of the 2nd Baron of Gilwell Arthur Robert Peter Baden-Powell and Carine Crause Baden-Powell, Robert spent most of his life growing up and living in the UK. Robert succeeded his father as the 3rd Baron of Gilwell in 1962 and married Patience Hélène Mary Batty a year later, taking a keen interest and active involvement in the Scout Movement his grandfather founded. Beyond his National Service in the Royal Navy and career in the finance and real estate sectors, throughout his life Robert showed an extraordinary commitment to public service, and advancing the mission of Scouting and Guiding in a variety of local, national and international capacities.
Joining as a Cub Scout in 1946 he went onto to become an Assistant Scout Leader with the 100th Nottingham Group between 1959 and 1962. On moving to London, he became Group Scout Leader and Venture Scout Leader of the 6th Putney Group from 1965 until 1969, and was also a Leader with the Ripley Venture Scout Unit. As an adult Leader, Robert passionately believed that Scouting should evolve as society changed with Scouts being given more opportunities to lead rather than being led by adults.
He served with The Scout Association as Chief Scout Commissioner from 1965 to 1982, when he led the British delegation to the World Scout Conference in Nairobi, Kenya in 1973, and the British contingent to the 14th World Scout Jamboree at Lillehammer, Norway in 1975. Robert was also Deputy Camp Chief for two Canadian national Jamborees in 1977 and 1981, and the 15th World Scout Jamboree in Kananaskis, Canada in 1983 where he was awarded with the Bronze Wolf and the Silver Fox, respectively the highest awards in World Scouting and Canadian Scouting. Robert later continued his contribution serving with The Scout Association as Vice President from 1985 to 2019 and opening the 2007 World Centenary Jamboree held in the UK.
As an avid outdoorsman and supporter of local charities, Robert will be remembered most fondly for his commitment and contribution to Scouting and Guiding communities in the UK and around the world. The title of 4th Baron of Gilwell passes to Robert’s younger brother, The Honourable David Michael Baden-Powell who lives in Australia.
