A Trinity Fourth Year student is preparing for two remarkable international opportunities after being selected to represent both the UK and his local Scout district.
Tom will travel to Belfast this summer for the International Meeting of Young Beekeepers (IMYB), a global event that brings together young beekeepers from more than 30 countries to share knowledge, take part in challenges and celebrate their passion for bees.
Tom first discovered beekeeping during lockdown in 2020 when he spotted a poster for a beginner experience at a local Scout centre. Curious to learn more, he signed up and quickly found himself fascinated by the science behind the hive.
“You look after a hive with about 60,000 bees,” Tom explains. “Every week you go through each frame to check the colony is healthy and the queen is there.”
Over time, his interest has grown into a deeper understanding of the biology and behaviour of bees.
“I enjoy learning about the complex side of it, like the genetics of different bees and how that affects their temperament,” he says. “Most things we eat come from pollination, which mostly comes from bees, so looking after them is really important.”
Alongside his beekeeping success, Tom has also been selected to attend the World Scout Jamboree in Poland in 2027 as part of the Greater London South West Scout contingent. The event, held every four years, will bring together around 45,000 Scouts from across the globe for two weeks of activities, cultural exchange and outdoor adventure.
Tom was chosen from more than 120 applicants in the region and is one of just 36 young people selected.
Having been involved in Scouting since the age of six, he credits it with helping him grow in confidence and leadership.
“Scouting has made me much more confident speaking to new people,” he says. “Some of my closest friends now are people I met through it.”
Tom is also a young leader, helping to run sessions for younger members each week.
With international travel, cultural exchanges and plenty of badge trading ahead, the next few years promise to be busy ones.
“I’m really looking forward to meeting people from around the world and learning from them,” Tom
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