A POLITICS student from Windle chatted to international adventurer Bear Grylls when he was named as one of scouting's top achievers at Windsor Castle.

Craig McKee, 19, of Lawrence Road, received the Queen’s Scout Award at a ceremony presided over by Grylls and the Duchess of Gloucester, a cousin of the Queen.

Craig, who has been involved in scouting for as long as he can remember, is studying international politics at Aberystwyth University.

The First Whiston Scouts member said: "I'm so proud to have received this honour. You do have to do an awful lot to get it - I got the Gold Duke of Edinburgh award, completed a five-day canoeing expedition in Sweden and went exploring in Latvia, amongst other things.

"I want to be involved in scouting for as long as I can. In July and August I'm going to Japan to help run an international scout camp.

"Scouting enriches the mind and body and I'd encourage any boys and girls to get involved. I joined officially when I was six but I've been doing it for as long as I can remember."

The former Rainford High pupil said he took part in a procession around the quadrangle at Windsor before receiving the badge and certificate.

He said: "I shook hands with Bear Grylls and we talked for about five minutes. It was really interesting and I liked getting his insight into the military world."

After university, Craig says he is hoping to go into the field of international charity work.

He added: "My mum, dad and all the family are all immensely proud."

The Queen's Scout Award is achieved by people aged between 16 and 25 who have completed a range of challenges, which include service to the community, learning a new skill or developing an existing talent.

Of those receiving the honour, chief scout Bear Grylls said: "These young people have lived the adventure of a lifetime to achieve their Queen's Scout Awards, and I admire that spirit so much. They are huge inspirations to the other 550,000 scouts in the UK and I am so pleased that scouting has honoured them today. They are amazing."