A GROUP of lucky scouts from Ramsbottom will travel to London to take up ‘grandstand’ seats to watch the famous ‘Trooping of the Colour’ ceremony.

The 5th Holcombe and Ramsbottom scout group were given 20 tickets for the event, which marks the official birthday of the Queen, out of a total of 250 tickets which are handed to scout groups across the country.

Groups can only apply for tickets once every five years, and luckily the Ramsbottom group have 16 youngsters and four leaders, so noone was left out.

The group is made up of youngsters between the ages of 10 and 14, and they will sit in the youth enclosure at the event.

Following the parade, they will then be able to walk along The Mall behind the Royal procession, and witness a flypast by the Royal Air Force.

Scout leader Leesa Beckwith, of Engle Close, Ramsbottom, said it was the first time during her 24 years in the Scouts within Ramsbottom that such a trip had been made possible.

She said: “We were absolutely over the moon, and will be an absolute honour to be there. We are there to represent Ramsbottom, and we hope to do the town proud.

“To go there and see the Queen and the Royal Family is the opportunity of a lifetime.”

Mrs Beckwith, aged 42, has been a scout leader for the group for five years, and was previously at the St Joseph’s scout group since the age of 18.

She said that the day will be made even more special as some of the scouts will be “invested” on the day, whereby members of the younger cub groups officially join the older group.

Mrs Beckwith, who works as a secretary for the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain regulating the safety of travelling funfairs, said her passion for working with children has kept her involved for so long.

She said: “I love it because I am involved with the children and give them something they can take away for the rest of their life, whether it be tying a knot or learning how to light a fire."