TAMLAGHT man, Frank McGowan, only became a Scout in his 40s.

But he has certainly made up for lost time since then.

Initially only filling in as a Scout Leader in Lisbellaw, he rose to the ranks of Assistant County Commissioner for Fermanagh.

One of the Fermanagh Trust’s 20 Community Heroes, Frank says his experience with the Scouts over the last 25 years has been as rewarding for him as for those he has strived to inspire.

“I joined back in 1990,” he explains, “They were short of leaders in the Lisbellaw group. A few of us were asked to help out for a while. Well, I’m still in the Scouts now!” Taking on the job of Assistant County Commissioner brought an entirely new brand of responsibilities -- a role he stepped down from last year.

“I had to oversee all the groups in the county and help out with various events and liaise with all the leaders too,” he explained, “It was a big responsibility. But you don’t do it all on your own.

“It is a team effort and a group thing, really.

“You are helping leaders out with new ideas -- we are always reinventing things.” Frank believes the Scouting Association is one of the world’s greatest youth groups.

“It’s all about the outdoors -- that’s what I enjoy about it. Giving leadership and training the youth. Providing them with important life skills.” One of Frank’s proudest moments within the youth organisation was the 100th anniversary of the Scouts, celebrated locally through a huge camping event at Gortatole in 2007.

One of the key organisers of the event, he was responsible for the 600 Scouts who took part.

“It was a mighty event,” he says, “It went like a breeze. But only because we had such fantastic leaders.

“It took six months to organise. That was my greatest achievement.” Despite the enormity of such an event, Frank has found it was always the smaller gestures that young people appreciated the most.

“I have bumped into young people who are young people no more -- they are grown adults who have gone on to find jobs. Some of them say to me: ‘Do you not remember me from Scouts?!’ “Many of them have changed so much I would hardly recognise them. But so many of them have described to me the things that they enjoyed most about Scouts. And usually it was just me doing something silly to amuse them. I would have thought nothing of it, but they obviously thought it was brilliant!” Although still a devoted Scout, Frank has taken a step back form his responsibilities.

“I wanted to let younger people come in and take on those kind of roles. Scouts need the youth coming in with fresh ideas to keep it going.

“Of course, older people helping out and who have experience is so important, too!” Ask why he thinks he was nominated as a Community Hero, Frank is lost for words.

“I just can’t believe it,” he says, “I wouldn’t have a clue why I was nominated.

“Fermanagh has a great bunch of Scout leaders -- some of the best in the North. We have always been lucky that way.

“Interesting people who are passionate about Scouting. You couldn’t ask for better people to work with.

“Scouting has been a phenomenal experience for me. I have had just as many life experiences through it as some of the younger people.”