Q&A with Paul Ellis; our new Assistant County Commissioner for Explorer Scouts.

Paul, how are you feeling taking on this new challenge?

I’m really looking forward to a new challenge.  I’ve had a short break from Scouting and have been looking to get back involved. 

What motivated you taking on the role?

Explorers is a great part of Scouting. It gives young people loads of chances to do exciting, different and challenging things – and I hope I can help to support that and help it to continue and develop even more.

Tell our members a bit about yourself.

I was a Cub and a Scout (briefly!), I’m a dad and a husband. I got involved in Scouting again when my son joined Cubs and my daughter joined Beavers. I helped there before starting up an Explorer Sea Scout Unit. I was an Explorer leader and I was the DESC for Birkenhead for a while. In the real world I’m a photographer and get to photograph loads of interesting people and events, sometimes around the world, but mostly across the north of England.  I spend a lot of time travelling around the country. 

What have been your highlights as a member yourself? 

Being part of the leadership team on the 2018 Explorer Belt in Hungary was definitely one of the highlights. I’ve always loved summer camps. As an Explorer leader I led camps to places across the country, my favourite’s being the Isle of Man, Nottinghamshire and in North Yorkshire. Seeing an Explorer come back from camp having done a weeks’ worth of activities and having had a great time makes all the organisation definitely worth it.

You’re stuck on desert island. What three things do you take with you?

A towel (I take my own towel everywhere!), I’m a bit of a diet coke addict so a multipack (surely that counts as one thing!) oh, and a Birkenhead Gang Show DVD (obviously I’d use it to reflect the sun and use it to attract the attention of passing ships!)

What was the last album you listened to? 

My music tastes are so completely varied that I can never really choose. I listen to a lot of news based radio when I’m working so I generally like music I can sing along to on my way home. The last ones I listened to were probably a bit of Beautiful South or Shed Seven – sing a long stuff!

What is your favourite Movie? 

I love British films; my kids groan every time I suggest we watch Brassed Off! I also love the Tom Hanks film ‘Big’.

If you could choose any meal, what would it be?

Fish and chips – with mushy peas and a slice of white bread and butter. Salt and vinegar please! I have very high standards when it comes to fish and chips!

If you could turn any activity into an Olympic sport, what would you have a good chance at winning medal for?

Parallel parking.

Do you have a claim to fame?

Not really a claim to fame but people often see me on TV, on the news when I’m covering stories at work or at sporting events, usually taking pictures at football matches.

Have you ever met a famous person?

Quite a few through work. Footballers, politicians and royalty. Most of the time I don’t get to talk to them that much, but I have chatted to a few Prime Ministers and members of the Royal Family over the years.

If you could dinner with a famous person, who would it be?

I’d love to have fish and chips with Ruth Jones and James Corden. As a family we love Gavin and Stacey – during an Explorer Summer Camp we even popped into Barry Island and were invited in to look around Gwen’s house!

If you could make a 20 second phone call to yourself at any point in your life past or future, when would you call and what would you say?

Just enjoy yourself, make the most of your friends and family, make sure you give something back and try not to have too many regrets.

Simple stuff really, but not always that easy!