A Tribute to Mike Loder

Andrew Totten’s photographic tribute to Mike Loder of the 10th Belfast Scout Group, who was awarded the Silver Wolf in 2012 “for services to Scouting of the most exceptional nature”.

Widely known for his work at Crawfordsburn Scout Centre, Mike’s real Scout home remained the McMordie Scout Hall in Oakland Avenue, east Belfast. He joined the 10th Belfast as a Wolf Cub in 1953, serving as Scout Leader from 1975 to 1984 and again from 1992 to 1996. (He was also an Assistant Scout Leader for many years.)

 

He led the Explorer Scouts from 2002 to 2007 and, in addition to his work on the Group Committee, became Assistant Group Scout Leader in 2011 and then Group Scout Leader for the remainder of his life.

The images in this show are accompanied by the music of Neil Diamond, whose songs became a soundtrack for generations of 10th Scouts as they endured cramped journeys in one or another of Mike’s Land Rovers.

Mike died on 28 August 2020, shortly after his 75th birthday, but his legacy lives on in the people he inspired as youngsters, and in his beloved 10th Belfast.