Alex McFadden, Badger

Alex McFadden is one Badger you'd want to have around in an emergency.  In July 2006, only nine months after joining Badgers, he won the Roy Follett Badger of the Year award for his bravery shown at a road traffic accident in November 2005. This is on top of the 'runner-up Badger of the month' award he won only two months into being a Badger!

Alex has a wide range of hobbies including playing football and rugby with his friends, cycling, drawing, inventing cartoon characters and of course Badgers!

He explains: 'At Badgers I enjoy playing games that the Badger group decide on. I like the fact that you can meet new friends and that they do not allow bullying. In a normal meeting we start with our leader calling our name out and then we go and pay our 'subs'. We then do some drill, after which we play a 'warm-up game' and then we start with whatever badge we are working on.

'So far I have mostly enjoyed 'Active Badger' which I have now passed.  We have a laugh when we are practising putting on bandages. It's never the same each week!'

With such a good start at St John, there's no doubt that Alex will have a long and happy future within the organisation. In a few years time, Cadet of the year will be in sight too!