It is with deep regret that The Scout Association and Girlguiding UK announces the death of their Vice President, the Hon Mrs Betty Clay, CBE, and youngest daughter of our Founder, Lord Baden-Powell. She died peacefully in her sleep in a nursing home alongside her home in Somerset, on Saturday morning 24th April 2004, just a few days after she and Gervas, her husband had celebrated their joint birthday - her 87th and his 97th.

In 1997 her unique services to Scouting and Guiding were recognised with the award of the CBE in Her Majesty the Queen's New Year's Honours List.

Camping, events, meetings, Jamborees - Scouting and Guiding were Betty's life. She was at ease chatting with the King of Sweden as she was with the youngest Cub Scout or Brownie Guide.

Betty continued that completely unselfish, warm-hearted sharing all her life and through the link with her parents kept them 'alive' for millions of young people and adults who had never seen them. Today the Scout Association is the largest coeducational youth Movement operating in the United Kingdom with 500,000 Members. An amazing link from Lord Robert Baden-Powell born 1857 and died 1941 of father to daughter of this 2004 year. Betty Clay was the last direct link of her generation, but two grandsons – the present Lord Robert Baden-Powell and David Michael Baden-Powell are with us as a continuing link. Betty Clay was a wonderful person to all who met her, and always looked forward to the future and never on the past – she will be much missed by all.