Published 9th October 2026
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Jon Kirkup as our new County Support Team Leader, to lead our sub-teams of volunteers covering Technology, Media, Safety, Equipment and Premises.
Photo credit: McDaniel Woolf (architects) / Pablo Salgueiro (photographer)
Jon first joined Scouting as a Scout and later a Venture Scout, experiences that shaped his long‑standing commitment to the movement and his passion for adventurous activities. He has volunteered with the Petersham & Ham Sea Scouts in Richmond upon Thames for almost 20 years, initially with the Cubs section and then the Scouts section, before stepping up to be Assistant Group Scout Leader for Scouts between 2018 and 2022 and then Deputy Group Scout Leader from 2022–2024. Both roles saw him work closely with Chris Wright, our County Lead Volunteer.
Jon was a key member of the Group Leadership Team during the period in which the group quadrupled in size and replaced its old HQ building. He played a central role in ensuring the new building was delivered, experience that will be invaluable to the County Team as we progress plans to redevelop our hillwalking base in Bethesda, North Wales.
Jon enjoys hiking in the mountains as much as time on the water and has led many expeditions for P&H, including to the Isle of Arran. He holds a Nights Away Permit and water activity permits.
Jon lives in Kingston upon Thames, is married to Debbie, and they have two adult children. When not Scouting, Jon is a Director at WSP, where he leads teams designing railways and stations in the UK and internationally, and previously worked for Transport for London delivering major infrastructure projects including the Northern Line Extension to Battersea Power station.
We’re pleased to welcome Jon into this role and look forward to the experience and leadership he brings to the County Support Team as we continue strengthening support across the County.
