FROM a chef badge to an astronomy award, keen cub Jason Cooper has managed to get a full house.

The rare feat to get a full set of all 60 proficiency and challenge tasks was completed thanks to three years of hard work.

Determined Jason, 11, set out on a mission to achieve all his badges after his Akela Lesley Creasey, of 1st Kesgrave Scout Group, set him a challenge when he joined as an eight-year-old.

His mum Julia Cooper, 47, said: “He was doing really well and earning lots of his activity badges when Akela said to him ‘Jason, I don’t think I have had a cub earn all their badges’ and that was like a gauntlet to Jason.

“He then really set out and worked hard to get the remainder of his activity badges, all his challenge awards and that got his Silver Award.”

Jason, who has now moved up to Scouts, has 60 badges sewn onto his jumper for activities including DIY, global conservation, physical recreation and scientist.

Mrs Cooper, who lives in Kesgrave with husband Ian, 52, and sons Guy, 13, and Hal, eight, added: “The badges are not given out for just anything.

“He took part in things that he wouldn’t otherwise have done such as equestrian which was one of the hardest but one that Jason really enjoyed.

“He probably enjoyed the scientist badge most, though.”

Mrs Cooper, who is a cub leader for 1st Kesgrave Scout Group, said the family has a long tradition of Scouting with Jason’s great-grandparents and grandparents involved in the movement.

“I’m kind of doubly pleased because not only am I a leader in his pack, but I’m also his mum,” she added.

“To have a child achieve this is fantastic and to have someone in your cub pack is a brilliant achievement.

“I’m just over the moon for him really. His grandad is really ecstatic because it follows in our family traditions.” His group leader, Lesley Creasey said: “It is a rare achievement and in the 20 years I have been in scouting at Kesgrave, I have never seen a cub complete the challenge.

“It’s a lot for an 11-year-old to achieve but the lovely thing is that all his family are involved in scouting and that the tradition has run on as his little brother has just become a Cub.”

n Have you completed a rare challenge? Write to Your Letters, Ipswich Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail starletters@archant.co.uk