CHARITY workers got more than they bargained for when they discovered a rare silver medal hidden in an old chest of drawers.

Volunteer Arthur Mead, who works for Top Drawer, a charity that collects and sells donated furniture found the 1990 Queen’s Scout Award while polishing the unit.

The medal, which comes in a red velvet presentation case, shows a picture of St George on one side and St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, on the other.

The award, granted by King Edward VII at the recommendation of Robert Baden-Powell in 1909, is the highest award available for young scouts and is only awarded to those who already hold the Duke of Edinburgh award or have completed the five Queen’s Scout Award challenges.

The medal was found last Thursday at the charity, based in Sussex Square, Walcot, but staff have no idea who it might belong to. They are keeping the two names inscribed on the medal secret and its owner must provide these as proof of identity.

Arthur, 55, from Pinehurst, has worked at the charity for six months and said the medal was particularly unusual because it is awarded to two people.

He said: “I’d be interested to find out why there are two names on it.

“If they got them when they were 18 or 19-years-old in 1990 they must be in their mid-forties by now.

“Maybe the person who left it isn’t sentimental, but it could belong to someone who is missing it.

“There are quite a few local scout groups about.”

Top Drawer is part of Home Stonham, a national organisation which provides housing and support for more than 18,000 people across England.

Project manager for Stonham, John Woodcock, started at the charity in 2004 and said the medal was quite a mystery.

He said: “From time to time things pop up, but we haven’t had anything like this before. The excitement has grown now we’ve realised what it is.”

If you think you are the owner of the medal and can confirm the names on it, call the charity on 01793 536613.