In 1977, whilst at Oxford reading theology at St Stephen's House, Oxford, he re-founded the "St Stephen's House Rover Crew" as an independent venture, with the blessing of the then principal, David Hope).
In 1979, he discovered that the British Boy Scouts (BBS) still existed as a single Troop in Lewisham.
A former principal of St Stephen's House had been the chaplain to the Lewisham Troop of the BBS.
Travelling to Lewisham during the 1979 Easter recess, he sought out Charles Brown, the BBS Chief Commissioner and Grand Scoutmaster.
Michael Foster was the seventh Grandscoutmaster in succession to Sir Francis Vane.