A scouts association in Middlesbrough has held a double celebration.
To mark its 90th anniversary, the 1st North Ormesby B.P. Scout Group (formerly the 14th Middlesbrough) held a special reunion for past members at St Alphonsus Church Hall in North Ormesby.
The group’s cub master Sylvia Rutherford also celebrated notching up 60 years’ service with the scouts.
Sylvia, 78, and her husband Graham, 72, who live in Thornaby now but were born, raised and started married life in North Ormesby, joined the scouts and guides as children.
“I have enjoyed every minute of it,” said Sylvia, known as Akela to scouts - she was presented with a bronze wolf at the anniversary celebrations.
“There are just so many highlights but seeing children going through the group and coming back as leaders is one.”
Sylvia, a retired clerical officer who volunteers two mornings a week for the Citizens Advice Bureau, said the scout association received £10,000 lottery funding last year which has been used to renovate the kitchen of their scout hut in Northumberland.
The hut is used for camping trips for the scouts and the funding also paid for a supply of waterproof clothing for the children.
Sylvia has decided to step down as cub master but will remain in an assistant role while her replacement gets started.
Graham, who has been the group leader for 53 years and is the chief commissioner for the country, said: “It makes me feel old when people pushing prams in the town centre shout to me ‘Hello Skip’.
“We must have seen more than 1,000 kids over the years.”
The retired police officer, who said he is staying on as group leader, added: “It was an emotional evening. It’s been our lives really.
“To clock up 60 years is an achievement, she is easily the longest serving leader in our association.”
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