Pete Bourne of Hulles Way, North Baddesley's group Scout leader, was on Tuesday presented with the parishioner of the year award, by chairman Alan Dowden.

The highways engineer in local government, who travels the 50 miles to work in Wokingham, Berkshire, could be described as a much travelled man in Scouting.

Aged eight he joined the Croydon Scout Group as a cub, where his father was leader.

When the family moved to Crawley he joined the scouts with his two brothers his father again taking office in the movement.

By the time he was 17 he had become assistant Scout Leader moving to Southampton, aged 26, for more scouting work. He spent three years in Hythe, where he married his wife Ann, becoming Scout Leader there.

Then came the move to North Baddesley in 1983.

He had two years as assistant district commissioner (Scouts) in Southampton before he decided he was too far away to do the job properly and concentrated on Baddesley Scouting under Ken Gowans.

Ann and Pete's sons Mark and Paul are now taking their place as the third generation in Scout leadership

Pete has just been awarded the silver acorn by the Chief Scout in the St George's Day awards.

Expressing his thanks for the award Mr Bourne said Scouting was a team effort emphasised by his wife being unable to be present that evening as she was helping to run the Baddesley Beavers.

Cllr Dowden recalled that he had been a Scout adding: "Iteaches you to work as a team."