A MAN who has been at the heart of the district’s Scouting movement for over half a century is about to hang up his neckerchief.

Bob Hubbock has been a firm fixture within the Scout Association’s Tynedale District, now known as the Hadrian District, since the 1960s, leading several troops in the Tyne Valley and serving as assistant district commissioner (ADC).

Now at the age of 73, the man who has witnessed unprecedented change within scouting and wider society, is retiring from his lifelong hobby.

Bob is the latest recipient of the Courant’s Bouquet of the Week, which honours citizens who have made significant contributions to their community.

“I feel it’s the right time,” said Bob. “Retiring will give me more time to write the history of scouting in the district, putting a lot of my memories and knowledge to paper.”

It’s been quite a journey for Bob who started life at Spartylea, before moving to Haydon Bridge with his family at the age of four.

A keen scout as a youngster, he was given the chance to become a leader at the Haydon Bridge troop in 1968, when he was aged just 18.

“It was very different back then,” he said. “It was very male dominated. Dad’s would bring their sons to scouts and it was a ‘lads and dads’ type of environment.

Bob played a key role in the success of Scout camps at Dilston Scout Camp in the 1970s, which used to attract youngsters from across the UK. During the same era, Bob teamed up with John Dixon to spark an interest in Scouting at Haltwistle, and his commitment to Tynedale saw him land the honour of the ADC role.

By the time Tynedale became known as the Hadrian District in 2000, a local troop at Wark had already become the first in the country to welcome girls, in the mid 1990s.

Bob explained: “There were a lot of changes but in Scouting, you always have to move with the times. Now there’s a lot of girls involved and its great to see them benefitting from the basic principles of Scouting, which I believe are a good sound basis for all young people.”

Bob, who also played key roles at troops in Corbridge, Riding Mill, and Stocksfield, said he treasured his memories.