THE Scouting fraternity turned out in force to say farewell to one of their popular leaders.

Ken Anderson worked at Morris Motors at Cowley and had been promoted to work for the car manufacturers in New Zealand.

The Scout movement in Oxfordshire was determined to give him a proper send-off. Dozens turned out at Youlbury Scout Camp to wish him well.

The picture comes from Pat Desborough, whose parents, Ken and Joan Wellstood, are in the front row.

Sitting alongside them are Bill Barnes, Len Launchbury and his wife and Ken Anderson.

Mrs Desborough, who lives at Long Eaton, Derbyshire, writes: “Ken Anderson was County Commissioner for Scouts in Oxfordshire and also the Group Scout leader for the 8th Highfield Headington Scout group.

“He lived at Shotover Mound. He was a well-travelled man and had spent time in America with a Red Indian tribe and owned many souvenirs, including grass skirts, swords and shields.”

At that time, Morris cars were flat-packed and sent abroad to countries like New Zealand where workers under Mr Anderson’s leadership would follow the instruction manuals and assemble them.

Mrs Desborough’s father, Ken Wellstood, wrote the manuals at Cowley and that was how he and Mr Anderson became close colleagues.

The two men were also closely linked in the Scout movement, with Mr Anderson persuading Mr Wellstood to take charge of the Scout shop in Turl Street, where he worked for 25 years.

As we recalled (Memory Lane, March 9), Mr Wellstood’s wife, Joan, was wardrobe mistress of the Scout Gang Show in Oxford for 30 years.

Any more Scouting memories? Write and let me know.