THEY are the family who have been part of Abingdon’s scouting scene for nearly 50 years.

And this weekend the Shipmans gathered at their group’s headquarters to celebrate their organisation’s 90th birthday.

The 2nd Abingdon Scout Group was set up in 1922 and since then thousands of youngsters have passed through its doors.

Frank Shipman, from Abingdon, became a scout leader in 1965 when his son Paul said he wanted to join up.

He said: “When my son wanted to be a cub they said they needed someone to help them.

“I have always enjoyed being in this group but the youngsters still try and catch you out.”

Mr Shipman’s son Paul and his grandson Daniel Lovell are now leaders in the same group.

Mr Lovell said: “I have always been here, since before I could walk. We are just one big family here.”

On Saturday the scout group, which boasts about 150 children on its books, held a big party at its base in Farm Road with fun and games for the youngsters as well as a hog roast.

It also held a raffle to raise funds towards the extension of the base to include showers and better toilets.

One of the current cubs, Ella Shead, nine, said: “I’ve been having a lot of fun.

“I made a poster for the birthday party but I haven’t been in the group for that long.”

The 2nd Abingdon Scout Group is made up of two Beaver colonies, one Cub pack and a Royal Navy recognised Sea Scout troop.

When the group was founded it was based in Ock Street though it moved to Selwood Road after its scout hut burnt down in the 1940s.

It moved to its current base in Farm Road in 1964.

Group scout leader Rita Alexander said: “I think it is quite a feat reaching our 90th birthday and we are still growing in numbers.”

Anthony Yates, the group’s chairman, used to be part of the group as a child.

He said: “It is a real family group and the parents who bring their children here are people I knew from my youth here.”