A Wilton Scout leader’s 40-year-long career has been celebrated.

The former mayor of Wilton, Andrew Kinsey, was joined by family and his scouting colleagues at a celebration at Wilton Scout Hall on Sunday, January 26.

The celebration paid tribute to Andrew’s 40-year role as Scout leader with the 1st Wilton Scout Group.

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The day was full of quizzes and crafts as well as many old photographs of the group on display – and of course a presentation of cake and gifts.

Mark Warner, the district PR and media team leader, said: “The event was a great success and was well attended which just goes to show how much Andrew is appreciated by the Wilton Scout Group and the Salisbury District.”

Andrew cutting the cake Picture: Mark Warner

Andrew has been a Scout all his life, first joining 10th Salisbury Cubs at the age of eight and progressing through to Scouts and Venture Scouts.

Upon leaving school, the boss at his first job asked if he could help at Downton Scout Troop.

He eventually became Assistant Scout Leader at Downton in 1982.

In 1985, the Scout leader at 1st Wilton sadly passed away at camp, and Andrew, now married and living in Wilton, was approached to transfer to Wilton to help in the Scout troop there.

Later Andrew became the Scout leader at 1st Wilton, and after being succeeded by eldest son Ben, he became group scout leader at Wilton, leaving Ben to run the Scout troop.

Andrew on parade in his younger days Picture: Mark Warner

Matthew, his second eldest son, runs the Wilton Explorer unit whilst his wife, Alexandra, runs the Beaver colony with Elizabeth, his daughter, as one of the assistants and granddaughter Sophie is a young leader.

In addition to this, his daughter in law Ann Marie is the group’s Cub leader.

Andrew is affectionately called Mr Rivers by the Beavers, as the Beaver colony leaders are named after the Wiltshire rivers.