FOR someone who only joined his first Scout group because he was persuaded to by his father, Kidderminster's Ted Ebury has gone on to record a remarkable list of achievements.

Mr Ebury, who will be 91 in August, has just finished serving on the executive committee for the Kidderminster district and eight years ago retired as the district secretary for the Scout Council after 47 years in the position.

Mr Ebury, of Sion Hill, also has a deep passion for trains and is president of the Branch Line Society for the Midlands. The group organises and issues information on rail trips.

His love of railways has enabled him to enjoy journeys to South Africa, China, Poland the Czech Republic, Turkey and India.

Mr Ebury, who was born in Kidderminster, said: "At a young age I went to live in Birmingham because my father was in the police force there.

"He virtually told me I was going to join the Cubs and at the age of eight I began at the 1st Cannon Hill troop.

"Sadly, my father died in the flu epidemic of 1918 and I had to go to the Josiah Mason Orphanage in Birmingham.

"In 1921 a Scout troop was formed there which I joined."

He got his first taste of leadership in the Scouts in 1925 a short while after returning to Kidderminster when he was asked to become patrol leader of the St Mary's troop and eventually assistant Scout master.

By then Mr Ebury had caught the Scout bug and in 1933 he established his own group in Broadwaters.

The group eventually became known as Wolverley Scouts.

Mr Ebury, who began his working life in what was then the Ideal Benefits Society in Rugby, went on to serve in the Second World War and as a civil servant.

He returned to the Wolverley group after the war.

He said: "I was asked to be the district secretary for three months and ended up doing it for 47 years.

"It's certainly the longest three months of my time!

"When I left the position, the Scout Association awarded me the Silver Wolf medal which is the biggest honour you can receive.

"I treasure it along with my Midland merit prize which I also won."

Mr Ebury, a widower, who has a son and granddaughter, said: "The beauty of both my hobbies is the chance they provide to meet people from all walks of life.

"The biggest honour was definitely receiving the Silver Wolf because it isn't awarded without a lot of hard work and dedication."