TRIBUTES have been paid to a former scout leader who was involved in the movement for an incredible 74 years.

Charles Hill, of St Leonards Gardens, Heston, died peacefully at home on December 7, aged 86.

He first joined the scouts in 1935 and continued to play an active role - barring a short hiatus for the Second World War - until a fall last year forced him to step down.

Charles was made district commissioner for Cranford, Heston and Hounslow in 1967, and spent 16 years in the position. He went on to become the borough commissioner and later borough liaison officer.

Born in Fulham in 1924, Charles moved to Great West Road, Osterley, aged 11 and studied at the old Bulstrode School. He joined a scout group in Spring Grove that year, before moving to the 2nd Hounslow (Holy Trinity) troop in 1936.

In 1942, he was called up to the Army and served in the Royal Artillery, seeing two tours of duty in India and Burma before being demobbed in 1947. He went on to work for a number of companies as a cashier and wages controller, but scouting would always remain his first love.

Charles became scout master of 2nd Hounslow in 1951, serving in this capacity until 1978. During that time he passed on his passion for cooking to hundreds of youngsters.

Charles first met his future wife Barbara in Porthleven, Cornwall, in 1949. The couple, who tied the knot five years later, went on to name their house in St Leonards Gardens after the holiday resort. They had two children, Ian and Catherine, who gave them three grandchildren, James, Lauren, and Martin.

Barbara said her husband was never happier than when he was helping other people and liked to remain busy. Despite his involvement with the scouts, he still found time to join the Freemasons, becoming a founder member of the Middlesex St George Lodge in 1989.

He was also president of Hounslow Rotary Club in 1994/5 and was awarded a Paul Harris fellowship in 1998.

Other groups with which he volunteered included the Heston Parochial Charity, the Hounslow Youth Leaders Council, the Lampton Lodge Trust and the Focus Youth Centre.

In 2007, he was given a Hounslow Senior Star award by the council in recognition of his good work.