A LONG serving member of the Melksham Scouts has been awarded a Silver Acorn award for all of his hard work with the group over the years.

Frank Alford, 77, was presented with the prestigious Scout award at a presentation ceremony at the Bear Inn in Devizes on April 11. Mr Alford, who has been a leader in the Scouts for 57 years, first joined the Scouts at the age of 11 and has stuck with them ever since.

"The Silver Acorn award is a distinguished long service medal for the time I have spent with the scouts. I started off joining as a young lad and then carried on to be a leader. During my time in the Scouts I have helped a lot of young people, it has taken me to American as well," said Mr Alford.

Even though Mr Alford knew he would be receiving the award long before the ceremony, he chose to keep it a surprise and announce it closer to the time.

“I got a letter in March telling me that I would be getting the award but I didn’t tell anyone until about two weeks before I received it. It was nice to get it but I don’t do what I do for awards, I do it to help young people in the town,” he added.

“I was one of four people to receive it, there was someone from Salisbury and two people from Swindon who all got it. We were presented them by the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire.”