A MAN whose name was synonymous with the Cub and Scout movement in Teesdale for more than 70 years has died aged 95.
Ken Stannard had a life long love of the Scouting movement and was only six when he joined the Cubs in Barnard Castle in 1930.
He served as a group leader for the Cubs in Barnard Castle for more than 51 years and was only the second person in south-west Durham to be awarded the prestigious Silver Acorn award. The first having been given to his late brother, Jack. Mr Stannard was also assistant district commissioner for south-west Durham for many years.
The former butcher was born in Ryhope on December 29, 1922, and moved to Cornwall early in his childhood where his father was stationed in Naval intelligence. His father was a telegraphist during the Battle of Jutland and later worked for the Coastguard.
His daughter, Margret Steen, said: “My dad’s earliest memory was that the lighthouse cottages were being painted and, when the painters went for their lunch, he and his friends went in and started painting over the walls. His dad said, ‘that little monkey goes to school on Monday’.”
The family moved to Barnard Castle in 1929 and soon after Mr Stannard and his brother, Jack, joined the Scouts. He left school at 14 and began his working life at Thompson and Foster Butchers.
Mrs Steen said: “It was while working as a butcher boy that he met the love of his life, my mum [Winnie]. She was a children’s nanny, living in Bede Road – almost exactly opposite where they bought a house in 1971. He used to deliver meat to the house where my mum worked and she always knew that he was coming because she could hear him whistling. Everyone knew him by his whistling.”
In June 1942 Mr Stannard joined the RAF after a stint in the Home Guard.
He was married during leave from Italy in January 1946.
Their only child was born in October 1949. Mrs Steen said: “He used to tell people that they lost the recipe book.”
His career in the Scouts was extensive with him being appointed assistant cub master in 1941 and cub master in 1949. He became senior Scout master in 1952 and assistant district commissioner in 1966.
In 1965 he earned the Scout medal of merit and in 1976 he visited Windsor Castle for the St George’s Day parade where he was awarded the prestigious Silver Acorn.
His daughter said: “He liked fishing and gardening. He loved his allotment and used to grow all sorts of vegetables, a lot of which he’d give away when their freezer was full to overflowing. He used to like to make hanging baskets for the patio at the back and won prizes from the council on more than one occasion for the lovely flowers. His front garden used to draw admiring glances from passersby and people on the bus.”
The couple also loved dancing and made many great friends at various dance clubs. They also played bowls in The Bowes Museum’s grounds.
His wife died in January 2017, just two weeks short of their 71st anniversary.
Ms Steen said: “All in all my dad has had a great life. He never lost his sense of humour.”
A service, led by Revd Richard Hunter, was held for Mr Stannard at Trinity Methodist Church on Thursday, June 28. He is survived by his daughter Margaret and son-in-law Phil, grandchildren Andrew, David and Catherine, and seven great-grandchildren.
