GENERATIONS of Scouts and scores of residents flocked to Cockerton to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 8th Darlington Scout Group.

Darlington’s Mayor and Mayoress, Gerald and Ruth Lee, attended the open day held at the Scouts’ Cockerton headquarters and cut an anniversary cake to celebrate the group’s centenary.

More than 300 people attended and enjoyed tours of the Cockerton headquarters, plus displays of scouting equipment and models illustrating how scouting has changed over the last hundred years.

A main attraction for history enthusiasts and Cockerton scout alumni was a special museum created within the building housing all manner of historical scouting artefacts and a timeline charting the evolution of the 8th Group.

The event – held almost 100-years to the day that the group was formed - was one of several planned throughout the summer to mark the Cockerton Scouts’ historic anniversary and Alec Llewellyn, group leader, was delighted with its success.

He said: “It has been a fantastic turnout with over 300 here people from the ages of three to 97.

“There have been a lot of past members attend, it has been great to see them and a lot of acquaintances have been renewed.

“We didn’t know how many people would come, the whole point was to say ‘we are here, we are 100-years-old come and join us in our celebrations’.”

Mr Llewellyn added that the event was also about enticing the wider public into the historic building to find out more about the heritage of the 17th century former Inn.

He said: “There must be thousands of people that walk past this building and don’t know anything about it.

“This was a chance for them to come in and have a look and I’m pleased that people have taken that opportunity.”

Darlington Mayor Gerald Lee, who chose ‘youth’ as one of his mayoral themes for the year, said he appreciated what the scouts stood for.

“They are taught good values, to help and support other people,” he said.

“They learn to be independent, to be self reliant and learn a set of values that they will take with them through their lives.”

The 8th Darlington scouts will continue celebrating their centenary throughout the year, with further events planned including a Garden Fete on June 13, an open camp in August and a party night in September.