FORMER Scouts are joining forces to help repair the headstone of their former leader – more than 25 years after his death.

George Robertson was involved with Scouting in Haddington for more than 20 years from the early 1950s.

He passed away in 1992 and is interred in the churchyard at St Mary’s Parish Church, Haddington.

For safety reasons, the headstone has been partially buried into the ground at the cemetery but former Scouts Graham Coe and David Golightly are now trying to do their bit to see the headstone repaired.

Mr Coe would go on to succeed Mr Robertson as group leader in 1964 and was the area commissioner for East Lothian.

Mr Coe, 78, said: “Many of us still around today are really appreciative of the start in life that George Robertson gave us through the Scout movement.

“Indeed, some have even gone on to create highly successful careers as a result of the guidance we were privileged to get while spending our formative years in Haddington.”

The duo are seeking to find just over £300 to see the headstone repaired.

Mr Golightly, who moved to Australia in 1971, said Mr Robertson was a well-known figure throughout the town.

The 74-year-old told the Courier: “He was our Scout leader and he was also the principal teacher of music at Knox Academy. He was the organist at St Mary’s Parish Church as well.

“He was quite a luminary in the town and very, very well known not just in Haddington but in Dunbar, where he had business interests.

“He was organist at Dunbar Parish Church previously as well.

“We all went our own ways and have cohorts in Australia, USA, Canada and across Scotland.

“What we have in common is this period of time in the 1950s and 1960s, which was a wonderful time to be brought up in Haddington, and being a member of a highly-successful Scout group under George Robertson.”

The 2nd Haddington Scout Group met in Knox Academy’s gym hall and was so successful that two troop meetings on separate evenings had to be created to ensure everyone could take part.

Mr Coe, who lives on Haddington’s Vetch Park, and Mr Golightly, who still lives in Melbourne but is back in Scotland on holiday, are now trying to get in touch with their former Scout colleagues in a bid to see the project complete.

They have emailed former members of the 2nd Haddington Scouts across the world.

Mr Golightly added: “The cost of the work when distributed between all of us is, we believe, manageable.

“We are also aware that there are no surviving Robertson family members who may otherwise have taken responsibility for restoring the grave site – so it’s up to us to do something about it and it’s our hope former Scouts are prepared to be part of this project.”

Anyone who would like to support the project should contact Graham by email at grahamwcoe@hotmail.com