Scouts lined up to pay tribute to their long-standing president who died at the age of 91.

Norman Alfred William Hicks will be “sadly missed” by everyone in Watford North Scouting and the wider Scouting area after passing away on November 2.

A funeral was held for the former district scout president on Wednesday and he was led into West Herts Crematorium, in High Elms Lane, Watford, by many scouts he had worked with over the years.

Norman was born in Plymouth, Devon in 1926, son of a Warder at Dartmoor prison.

After National Service in the Durham Light Infantry, Norman married Joyce in 1948 and they had three children, Pat, Norman and John.

They lived in Abbots Langley and for many years after an apprenticeship at Scammells in Watford, he worked as Group Plant Engineer for Remploy, the company that employs disabled people - often ex-servicemen - and trains them to make furniture and other household items.

A long-standing member of the 9th SW Herts Scout Group, one of the oldest Scout Groups in the area and formerly the Church Scout Patrol, now 1st North Watford, Norman served scouting in many different ways.

At the 1st, he was an assistant scout leader from 1948, then scout leader from 1953 to 1986 before becoming group scout leader on the retirement of his close friend Den Wright in 1983.

During this period, he was also in charge of costumes for the SW Herts Gang Show which used to take place annually at the Watford Palace Theatre. The Show closed in 1972.

He remained a key member of the 1st’s Group Executive Committee and served in that role for many years up until 2001.

He “retired” and was appointed to the District Executive Committee where he remained until 2006. During all these years, he was a regular attender at the 1st Group Executive meetings as well and his “wise counsel” was always available to the group.

Norman’s fundraising brought regular bingo sessions at the headquarters in Leggatts Way and as well as being District public relations officer, he also supported the Langleybury Coffee Mornings and was at the October event this year.

When the 5th group’s headquarters burnt to the ground in 1998, Norman acted as group chairman and saw through the redevelopment of the Langleybury site, working with the architect, builders, insurers, and group members.

The foundation stone was laid by the then Chief Scout W George Purdy in 2001 and Norman was appointed a District Vice President in 2004, becoming District President in June 2011.

In all his Scouting activities, his wife Joyce was a “huge support”, but died in 2015.

After many good service awards, Norman was awarded the Scout Association’s highest award, the Silver Wolf in 2009 “In Recognition of Service of the Most Exceptional Nature” and also held the 60 year Service Award.