A civil engineer who has volunteered in the scout movement for more than 40 years has been nominated for a Merton Civic award.

David Bixsby, from Merton Park, has been a volunteer for the scout movement since 1968 when he became an assistant cub scout leader.

Despite now being in his 60’s Mr Bixsby, who has been married for 41 years and has two adult children, still works tirelessly for the movement and is involved in a range of activities from rafting and hiking to navigation.

He has help with all of these activities but the running and inspiration for them primarily comes from him and he takes overall responsibility.

He became a scout leader in 1975 with the 16th Morden Scouts and then for the 1st Morden Scouts.

With 1st Morden he managed to raise £75,000 in grants for the rebuilding of their headquarters.

In 2007 he became the assistant district commissioner for scouts in the Wimbledon and Wandle district giving up his work leading the two scout groups and instead providing help and inspiration for the next generation of leaders.

Mr Bixsby is also a nights away advisor which involves him ensuring leaders have the skills necessary to take young people away on residential experiences.

Aside from his work with the scouting movement, Mr Bixsby is also a member of the Surrey 4x4 response group who work together to assist those in need of an emergency vehicle.

At the Isle of Wight festival last year he was one of the members to assist people that had got stuck in the mud.

His wife Lesley said: "He deserves this award because he dedicates all of his free time to the needs of others in the borough and has done for many years now.

"I’m very proud of him, he wants to inspire people and share his own ideas with them."

For more information on nominating someone for a Merton Civic Award go here.

 

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