Retired Sunderland scout leader celebrates 100th birthday

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Jim Otterson was born on October 25, 1920, in Monkwearmouth, Sunderland, and ran the Seaburn Dene, 26th Sunderland cubs and scouts group with late wife Irene between the 1950s-1970s.

He was also later heavily involved in overseeing the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme locally and was twice invited to Buckingham Palace.

His only child, Jim Junior, 75, of East Boldon, said: “Even when he was well into his 90s he would get himself up Fulwell or Morrisons and people would say ‘hello, skip’ to him. He seems to have touched so many lives.”

Former Sunderland scout leader Jim Otterson celebrates his 100th birthday on October 25.

Jim Senior comes from a family steeped in scouting tradition – older brother Tom served as Sunderland’s district commissioner – and he joined the quaintly-named Dora’s Lighthouse cub pack in 1928.

After moving to a scout troop connected to Williamson Terrace Methodist Church, he briefly met movement founder Robert Baden-Powell at a jamboree in Raby Castle, County Durham, in 1936.

Jim Senior then served as a leading aircraftman with the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War before renewing his Sunderland scouting links by helping out with the St Gabriel’s cub pack.

After buying his first house in Seaburn Dene in 1956 – his family believe he may be the estate’s oldest resident – Jim Senior and Irene were instrumental in a campaign to build the 26th group’s new headquarters.

Former scout leader Jim Otterson, who celebrates his 100th birthday on October 25, is pictured with two of his brothers and fellow Williamson Terrace scouts in 1936.
From left to right, Bill Prentice, Will Otterson, Eric Brown, Alan Goldsborough, Tom Otterson, Jim Otterson and Bill Dickinson. — Former scout leader Jim Otterson, who celebrates his 100th birthday on October 25, is pictured with two of his brothers and fellow Williamson Terrace scouts in 1936. From left to right, Bill Prentice, Will Otterson, Eric Brown, Alan Goldsborough, Tom Otterson, Jim Otterson and Bill Dickinson.

The esteem he is held in was shown at a scouting reunion to mark his 90th birthday, as his son recalls: “He was and somewhat overwhelmed by the number of people during the evening who had a quiet word with him, saying how important Jim and Irene had been to them in their lives.”

Jim Senior, who mainly worked in quality control for Thorn EMI and is now married to Dorothy, is also proud that his three great grandchildren, Yasmin and James Otterson and Jack Laidler, have maintained the family’s scouting links.

Message from the Editor:

Jim Otterson, second right, with Prince Edward, now the Earl of Essex, far right, at a Duke of Edinburgh's Award event.

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