THREE generations of the same family helped to launch the first Beaver group of St Ives Sea Scouts on Saturday. Thomas Fisher, aged seven, was aided by his father, Paul, a former sea scout, and his grandfather, Sidney, a founder member of St Ives Sea Scou

THREE generations of the same family helped to launch the first Beaver group of St Ives Sea Scouts on Saturday.

Thomas Fisher, aged seven, was aided by his father, Paul, a former sea scout, and his grandfather, Sidney, a founder member of St Ives Sea Scout group back in 1957 when the group was started by the then Vicar of Hemingford Grey, Donald E Brown.

Until now, girls and boys in St Ives have had to wait until reaching the age of 10 before joining the Sea Scouts. The formation of the Beaver group means they can now join at six.

The St Ives Sea Scouts celebrate their 50th anniversary this year - and the scouting movement as a whole marks 100 years since it was founded by Lord Baden Powell.

In St Ives, the Sea Scouts have been meeting on Holt Island since the group opened, but this is the first time it has had a Beaver group.

Sidney Fisher, now 61, said being in the Sea Scouts was fun: "You learn a lot about boating. That was where I started and I now navigate boats across the North Sea."

Mr Fisher is chairman of both Goba (The Great Ouse Boating Association) and the Inland Waterways Festival, set to take place in St Ives this August.

He added that joining Sea Scouts can help children grow up responsibly.

"I think in the scouts you learn responsibility towards others," he said.

"Unfortunately, the world at large has become very selfish. Being in the scouts teaches you the difference between right and wrong."

The entire Fisher family is involved with the sea and rivers in different ways.

Mr Fisher and his son Paul run an engine restoration company, also restoring boat engines.

Paul's sister, Beverley Smart, rows in Hemingford Regatta and his sister, Jo-Anne Bull, corrects sea charts for Imray, Laurie, Norie and Wilson in St Ives.

INFORMATION: The new St Ives Sea Scout Beaver Colony will meet fortnightly on Saturday mornings between 9.30 and 11.30am. For more details about the beaver scouts, contact Sue Best on 01480 494487 or e-mail su.best@btinternet.com