OUR thanks to Mrs Jenny Ackerman who phoned after seeing this picture of the scout hut in Shutes Lane, Symondsbury.

She remembers the scout master was Jack Short, who was a hairdresser in West Street and leader of the guides, who also operated from there, was his wife, but she doesn’t recall her first name.

Her own memories of the hut stem from her membership of the Symondsbury branch of the WI, which used the building for all its events and meetings until it fell into disrepair.

Mrs Ackerman is a keen fan of the WI – her mother gave her a subscription on her 20th birthday in 1951 and she’s been a member ever since and she’s 85 now.

She said: “I am still in the Bridport WI – 65 years in April.

“I liked everything about the WI. I have learnt a lot. I have been honoured to go to the big meetings in London as a delegate and there are several clubs belonging to it that I have been involved with over the years.

“It has just become part of life. When my children were growing they knew WI from day one and they got roped in for various things.

“And I have made a lot of good friends over the years. I met someone on Tuesday of this week who I haven’t seen for about 20 years. We are all friends together and it is lovely.

She added: “I have lots of memories of that hut.

“I always read the Bridport News every week. Last week you had a report of a diamond wedding (of Ted Davis and Monica Oxenbury) and I remember she she was married.

“It is lovely to see these things.”

Gill Evans, whose photo it is, also got in touch to say: “The scout hut had previously been in the grounds of Norburton Hall, the home of the Knightsmith sisters, who were keen supporters of the scout movement. For some reason It was no longer needed there and it was given to Symondsbury scouts.

“I guess that the tall man on the right was the county commissioner.”