IT’S a great shame there are now more than 50 legal cases of historic sex abuse within the Scout Association.

It’s a terrible experience for individuals to cope with, at such a young age, and lives will have been badly damaged. It’s also a great pity it has happened to the Scout Association because it damages the organisation’s credibility.

It also distracts from the first-class work it does and the millions of lives scouting has helped shape for the good. The scouting movement is still a wonderful way for youngsters to learn values, team-work and self-reliance, and always will be.