Village says a fond farewell to 'Mr Burnopfield'

Jun 30 2009 by Joanne Butcher, The Journal

A VILLAGE yesterday gave a final salute to a pillar of the community. Noble Campbell Angus Parker, known as “Mr Burnopfield” thanks to his work in the village, passed away last week aged 85.

His coffin draped with the Scout flag and adorned with flowers spelling out “Skip”, his Scout nickname, Mr Parker was laid to rest with a guard of honour from the institution to which he dedicated 70 years of his life.

Mr Parker’s widow Margaret, 66, paid tribute to a wonderful man who worked hard for his community until the very end. “He was Noble by name and by nature,” she said. “He was always there for everyone.

“The phone has not stopped ringing, everyone in the village knew him.”

A former officer with the Metropolitan Police in London, Mr Parker led a varied and busy life. In 1952 he was on duty during King George VI’s funeral.

But his great love was always for his County Durham home town, where he volunteered a Scout leader, cricket club president, and church verger.

A lover of the great outdoors, he first joined the Burnopfield Scout troop in 1936. At just 16, he took over as leader after war called the older Scout leaders away to serve their country.

In 1953, Mr Parker started the second Burnopfield Scout troop, where he served as group Scout leader until his eighties.