Solicitor and stalwart of the Scouting movement; Born May 5, 1915; Died June 30, 2008.

LEX Watson, who has died aged 93, was a solicitor, war veteran and long-time member of the Scout movement whose voluntary work saw him being made an MBE.

After schooling in Giffnock and at Glasgow High School, he studied law at Glasgow University and, after the war, joined first Brown Ferguson and later Campbell Riddell as a partner and opened their office in Giffnock.

During the war, Watson's regiment was left behind at Dunkirk to help cover the escape. On being captured he was wounded and was sent first to a hospital in France, on to Germany and then to Poland, where he was interned.

When defeat was near, the Germans marched him and fellow prisoners more than 400 miles through the winter snow, feeding by scavenging from the fields. Watson was one of the lucky ones: he survived.

Back in Glasgow, he returned to his profession as a solicitor and threw himself back in to two of his great passions: the Scout movement and hillwalking.

Returning to the 28th Glasgow (Giffnock) Scout troop, whose patrol leaders had sent him cards and photographs which had kept him going in the prisoner-of-war camp, he worked tirelessly for them and also became interested in what was in those days unfashionably called handicapped Scouts.

From running weekly meetings in Mearnskirk and Philipshill hospitals to the establishment of special troops for youngsters in Glasgow and elsewhere, he had huge influence on the disabled boys themselves and on the many young people from across the city whom he recruited to help.

Later he became commissioner for handicapped Scouts, first in Glasgow and then in Scotland, finally becoming chairman of Scouting's Scottish committee. It was at this time, 30 years ago, he had a heart attack while hillwalking in Arran. But it was not the end for Watson as he managed to return to his hills and influenced generations of youngsters and adult friends to love the mountains.

Later he took parties of Scouts and friends to walk in the Austrian Alps, Switzerland and the Himalayas. He continued to be active in the welfare of what were then named the Young Chronic Sick plus the Scottish Rights of Way Society, the John Muir Trust and many other charitable organisations.

His influence on young and old was achieved through his powerful and unique ability to make and keep friends of all ages. Watson's contribution to Scouting and the disabled was officially recognised when he was awarded the Silver Wolf, Scouting's highest award, and when he was presented to Her Majesty the Queen to receive his MBE.

For his 90th birthday, friends came from all over the world and on the news of his death messages came likewise, not only from his wide circle of friends but from their children and grandchildren.

One might say that Scouting made Watson but, of course, it was he who made Scouting for generations of young people. And, by working hard at his friendships, he had become an immensely popular man across the world and among many differing age groups.

Following his experience as a prisoner of war, Watson no longer had time for organised religion and asked that no funeral or religious service be held for him. However, many wanted an opportunity to come together for a celebration of his long and active life, and this was held in East Kilbride and attended by more than 250 of his friends and colleagues.