A much-loved Scout leader and former teacher described as "a truly remarkable man and a credit to the town" has died, aged 82. Eric Hampton, best known by friends and family as Buster, gave his life to the service of others as an active member of the community – particularly at The Petersfield School and the 1st Petersfield Scout Group. His friends said he was a man of "high principles and unlimited talent" who worked tirelessly for young people. As a native to Petersfield, Mr Hampton was involved in many town organisations, but not before he served his country as a pilot in the RAF. After his war service as a flight lieutenant, he returned to Hampshire to take up teaching and got involved with the Scout group again. In the early 1950s, Mr Hampton was appointed captain of Petersfield Rugby Club, became an active member of Petersfield Round Table, and regularly attended the parish church. As a youngster he joined the Scout group as a Cub, then as a Scout, and went on to assist the leaders. On leaving Churcher's College in Petersfield, Mr Hampton gained a place at Trinity College, Cambridge, after which he joined the RAF and served in the UK and overseas. Much of his service training was undertaken in North America, and he not only flew Dakota aircraft but also became an experienced glider pilot. After the war, he returned to Petersfield to become a science teacher at The Petersfield School, where he remained until his retirement in 1985. He was responsible for setting up the modern-day science department, taking on the challenge of moving the entire department when TPS reorganised in the 1970s. As well as teaching, Mr Hampton was also well known for his exceptional service to the Scout movement. His first leader appointment was during the war as a "Rover Scout Leader" in India and Burma. On his return home in 1947, Mr Hampton became a leader with the 1st Petersfield Scout Group, and he continued in uniformed service with that group until compulsory retirement at the age of 65 in 1989. During this unbroken 42-year period as a leader, he often carried out two or more roles when there was a shortage of leaders. As a Scout leader, Mr Hampton organised the building of an extension at the Scout headquarters, a project which took two years and was opened in 1966. He also took his Scouts camping overseas for many years – and for some youngsters it was the first time they had been abroad. A popular summer camp destination was Harlech in North Wales. It was for this dedication that in 1989 the national Scout movement saw fit to reward him with their highest award for outstanding service – The Silver Wolf. Another pursuit he followed was supporting Petersfield's outdoor swimming pool. The pool needed considerable financial support and Petersfield Round Table, of which Buster was an active member, raised the funds to build it. He continued to support it after it was opened and his efforts eventually earned him the role of trustee for six years, from 1962, when the pool was opened. After retirement, Mr Hampton continued his voluntary work, mainly with the Scouts, as district chairman for seven years and then as president. He also found time to be a governor of The Petersfield School, while working to stop the closure of the outdoor pool when the indoor pool opened at the Taro Leisure Centre in Penns Place. Although Scouting and other activities took a vast amount of Mr Hampton's time, he still had time to marry and raise a daughter and two sons. In recent years, he had been compiling a record of factual information on "Scouting in Petersfield – 1908 to 1988." A tribute compiled by some of his many friends across the district said: "He has given many young people tremendous opportunities to develop themselves and their skills. "He gained the respect and admiration of all fellow leaders, the parents of his Scouts, and the whole community. "Despite the amazing amount of time devoted to voluntary organisations, he always refused reimbursement of any expenses incurred as he felt that he should expect his hobbies to be funded personally. "Buster was a man of high principles and unlimited talents, which he used in a multitude of ways, yet his ability to accept moral and social changes over the years made him a truly remarkable man and a credit to his town, the various organisations to which he belonged, the Scout movement, and the thousands of youngsters and adults who came under his influence." Mr Hampton leaves wife Jean, three children -– Elizabeth, Richard and John – and eight grandchildren.