Girl Guiding 1910-2010

In 1909 a Scout Rally took place at Crystal Palace, thousands of girls turned up for the event, to register themselves as scouts, although scouting was not for girls.

The founder Robert Baden-Powell of the movement asked his sister Agnes to adapt his handbook ‘Scouting for Boys’ to a parallel scheme for girls.

In 1910 Robert Baden-Powell decided that the girls should not be called Scouts, and he decided on the name ‘Guide’ after the famous corps of guides in India who were renowned for their resourcefulness, courage and ability to turn their hands to anything.

In 1914, when younger sisters of Guides began to show an interest in joining, Lord Robert Baden-Powell founded a group of younger girls to be known as ‘Rosebuds’.  The name did not prove popular and in 1915, his sister Agnes suggested the name ‘Brownies’ instead, naming the girls after the ‘helpful little creatures’ in a fairy tale she loved.

Uniform at this date was still confused.  Until 1921, a blue variant of the uniform could be worn.

Over the years the uniform has changed so much, and today’s Brownies now wear brown hooded jackets, yellow baseball caps, brown leggings, yellow t.shirts, and brown sashes for their badges.  Guides uniforms are still dark blue, and instead of skirts they have been allowed to wear jeans, trousers, t.shirt, rugby shirt and mid blue sweatshirt.

Camps have played an important part of the Guides, and the 1^st Company held its first camp in 1914 at tearooms on Coalville which they had to vacate in the day.  They soon moved to outdoor camps at Duffield, Derbyshire and Launde Abbey Woods, and in 1919 were to be found at Tilton enjoying a traditional picnic.

During the First World War Guides worked hard, striving to achieve the Scarlet War Badge, this was awarded for 100 hours service.  Duties included washing and peeling potatoes at the Knighton V.A.D. Hospital and serving at the Midland Station Rest Room for soldiers on Wednesdays and Saturday evenings.

By the Second World War, Guides, now numerically far stronger, were quick to help in canteens and other forms of war work.

In our Diamond Jubilee Year 1970 the Guides had a special camp at Topstones, near Tilton on the Hill, where around 300 guides from across the county gathered for the Bank Holiday weekend, 22^nd to 25^th May 1970.

Tina Barsby of the Ashby Division clearly enjoyed everything, including fish cakes.

Guides now go to foreign destinations due to the increasing interest in international guiding meant new opportunities for travel abroad.

Every four years we hold an International Camp called ‘Charnwood’.  Scouts and Guides meet up from all around the world to join in the celebrations.

The Brownies go away on Pack Holidays, and they are mostly based on a theme.  We have had Christmas in September, Robin Hood, Dogs, Winnie the Pooh, England, Italy, and the list goes on endless.  These are enjoyed by leaders as much as the girls.  The Brownies have only recently started to camp, but we still go to indoor venues like Topstones near Tilton on the Hill, Hayfields at Market Harborough, One Ash at Earl Shilton.

In 1916 Senior Guides became Rangers.  The Guides were getting too old to work side by side of younger members, and older girls were clamouring to join the movement, and this new section came into existence.

Sea Guides another form of the movement in 1920 became known by Veronica Erskine, who was a member of the WRNS.  Veronica devised a uniform and training for girls who had keen maritime interests and activities.  Dame Katherine Furse took over, and wrote a pamphlet Sea Guides, and in 1927 Sea Guides became Sea Rangers.

Trefoil Guild came into being in 1920 when members of the movement had to give up active Guiding, and they formed groups so that they could keep in touch with one another and world events within the sphere of guiding.  The Trefoil Guild was officially launched in 1942.

The Trefoil members play an important part with their knowledge of guiding, and we often ask them to attend different units, especially when we do badges involving the history of guiding.

The Trefoil members help in our guiding shop on a rota, and a number of other jobs which they can do.  They have a number of social events, holidays and outings often visiting our training centres throughout the United Kingdom and abroad.

In 1945 as an experiment Air Ranger flights were started in 1944/45, and having shown their worth, flights which reach a certain standard were officially recognised by the R.A.F.  The first ranger to qualify as an aviator was in 1947, two years after founding the branch.

In 1987 the Rainbow Section of Girl Guiding was launched especially for girls between the ages of 5 to 7 years who were too young to become Brownies.  In Ireland they already have been running a group called ‘Bunnies’ in Ulster.

There are so many opportunities in girl guiding today, and lets hope this carries on giving girls the enjoyment, practicalities and skills to take them throughout their lives.

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My earliest memory of my Guiding years is of 1932 when as an 11yr old newly enrolled guide in the 6^th Slough (Methodist) Guide company I was part of the Guard of Honour for the visit of the Duchess of York (later HM the Queen Mother) when she visited Slough to open the new Methodist Central Hall. It was a cold November day and our uniform consisted of the blue cotton dress, long black stockings and large hat but we didn’t mind the cold as we had a good view of the proceedings, the Duchess and all the various dignitaries assembled for the occasion and we appeared in many of the photographs later published in the local papers.

Guiding was more formal then. Our meetings commenced with an inspection and drill patrol points were lost if badges weren’t shining and shoes polished The annual camp was the major event , sleeping in bell tents on straw filled palliasses  and making gadgets were all very challenging and fun. I also enjoyed hikes, cooking dinner over a camp fire, monthly church parades and eventually the honour of being chosen to carry the flag. I was a Ranger during the war years and we played our part in the war effort, helping in the forces canteen on the church premises, knitting scarves, gloves etc. and collecting newspapers. We also produced our own annual concerts in which I played many parts from being a grandfather in a sketch ‘The Dear Departed’ to a gypsy princess in a musical ‘Zurika’. During this time I became first a Brownie Pack leader then a Guide Lieutenant and when I was married members of the company formed a guard of Honour outside the church. In 1959 after a break of several years the 6^th Pack needed a new leader and I offered to help ‘temporarily’ but in 1960 became Brown Owl until we left Slough for Wigston in 1961 and my association with Leicestershire began.

I soon became involved with Brownies at Frederick St. Methodist church becoming first Tawny Owl then after a short period was warranted as Brown Owl. The following 18 years were filled with much fun, new experiences, challenges and many new friendships. A visit to Waddow inspired me to get a Pack Holiday Permit and the next year I went with the Cosby Pack to Bidford-on-Avon for experience and the following year did my test at Knossington School near Oakham with ‘Alice in Wonderland’ as a theme. There followed Pack holidays to Bridgenorth in Shropshire, Alcester Warwickshire, Whitbourne, Worcester where there was no cooker and we had to hire a calor gas stove to take with us. At the Children’s Inn in Cheshire the weather was so superb we stood out in the garden for our daily prayer time and sang ‘Morning is Broken’ - a lovely memory.

In 1966 I was asked to become District Commissioner for Wigston which was then part of South Division an appointment I held until 1972 (but still continued as Brown Owl of 2^nd Wigston Pack.) During those years we celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of Guiding and the Wigston Brownies responded to the challenge of ‘Cheer a Person/Place’ by providing a seat at the corner of the Oadby Road.  In 1972 it was decided to form a new County Division in the area and Willoughby Waterleys was created and I became the new Division Commissioner.

Our first major event was a celebration for Leicestershire’s 60 years and a big ‘It’s a Knock Out ‘competition was held at Bushloe with proceeds going to the County fund for handicapped children. The International camp at Belvoir Castle gave us the opportunity to host a group of Guides from Bavaria and after the camp they were given hospitality in local homes. They had a great time and many friendships were formed. As well as visiting the camp I was privileged to arrange a Civic reception at the Council Offices where they were welcomed by the Mayor and gifts were exchanged.

There was much growth in the area and I was kept busy with the need for new Packs and Companies, finding suitable and willing leaders, trainings and meetings but it was an exciting time. Eventually it was decided to make two new Divisions, Wigston and Blaby and I was warranted as Division Commissioner for Wigston. Jean Hartridge the then County Commissioner came to my home and we sat together in the garden in the shade of the plum tree enjoying afternoon tea to chat about the new arrangements, a very pleasant and relaxing time. During the night a large branch of the tree came down exactly where we had been sitting!

My husband, always very encouraging and supportive of all my Guiding activities, suggested I learn to drive and I eventually passed my test and was able to take myself to visit Units in and around the Division, attend many special occasions, present QG’s awards Young Leader’s Certificates and trophies at sports days swimming gala’s and Brownie Revels, always a privilege and enjoyable times.

There were Church Parades each month at Frederick Street also an Annual Thinking Day Parade and Service often led by the 99^th Scout Band. On one such occasion at Frederick St. – my birthday- as I led the parade in the march-off they played ‘Happy Birthday to You’. Someone had obviously spilled the beans!!

After 9 years holding Warrants as District and Division Commissioner and 18 years as Brown Owl I had to retire due to family commitments but had seen the formation of a new Venture Scout/Ranger Guide Unit, the 1st Wigston Guides ( the first Company in the County) celebrate 60 years, a visit of Rangers from Antwerp to the Charnwood 80’ camp the 2^nd Wigston Pack’s 21^st birthday, Brownies planting rose bushes at the new Curtis Weston House and as Division Pack Holiday Advisor visiting many Pack Holidays.

It was a great surprise in 1981 when Margaret Kirby then County Commissioner called with Kath Gee my Division Secretary and friend to tell me I was to be given the Laurel Award. My first reaction was ‘Why me? I haven’t done anything spectacular’.

However I felt very honoured and received the Award at a special gathering at Frederick St. attended by many Guiding and personal friends. It was a great evening

and wonderful memory which I treasure. However there is always some job vacancy and my retirement coincided with that of Mrs. Byass the Assistant County Secretary for Registrations & Warrants from whom I inherited a large box of record cards and for the next 13years enjoyed keeping in touch with all the Divisions and Districts in the County. Each year after Census time I would have a visit from Bunty Glover the County secretary to check the forms against my card index. What a job that was, it took us all day!! Happy times!

Before emigrating to Australia in January 1994 I was able to make a visit to Foxlease for a County weekend and I have many happy memories of that time also attend Wigston Division Christmas dinner and a final tribute was paid when at the summer meeting at Topstones I was given the County Brooch which I greatly treasure.

On arrival here in Victoria I contacted Guide HQ in Melbourne and was able to join a local Trefoil Guild – Acacia – for which I have acted as secretary for the last 10 years.. What a privilege it is to belong to a worldwide organisation where one can always find friends anywhere one goes and be sure of a welcome. I have gained so much from Guiding over the years and hope I have managed to pass on something of the spirit of Guiding to others along the way.