News

1st Westonbirt Girl Guides make it a Centenary to remember

September 2009 marked the beginning of a very special year for Girl Guides up and down the Country.

The Guides Association celebrated their 100^th birthday, and continued long into the year in order to make it a centenary to remember! Here at Westonbirt, the celebrations included a launch party and a dance workshop with other Guides, Rangers, Brownies and Rainbows in the district.

Ending the year in true style, 1st Westonbirt Guides invited members past and present to help plant a new pine tree in Westonbirt School’s Grounds. Celebrating the centenary was especially important to 1^st Westonbirt Girl Guides due to the special bond with the Association. Betty Baden-Powell, daughter of Robert Baden-Powell (founder of Boy Scouts), studied at Westonbirt School from 1928, and there have been Guides here ever since. Betty’s auntie, Agnes, was the founder of the Guides Association and Betty’s Mother, Olave, was appointed Chief Guide.  The history of the Girl Guides is very important to all those who are, and who have been, part of 1^st Westonbirt group, and will always remain so.

Helen Price, who has led 1^st Westonbirt Guides since 1991, is sadly retiring this month. She will be sadly missed by all but promises to keep in touch with the unit. We thank Helen for all that she has done for 1^st Westonbirt Guides and wish her all the best in the future.

Please note, Guide meetings will continue to take place in Querns Hall at Rose Hill Westonbirt School from 5.00 - 6.30pm on Wednesdays.

Above: Past and present guides celebrate the Cenetary together. Present Guides are represented by Sophie Hamer and Nea Sneddon-Jenkins. Past guides are represented by Amiel Protheroe née Price (4th from left), Jessica Jones (6th from left) and Deidre Gordon (2nd from right). Others are friends and parents of 1st Westonbirt Guides.