Guides' centenary celebrations

Sharon Thompson • Published 25 Feb 2010 12:57 0 Comments

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ONE hundred candles on a cake were blown out to mark the centenary celebration of girguiding last weekend.

Brownies, guides and rainbows from across the area all took part in activities commemorating the anniversary of Lord and Lady Baden-Powell and the inception of the movement.

Guider Sheena Edwards described how the Cove and Kilcreggan Thinking Day event was received.

She said the day went well, despite some of the beavers and cubs being in a car "that somersaulted onto the beach because the roads were slippy with snow and hadn't been cleared!"

Everyone joined in the song in Church, and were delighted to receive and "unwanted" china mug planted with a tete-a-tete daffodil almost in flower.

"We had a lovely Centenary cake made by the Brown Owl Tina Johnson, and the 100 candle was blown out by our newest Rainbow - Rachel Harper. The display of photographs and memorabliai borought back many happy memories for brownies, guides and rainbows of the past.

Sheena added: "It was much admired and stimulated lots of finger-pointing and laughter."

Celebrations have been taking place over the last week and on Wednesday (February 17) the Brownies and Rainbows celebrated Thinking Day with a Chinese Theme.

"We have made year of the Tiger face masks, dragon hand puppets and set off a dozen Chinese lanterns - after warning the Coastguard who enjoyed the display from Greenock!

"We are completing our Chinese theme by going to the Great Wall this Saturday for lunch."

A few days later it was the guides turn to celebrate, this time embracing an Indian theme.

Sheena said: "Myself and the other guider, Jill Moore, had been at our Guiding World Centre in India in July 2008 doing a project in an orphanage and with the women in the slum areas.

"We set up a display, explained our projects and the visits to the paper factory, Taj Mahal, palaces and an elephant ride, and we had Indian snacks to finish while listening to a tape of Indian guides and scouts singing."

And Burgh-based Division Commissioner Linda Summers spoke of the events in the town to mark the occasion.

At a service held in St Columba Church, she said that brownies from Rhu and Arrochar sang the Brownie opening song and sixes songs - with some dressed in the old brownie dresses while others from Helensburgh demonstrated semaphore.

She added: "The guides then did a little sketch - also dressed in the old uniforms - of guide inspections.

"The Rainbows acted out the story of Noah, which is how they originally got their name."

A popular part of the day proved to be the fashion show, to which leaders paraded to "Here Come the Girls!"

Natasha McLean a young leader who attended the World Centenary Camp in Australia in January gave a presentation about her Australian adventure, followed by a 'shout-out' of all the units about what they were looking forward to in this centenary year.

Linda said: "The Rev George Vidits conducted the service and we are grateful to him and all the members of St Columba's who helped and made us feel so welcome.

"We had many past members of guiding in Helensburgh and beyond who came to share in our celebration and view the displays of photos and guiding memorabilia in the hall afterwards.

"There was a real buzz in the hall as people met up with friends and found pictures of themselves or their children in guide or brownie uniforms!"

l Our selection of pictures shows some of the celebrations enjoyed by those taking part in the centenary event.

MORE PICTURES FROM THE CELEBRATIONS IN THIS WEEK'S ADVERTISER

This article appeared in Helensburgh Advertiser 25 Feb 10

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