Centenary Celebrations:
Bath Division
As part of the Centenary Celebrations, a special service was held in Bath Abbey. The main feature was a parade of uniforms from each of the decades of Guiding with a commentary on world and guiding events from the corresponding period.
The Chair of B&NES Council and the Deputy Mayor were guests alongside many previous members of the Division.
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Bathford Brownies Celebrate the Centenary of Girl Guiding :
Girlguiding UK
Fifteen Brownies from Bathford joined more than three hundred seven to ten-year-old girls to experience the thrills and spills of adventure at a PGL activity centre in Torquay. The ’Big Brownie Takeover’ took place over the Bank Holiday weekend in early May to mark the first 100 years of guiding.
For most of the girls it was their first weekend away from family, a challenge for parents and girls alike. The Brownies had three hot meals a day, and slept (eventually) in dormitories in the magnificent main house. They were led in singing and team activities by the tireless PGL staff. Following a wet campfire sing-along, the Brownies were treated to an amazing firework display on the Saturday evening.
During the weekend Bathford girls tried abseiling, climbing, and archery (mostly in the rain to add to the challenge!) and joined other Brownies from all over the region to compete in team challenge activities. Amy, aged 9, commented "abseiling was fun because it was like falling out of an airplane! I have learned to be brave!"
The girls agreed that the most exciting activity was a challenge during which they had to build and climb a tower of crates at least 8 feet high then leap off, being suspended by ropes held by their friends! "It’s like flying" Katrin, aged 7, remarked with a smile on her face.
For the adult leaders from Bathford it was their first experience of taking the Brownies away. "The facilities and support provided by PGL was amazing" explained Vanessa, Bathford’s Brown Owl. "I will definitely be planning a future trip and recommend it all families and groups looking for a safe, yet challenging environment."
Bathford Brownies and Rainbows can only run meetings and activities thanks to the help of volunteers. Both groups are saying goodbye to highly valued helpers this summer and both are desperate for help to start in September or earlier. Adult help is needed once or twice a month in term times at their meetings held in the early evening. Brownies are aged 7-10 years and Rainbows are younger, aged 5-7 years. Both groups are really popular with local girls. Although mums help keep the groups running, without an extra regular volunteer each there is a danger the groups might have to close.
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