Centenary of GirlGuiding UK September 2009 - October 2010

The weekend of 4th-6th September 2009 marked the official start of the Centenary Year, with Centenary launch parties being held across the UK. This weekend was been chosen because it corresponds with the weekend in 1909 when a small group of determined girls turned up at the Crystal Palace Scout Rally and when confronted by Robert Baden-Powell, asked him to organise 'something for the girls'. The first Guide Units started in 1910 and the organisation has now grown to be the largest voluntary organisation for girls and young women in the UK.

The year of celebration features opportunities for girls from all sections to go on a special centenary adventure, which they can design themselves or select from an extensive catalogue of local and overseas venues. An Adventure 100 challenge has been designed for use at weekly meetings, with a map to plot progress with activities that are 'ice cool', 'in the dark' and 'wet and wild' to name 3 from 10 sections.

Also underway nationally are projects to capture the history of Guiding, celebrate World Thinking Day in February 2010, culminating in the Renewal Of Promises in October 2010. Further details of these UK wide events can be found at the Girlguiding UK Centenary Website

This page will capture the events for the year in the Bath Division so check back regularly to see what we're up to!

Bath Division's Centenary Launch Party

Girlguiding Bath Division held its Centenary Launch Party on Saturday 5th September at Bath Racecourse. Over 500 current members, ranging from Rainbows to Trefoil Guild members and 350 guests who have previously been members came along. This was a huge undertaking for the Division, involving many months of planning but it really was a once in a lifetime opportunity for us all to get together to celebrate such a remarkable event.

On offer to the girls were age-based activities in five zones:

Adventure:Pioneering, Bouncy Castle, Giant Games and Inflatable Obstacle course
Music and Dance:Drumming Worksop and Campfire Singing
Heritage:'Cinema' to see the Girlguiding UK Launch Party , a timeline, old uniforms and 'what was it used for' picture quiz.
Creativity:Head Dresses and Spoon Pals for Rainbows and Brownies, Bead Brooches, Bookworms and Pot Pourri for Guides and above and card making for all.
Common Threads:Memory Wall, putting a stitch or two into a Centenary Banner, a shopping opportunity and a re-join us point.

We were fortunate that Gill Slocombe, our Region Chief Commissioner was able to visit and cut the celebration cake, which had been made by local chef Martin Blunos. We are delighted that the Mayor of Bath could also join us and had time to tour the site. We were not deterred by the weather from finishing our event with 'campfire' singing, albeit inside our very large marquees sheltering from the rain rather than on the grass in the sunshine. We hope the following pictures give you a flavour of the event and the fun you can have as part of Girlguiding Bath Division.

The centenary cake made by Martin Blunos

The centenary cake made by Martin Blunos

Rainbows enjoying the Creativity Zone

Rainbows enjoying the Creativity Zone

Guides in the Adventure Zone

Guides in the Adventure Zone

In the Creativity Zone

In the Creativity Zone

Cutting the centenary cake

Cutting the centenary cake

Centenary Events

Saturday 28th November 2009
Each year, one of the Bath Christmas Market Chalets is available for selected charities to use exclusively for one day to raise funds and promote awareness of the charity. Bath Division was delighted to be given the chance to have the chalet for a day as part of the Centenary Celebrations. A selection of Girlguiding gift items were on offer and the day started well with the chalet being decorated with lights and tinsel. Teams of leaders ran the stall and visitors from all parts of the UK came to say hello and many bought Bath Division Standard Badges as a souvenir. Unfortunately the weather wasn't crisp and sunny as we would have wished but that did not dampen our spirits!

At the Christmas Market

Monday 15th - Sunday 21st February 2010
'Then and Now' exhibition in the Bath Library. As part of the continuing Girlguiding Centenary Celebrations a special Guiding exhibition was held from Monday 15th to Saturday 20th February in Bath Central Library. The exhibition could be viewed during normal library opening hours and there was no charge to visit.

Then and Now of Guiding

Saturday 22nd May 2010
Service of Celebration in Bath Abbey

Sunday 27th June 2010
SNAP - Somerset North Action Packed activities day for all sections

Thursday 5th - Wednesday 11th August 2010
County Centenary camp at Woodhouse Park

Wednesday 20th October 2010
Centenary celebrations finish at 2010 on 2010 n 2010, with small local events across Bath featuring the renewal of Promises and the launch of the next 100 years!

We hope you will join us for some of these events too!