Wirral Guides celebrate 100 years of Guiding

Sep 16 2009 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

GIRLGUIDES across Wirral joined in celebrations to mark 100 years of guiding.

The guiding movement began in 1909 when a small group of young women gate-crashed the Boy Scout rally at Crystal Palace in London and lobbied Scout founder Robert Baden-Powell for “something for the girls”.

The movement now has over 550,000 members in the UK.

Guides from Hinderton Division gathered at the Civic Hall in Neston for a carnival-themed centenary party to mark the occasion.

Members took part in an energetic dance workshop and made carnival masks before blowing our the candles on a special birthday cake.

In Wallasey, Rainbows, Brownies and adult volunteers gathered on a Mersey Ferry to celebrate the start of the centenary celebrations.

They renewed their Guiding promise aboard the ferry before launching balloons at Seacombe Ferry Terminal.

Other Guides across Wirral took part on campfires, sleepovers and played party games.

Pam Forshaw of Girlguiding Wirral said: “The centenary is an opportunity to celebrate the impact that the organisation has made on the lives of girls and young women and how modern guiding continues to support over half a million members around the UK to make new friends, develop skills and achieve their full potential in a unique girl-only space.

“Locally, girls take part in activities such as camps and adventure holidays, international travel and community action.”