‘New Branding New You’ for East Lancashire Girl Guides

40 year service awards - Sue Savory (County Commissioner), Gill Feeley, Christine Duckworth (President), Anne Sellick

More than 120 members gathered at the popular Ribble Valley hotel and golf complex for the annual event, which looks back on and celebrates the achievements of the past 12 months.

The members of Lancashire East reflected on a very successful and enjoyable year. This included a weekend away in the lakes training for leaders; Rainbows enjoying the rides at Gullivers world; Brownies finding out about Science at the Museum of Science and Industry; Guides being creative at a “ready, steady, cook” event and Senior Section members going “Up High”, as well as much more.

County commissioner Sue Savoury enthused: “We are continuing to Grow Guiding and we have 146 more members compared to this time last year. We now number 1,043 Rainbows, 1,957 Brownies, 979 Guides, 204 YLs and Senior Section and 1,001 adults, giving us a total of 5,184 members in East Lancashire.”

50 year service award - Sue Savory (County Commissioner), Olive Bolton, Christine Duckworth (President)

Sue also proudly announced: “It has been said that because of its body shape and the small size of its wings the bumblebee is an aerodynamic impossibility, but it flies anyway because it has never been told it can’t. This sums up 2012 for Lancashire East Guiding. We came up with ideas and carried them out because no-one told us we couldn’t!”

Among the highlight at the annual gathering, awards were presented to members who had achieved Leadership, Holiday and Camping qualifications as well as Long Service Awards. Special awards in recognition of 40 year’s service awards went to Gill Feeley from Nelson and Anne Sellick from Padiham.

The highlight was a 50 years’ service award to Olive Bolton, from Darwen, who amongst other roles has led the girls through their Queen’s Guide Award, offering constant support and encouragement and never letting them think of giving up.

Sue Lomas, North West Region Commissioner, congratulated Lancashire East on its many achievements and commented that she could see the local members clearly had fun in all their Girlguiding activities.

You can keep in touch with Girlguiding Lancashire East and all its activities through Facebook Girlguiding Lancashire East and Twitter @Girlguiding_LE