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GGEW NEWS
WINTER 2010
GGEW NEWS WINTER 2010
PAGE 3
1st Warley Guides 90th
Birthday Celebrations
Jan Knight takes over from Linda Taylor as County Commissioner
n Saturday, 25th September the Guides invited
past members and guests to join them for a
party to celebrate the Unit’s 90th Birthday in the
Christ Church Centre.
More than 100 people attended and had the opportunity to chat, catch up on news, look at the many displays
which included a camp scene as camping has always
been a huge part of the programme.
Many past members attended which made the day so
special, some I had not seen for many years and it did
really make the day special for me because they had all
wanted to come and be part of 1st Warley Guides again.
It was lovely too, to have so
many of the Brownies present as they will be the Unit’s future members.
During the afternoon, following some camp-fire singing, the Revd. Chris Goldsmith led a short
Thanksgiving and re-dedication which included a look back over the past 90
years. For each decade, something relating to that time was read out by
members past and present which showed how not only Guiding but the
world at large had changed in that time.
As it was a birthday, we of course had a cake which was cut
for us by Betty Crozier, who was a member before the start of
World War II and Irene Lucke, whose sister had been a Leader
many years ago.
Everyone who attended received a special badge which had
been designed by Guide, Penny Walker.
It really is quite an achievement for a group to have been going continually for such a
long time and it has been a privilege and honour to be part of it.
Sylvia Partridge Guide Leader
or those of you who do not
know me please allow me to
introduce myself. My
Guiding journey began when I was
a Brownie and a Guide at 1st Elm
Park, Hornchurch. I had a great
time but chose to leave Guides at
12 years of age because I wanted
to pursue my chosen sport of
Gymnastics and my dream of competing at the 1976 Montreal
Olympic Games.
Many years later I encouraged
my daughter, Terri, to join. She
became a Rainbow at 4th Rise
Park, Romford. A short while after
Terri made her promise as a
Brownie the Unit Leader resigned. Thankfully her assistant was happy
to continue but wanted help. My husband attended the parent meeting
and advised them that this sounded like something his wife would be
interested in! What fun, friendship and adventures I have had since
then. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of my Adult Guiding
journey. I completed the Leadership Qualification as a Brownie Leader
and then went on to gain my holiday licence. After three years I began
to assist at Guide meetings too. In my first year of being a Guide
Leader I attended Unit Camps, a County Camp, and Anglia Region’s
International Camp entitled “Bridges”. During this time I also made
good friends with Diane Dickerson, our previous County International
Advisor. I was fascinated at the international opportunities there were
for Guides. I attended my first Essex International Jamboree in 2004.
Wow, I really had the bug now. I learned of the 21st World Scout
Jamboree 2007 that was to be held in Chelmsford celebrating the centenary of our founder, Lord Baden-Powell. Having missed out on the
1976 Olympics by 2 places (although I had represented Great Britain
on no less than seven occasions) this was a world event I was determined to attend even if it meant I had to clean the loos! In preparation
for the World Jamboree I gained my Guide and Senior Section camp
licence.
The Jamboree proved to be a mountain top camp for me and my
daughter (very apt as we were part of the Mountain Hub and Plateau
Sub Camp). With my new friends in Scouting I was then invited to join
a sub camp Leadership team for the Essex International Jamboree in
2008.
My international Guiding experience includes; Switzerland and a
tour of Our Chalet, one of Guiding’s four World Centres, three trips to
Disneyland Paris, skiing in Italy, Castle Rieneck in Warzburg, Germany
and a trip to India where I stayed at Sangam (another World Centre) for
Thinking Day 2009.
I have also been District Commissioner, County International
Financial Co-ordinator, Division Commissioner and Assistant County
Commissioner. Having completed the Commissioner Induction
Programme as a DC I was invited to become a member of the
Commissioner Working Group that was responsible for the recent
update of the Commissioner Resource Pack for District and Division
Commissioners.
Between 2006 and 2009 I clocked up 100 Nights Away and was
proud to receive the appropriate badge. However, since then I have
taken a bit of a break from camps and residentials as I have been concentrating more on adult support, which leads me on to my new challenge – County Commissioner for Essex West on 21/10/2010.
I would sincerely like to thank Linda for her dedication and everything she has achieved for our County in the seven years that she has
been in office. As well as providing leadership, friendship and support,
Linda successfully opened a County Office which has proved to be
essential to the efficient running of the County. She has brought Essex
West into the 21st Century with our own web site and ensured that our
Introducing Jan Knight
O
BP awards for Cranham Guides
fter nearly five years in Guides, the seven
oldest members of the
1st Cranham Park
Guides were presented their
Baden Powell Awards by
our District Commissioner
Janet Cameron.
It was a sad and happy
night for the whole group,
Well done to Charley
Monaghan, Rebecca
Raison,
Vanessa
Sutton, Jo
Monaghan,
Ceann
Reid-Stiffell,
Megan
Withers and
Rachael
Sarson who
have all
moved on to
Rangers to
continue with
the fun!
A
i , I am June Eaton,
County Brownie
Advisor.
Before I decide what
the role will entail, I would
like all Brownie Leaders to
let me know how I can
help them do their jobs
better and what training
and events you would like
in the County for girls and
Leaders.
Just send an email to
me via the County Office
and I will do my best to
help in whatever way I
can.
I look forward to hearing from you all very soon.
H
F
County Centenary year was a bumper year to remember for both
Guides and adults. I only hope that I can continue her good work and
with your support continue to grow Guiding in our County. In my view
Essex West is best and with the wealth of energy, experience and
enthusiasm we have, there is no where else I would rather be.
Message from Linda Taylor
feel extremely privileged to have been
County Commissioner for Essex West for
the past seven years, and to be part of it’s
history. I’ve met so many fantastic people and
attended some great events.
The job of a County Commissioner is an
extremely busy one, especially with a home, family
and ‘day job’ to consider, and I couldn’t have managed without the help and support of many people.
In particular the County Office with it’s valuable staff
(Hilary, Linda and Sylvia) has been essential. I’ve
had an amazing County team and the support of
Jan, as my assistant, and Avril, our President. All of
these people have been invaluable and my very
grateful thanks go to each and every one.
I have many happy memories from the past
seven years. I’ve loved being invited to so many
events: Thinking Day celebrations, Christmas Carol
services, Awards evenings; Birthday parties and other special events.
I’ve really enjoyed presenting well-deserved awards to unsuspecting
people and the look of amazement when they realise what’s happening!
I’ve been fortunate to be invited to a Royal Garden Party and ‘Tea on
the Terrace’ at the Houses of Parliament. The funniest memory just has
to be when Diane (our international advisor) phoned to ask what she
should do with 6,000 packets of crisps that she’d ‘obtained’ for fund raising purposes!
It’s been a joy to see the development of girls from shy Guides
a ttending an international opportunities event, to actually going on an
international trip and then becoming confident Leaders and sometimes
leading their own groups abroad. This, if nothing else, demonstrates
that we are indeed a movement.
Guiding in general, and the County in particular have changed a
great deal over the past seven years. The introduction of ‘GO!’ has
changed the way we all operate and run our Units, Districts, Divisions
and the County. The opening of the county office has created a central
point of contact for the County and vital help for me and numerous advisors.
Celebrating the centenary is a wonderful way for me to end my
appointment. Our Centenary Champions and team have provided
‘mountain-top’ moments for so many of our members and it’s been
delightful to attend these events and see lots of our girls having a fantastic time. Who could forget the County Standard leading 60 unit flags
at the Fantasy Festival stage in Disneyland Paris? I know there were a
few emotional tears that day! The enthusiasm, dedication and sheer
hard work that has gone into organising these events is phenomenal! I
just wish I could bottle it!
People have asked what I’m going to do once my appointment has
finished. Well, the job of a County Commissioner doesn’t leave much
time for other things so I have a lot to catch up on. Do I still have anything resembling a garden on the other side of the back door? There’s
the much neglected decorating, spring cleaning and clearing the loft out.
Other hobbies are just a distant memory and need reviving. I’ve just
started an on-line Oxford university course in local history. Lots of
friends have had to make do with the odd rushed email and deserve
more time to catch up and for lunches. Once I’ve sewn all the badges
on my camp blanket I’m hoping for some ‘me’ time to watch the pile of
DVD’s that have been bought as presents and not even unwrapped and
I have stack of books just waiting to be read. I shall be taking over as
Badge Secretary and Diane and I are going to be joint County Social
Event Co-ordinators. Being appointed a Vice President is a huge honour and will no doubt keep me out of mischief for a while!
The most important part of my time on the County team, first as
Chairman of Programme and Training, then International Advisor and
now County Commissioner has to be the friends I’ve made. What an
amazing bunch of people and how I admire their passion for guiding and
their commitment to the County.
I thank you all for the fun and friendship over the years and for the
tremendous job you all do in providing so much fun for the girls (and
adults!)
As we end our first centenary, I wish Jan and her team the very best
of luck as they take the county forward into the next centenary. I know
that you will support them, as you have me, and together we’ll continue
to ensure that:
I
‘ESSEX WEST IS THE BEST”!!!!