1st Leighton Buzzard Girl Guides

Mrs Laura Lawson Johnston, Girl Guides County Commissioner [X698/9/5]

Friday 6th December 1918: The 1st Leighton Troop of the Girl Guides, which was started in May by Mrs. Reeve of “Athelney”, Albany Road, has held its first enrolment meeting in the Church Room at Leighton Buzzard. Thirty six smart and enthusiastic guides paraded before the County Commissioner and the District Commissioner for North Bedfordshire, giving a well-trained and disciplined display of drill and marching. Unfortunately the proceedings were disrupted by the bad behaviour of a number of children who live near the hall.

The officers of the troop were formally invested with badges and colours by the County Commissioner, Mrs. Lawson Johnston. The newly enrolled Captain W. Flemming in turn enrolled two patrol leaders and two corporals. The company sang songs, demonstrated marches and dances, and signalled a greeting to the County Commissioner – who confessed that despite the best efforts of her daughter to teach her she had not managed to learn to read signals. In an address to the Girl Guides she reminded them that they had a great responsibility, especially the older girls, to help to train their younger sisters to be good girls and good citizens. She asked them to maintain the very high standard they had set themselves as Guides, and to show people who knew nothing about the work what it meant to be a Guide by their behaviour. She ended by telling them to “always be jolly, but also remember their responsibility and duty to their homes and their parents”.

Source: Leighton Buzzard Observer, 10th December 1918

Alexandra Rose Day

Collector, Alexandra Rose Day 1916

Saturday 24th June 1916: Despite a day of repeated heavy showers, which caused the collectors to have to dodge into doorways and under awnings to avoid a drenching, today’s Alexandra Rose Day collection in Luton has been a great success. The women and girls collecting were all dressed in white, with sprays of the artificial flowers that made up their wares adorning their hats. This year the collection relied solely on street sales, without the visits to factories and places of amusement made in previous years. Despite this, the collection raised over £270, an increase of over £70 on last year and £120 more than the first Alexandra Rose Day in 1914. The proceeds are to be divided between the Bute Hospital and the Children’s Sick and Convalescent Home.

This year’s event ran more smoothly thanks to a new working arrangement in which each district had its own depot, relieving pressure on the Town Hall. These included the Labour Exchange, the Liberal Club, Mount Tabor Chapel, High Town Chapel, and a number of private homes. Another great success was the service provided by the Luton 1st Girl Guides as messengers, replacing the Boy Scouts who had taken on this task in previous years. They are said to have discharged their duties in a “very smart and admirable manner”.

Source: Luton News, 29th June 1916

Girl Guides and Street Lamps at Toddington

Church Square, Toddington [Z1130/126/32]

Thursday 14th October 1915: A parish meeting has been held at Toddington to discuss whether street lamps should continue to be lit in view of the threat posed by Zeppelins. Dr. Waugh, chairman of the Parish Council felt that while Toddington itself was not likely to be in danger of German bombs, as it was one of the highest points in the county the lights could serve as a guide to other places. As the rates had already been set and the Council was under contract to the Gas Company a decision not to light the lamps would not lead to a reduction in the amount payable. After some discussion it was decided that the lamps would still be lit, but the tops would be darkened and they would be extinguished at 9 instead of 10.

Toddington also now lays claim to its own company of Girl Guides, formed by Miss Ella Neale with Misses Alice Hobbs and Daisy Dunham as her lieutenants. On Saturday the 24 members of the company marched to Toddington Manor where they held a parade in front of the house. New members were enrolled, the Guides saluted the flag and gave a short display of drill. The company were then treated to tea in the manor dining room by Mr Weston Webb.

Sources: Leighton Buzzard Observer, 5th October 1915; Luton News, 14th October 1915.

Bedford's First Girl Guide Camp

Girl Guide group, c.1915 [Z1176/5]

Tuesday 7th September 1915: Bedford’s Girl Guides have returned from their first camp, held in a field at Biddenham from Saturday 4th to Monday 6th September. Due to the war conditions it was decided it would be better for the girls to march out and back each day rather than to sleep out. It was a small camp with just 17 girls and three officers. They were fortunate to have good weather for all three days and thoroughly enjoyed the outdoor life. Their daily timetable was:

• 7 a.m. - Parade
• 7.30 a.m. – Arrive at camp; six cooks, the rest put up tents
• 8.20 a.m. – Breakfast
• 9.00 a.m. – Cooks wash up, rest tidy camp
• 9.45 a.m. – Drill
• 10.45 a.m. – fetch provisions from village
• 10.55 a.m. – Lunch
• 11.00 a.m. – Ambulance
• 11.30 a.m. – Signallying
• 1.00 p.m. – Dinner
• 2.00 p.m. – Rest
• 2.45 p.m. – Signalling
• 3.15 p.m. – Inspection by Commissioner
• 3.45 p.m. – Games
• 4.30 p.m. – Tea
• 5.15 p.m. – Clear up camp and rest
• 6.00 p.m. – Porridge and milk
• 6.30 p.m. – March home

On Sunday the programme was changed to include a Church parade and afternoon bathing. An incident on their march home shows the need for explanation of the usefulness of the Guides’ training. A well dressed women passed the Guides on the Bromham Road, stopped and said loudly, “Did you ever see such fools?” Not only where the girls offended by this remark, they were also astonished that anyone could be so ignorant of what their uniform stands for and of the work they do.

The numbers for this camp were small due to short notice. Now that a beginning has been made to Guide camps in Bedford it is hoped that a large scale camp will take place next summer with the 150 Bedford Guides joined by girls from the surrounding villages where Guide companies are being started.

Source: Bedfordshire Standard, 10th September 1915

Bedford's Girl Guides

Girl Guide group, c.1915 [Z1176/5]

Monday 24th May 1915: The Bedford Companies of Girl Guides were kindly permitted by the District Commissioner Mrs F. Jean Trustram Eve to hold their first public parade in the garden of “Rushmoor” in Shakespeare Road this afternoon. The Girl Guides were founded by Lord Baden-Powell in 1910 and the movement was started in Bedford at a patriotic meeting for girls last November. Four of the five Companies which took part in the parade came from this initiative, and the fifth is attached to the Y.W.C.A. There are now 133 Guides enrolled, and 114 have passed their tenderfoot and are now official Guides. Of these 99 took part in the parade, together with 13 officers.

The Companies marched onto the parade ground at 3pm in a hollow square formation and were inspected by Mrs Trustram Eve, accompanied by the Companies’ officers. Following the inspection each Company in turn performed a drill in the middle of the square. The Commissioner then gave a short speech on the Girl Guides’ motto “Be Prepared” and just how important this was in order for everyone to do their part in the War. She explained the different badges which can be earned and announced that it was hoped that there could be an outdoor camp on the next Bank Holiday with campfires and cooking competitions. The Companies then marched past the Union Jack at the salute and were given tea on the other lawn.

Most of the Guides were dressed in their uniform, which is a dark blue skirt and blouse, a brown belt, a blue tie, and a dark blue felt hat. Each patrol is named after a flower, which is embroidered on the pocket, and the Company number is added to the shoulder strap. Not all the recruits have yet received their uniform, and some Companies do not yet have sufficient funds to buy their belts and other equipment, but considering how short a time they have been running they have done extremely well to look so smart.

Mrs Trustram Eve has issued an appeal for funds to support this fledgling movement. She says that the girls are encouraged to pass tests in ambulance, cooking, dressmaking, path-finding and many other useful accomplishment. The keen sense of competition between the companies ensures that all members try to avoid untidiness and other forms of slackness. While the members are doing their best to raise funds for their immediate needs, help is needed to meet expenses such as the hire of halls for drill and subscriptions are sought from all who have the welfare of girls at heart.

Source: Bedfordshire Standard, 28th May and 25th June 1915

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[1] The Girl Guides were founded in 1910. The BLARS catalogue for the Bedfordshire Girl Guides collection (reference X698) says that Girl Guiding first took root in Bedfordshire with formation of the 1st Luton company which was registered at Guide Headquarters on 11th May. This article makes it apparent that Girl Guide companies existed in Bedford from November 1914.