RURAL COMMUNITIES IN LINCOLNSHIRE
North & South Somercotes
Brownies and Guides
On the 22nd February 1889, Olave St.Claire Soames was born. She married Lieut. General Sir Robert Baden-Powel in 1913. Her husband was thirty-two years her senior and a veteran of the Boer War. Indeed he was an officer and hero at the siege of Mafeking. He had a distinguished career in the army taking part in many famous events when Great Britain had a huge empire to rule. In 1930 Robert Baden-Powell was made a Lord and so they became Lord and Lady Baden-Powell.
The Scouts Association which was for boys only was formed in 1908 by the request of boys who were inspired by Baden-Powell's book Scouting for Boys. Agnes, Lord Baden-Powell's sister founded the Girl Guides in 1910 but it was Lady Olave who inspired it to grow to the heights that it did. Brownies started in 1914 as Rosebuds but that name did not last for long as girls became more independent and Victorian attitudes diminished.
Lord and Lady Baden-Powell travelled the world forming Associations in every country who would let them in. The movement is still world wide. When countries such as Russia opened their borders to the world the Scout and Guide Associations moved in and started units. Creed, colour and religion hold no barriers. Until recently they were single sex organisations. However, the boys opened their doors to girls. The Girl Guide Association had to drop the word girl to be politically correct, but it is still girls only. Parents prefer this for a number of reasons.
The Scouts Association which was for boys only was formed in 1908 by the request of boys who were inspired by Baden-
Lord and Lady Baden-
Mrs. Edith Cartwright has kindly contributed her experience of Guiding in the village.
North Somercotes 1923.
Captain:Miss A Cartwright Lieut.:Miss A. Chappell
Meetings were held in the Mission Room and later moved to a room over the stables behind the Woolpack.
We wore large blue felt stiff brimmed hats with brown leather chin strap, a green folded tie, a brown leather belt, black stockings and shoes and a rather shapeless blue cotton dress. I was twelve years old.
Later Miss Chappell started a Brownie Pack and became Brown Owl and I became Tawny Owl.
All Guides reaching fourteen years of age could become Ranger Guides if they didn't they had to leave Guiding. I duly joined the Rangers and very enjoyable this side of Guiding was.
The girls in the first Brownie Pack wore a plaited straw hat (which always reminded me by its shape of an upturned coal scuttle), a brown cotton dress, a brown tie the same shape as the Guides (both of these tied at the back of the neck neatly tucked under the collar), a brown leather belt and all badges gained were sewn on the right sleeve and of course brown socks and shoes.
We won the District Shield both at Guide and Brownie Rallies several times. We had well attended Church and Chapel Parades with both Company and Pack. It was an honour to be in the colour party at these Parades. Five Guides would be chosen, one carried the Company Colour and one the Union Jack with one escort between them and two Guide escorts behind. The Brownies had a pennant made of leather. One Brownie carried it with an escort of two Brownies. These Parades were held once a month. Our first Union Jack was bought for us by Mr. James Arundel of Locksley Hall.
Both Guides and Brownies had a waiting list and never dropped below twenty-six in number in each group.
From joining as a Guide to reaching the Guiding age for retirement I gave forty-six years of Service to Guiding and hold the long Service Badge presented to me by The Chief Guide herself. I was sad to leave, but after a certain age set by Headquarters in London, retirement is compulsory to allow younger persons to take over. I went on to write and produce pantomimes and later yearly Gang Shows with Guides, Brownies, Cubs and Scouts. I am very proud of my Service.
I was happy to see all my work thus carried on.
Meetings were held in the Mission Room and later moved to a room over the stables behind the Woolpack.
We wore large blue felt stiff brimmed hats with brown leather chin strap, a green folded tie, a brown leather belt, black stockings and shoes and a rather shapeless blue cotton dress. I was twelve years old.
Later Miss Chappell started a Brownie Pack and became Brown Owl and I became Tawny Owl.
All Guides reaching fourteen years of age could become Ranger Guides if they didn't they had to leave Guiding. I duly joined the Rangers and very enjoyable this side of Guiding was.
The girls in the first Brownie Pack wore a plaited straw hat (which always reminded me by its shape of an upturned coal scuttle), a brown cotton dress, a brown tie the same shape as the Guides (both of these tied at the back of the neck neatly tucked under the collar), a brown leather belt and all badges gained were sewn on the right sleeve and of course brown socks and shoes.
We won the District Shield both at Guide and Brownie Rallies several times. We had well attended Church and Chapel Parades with both Company and Pack. It was an honour to be in the colour party at these Parades. Five Guides would be chosen, one carried the Company Colour and one the Union Jack with one escort between them and two Guide escorts behind. The Brownies had a pennant made of leather. One Brownie carried it with an escort of two Brownies. These Parades were held once a month. Our first Union Jack was bought for us by Mr. James Arundel of Locksley Hall.
Both Guides and Brownies had a waiting list and never dropped below twenty-
From joining as a Guide to reaching the Guiding age for retirement I gave forty-
I was happy to see all my work thus carried on.
1977 to the Present
My experience of Guiding in this village has been since 1975 when my eldest daughter Jacqui started Brownies under the leadership of Mrs. Edith Cartwright. At the age of 65 years old Mrs. Cartwright had to retire in 1977. My younger daughter Elaine was now ready to start at the age of seven. A meeting was called and the parents were told that unless a leader could be found the Unit would have to close. I volunteered reluctantly. Mrs. Eleanor Loughton an experienced assistant of Mrs. Cartwright was willing to show me the way. In 1979 I was appointed Assistant Guider and in 1981 Eleanor decided to leave to spend more time with her grandchildren. My son Simon had been born in 1980 and when a baby-sitter could not be found spent time in his pram and pushchair while the meetings were held.
The Guide section at this time was run by Avril Smith and Lynne Murdy. The girls were proud to wear their blue uniform in the 1970's but in the 1980's peer pressure made them unpopular and girls braved being teased at school. This meant a unit of over 30 girls dwindled to about half a dozen.
When Lynne left to do other things, Dorothy Clark assisted Avril. Avril went camping in Germany and at Poacher International Camp with Scouts and Guides from the Louth area, several from this village. Poacher is an International Camp for Scouts and Guides held every four years at the Lincolnshire Show Ground. Year 2000 is the next one.
When Avril retired the Unit was run by Gill Blackburn and Pat Peart. Maria Jones then took over, but the Unit eventually closed in the early 1990's.
During the last twenty-two years several people have assisted me. I hope I haven't missed anyone. Ann Claypole (now living in London), Gill? (her husband was in the RAF at North Cotes), Val Stones, Maria Jones, Julie Fisher, Sue Morrow and currently Sue Teanby and Trish Brill.
The Rainbows were formed about twelve years ago for girls aged between five and seven years. The North Somercotes unit was opened in this village in 1995. Leaders for this have been Anne Lambert, Marion Bishell, Berni Toohay and Sue Archer. The girls like to make things, sing and play games.
What do modern day Brownies do? We play games, sing, cook, do craft work, go on outings and pack holidays. The girls work in groups with a Sixer in charge and a Seconder to assist. The starting age is from seven years old and they leave before their eleventh birthday. There are currently twenty-eight girls in the Unit.
North Somercotes Brownie Pack has passed through the gates of Buckingham Palace to watch Changing of the Guard. Yes, we used Appleby's buses every time and their bus was parked on the forecourt. Once when we were allowed to pass through the barriers to Downing Street, the policeman opened the door of No. 10 and allowed us to stand in the hallway. The PM was out at the time.
What do the girls wear? Rainbows wear a coloured tabard, North Somercotes colour is red. The Brownies have a choice of light brown track bottoms or cullottes with yellow top in a choice of styles with a yellow baseball cap. Badges are worn on a sash worn over the tee shirt or sweater. The Leaders wear blue and also have a wide choice of styles.
On a personal note I was appointed District Commissioner from 1991 to 1998. In 1996 I was one of a group of six Guiders who visited America on a three week trip. We met members of the American Girl Scouts Association in Kentucky and then went on to Memphis and Nashville. A memorable trip when once more we found that many doors opened which are usually closed to members of the public.
The Uniform of the Association is respected world- wide and hopefully will still be around in many centuries to come. The programme is designed to help children work together and tolerate others, no matter what religion, colour or creed. Disability is not a barrier. Wheelchair bound children are
helped to attain incredible ambitions. Thanks B-P for having the inspiration to start this wonderful organisation.
The Guide section at this time was run by Avril Smith and Lynne Murdy. The girls were proud to wear their blue uniform in the 1970's but in the 1980's peer pressure made them unpopular and girls braved being teased at school. This meant a unit of over 30 girls dwindled to about half a dozen.
When Lynne left to do other things, Dorothy Clark assisted Avril. Avril went camping in Germany and at Poacher International Camp with Scouts and Guides from the Louth area, several from this village. Poacher is an International Camp for Scouts and Guides held every four years at the Lincolnshire Show Ground. Year 2000 is the next one.
When Avril retired the Unit was run by Gill Blackburn and Pat Peart. Maria Jones then took over, but the Unit eventually closed in the early 1990's.
During the last twenty-
The Rainbows were formed about twelve years ago for girls aged between five and seven years. The North Somercotes unit was opened in this village in 1995. Leaders for this have been Anne Lambert, Marion Bishell, Berni Toohay and Sue Archer. The girls like to make things, sing and play games.
What do modern day Brownies do? We play games, sing, cook, do craft work, go on outings and pack holidays. The girls work in groups with a Sixer in charge and a Seconder to assist. The starting age is from seven years old and they leave before their eleventh birthday. There are currently twenty-
North Somercotes Brownie Pack has passed through the gates of Buckingham Palace to watch Changing of the Guard. Yes, we used Appleby's buses every time and their bus was parked on the forecourt. Once when we were allowed to pass through the barriers to Downing Street, the policeman opened the door of No. 10 and allowed us to stand in the hallway. The PM was out at the time.
What do the girls wear? Rainbows wear a coloured tabard, North Somercotes colour is red. The Brownies have a choice of light brown track bottoms or cullottes with yellow top in a choice of styles with a yellow baseball cap. Badges are worn on a sash worn over the tee shirt or sweater. The Leaders wear blue and also have a wide choice of styles.
On a personal note I was appointed District Commissioner from 1991 to 1998. In 1996 I was one of a group of six Guiders who visited America on a three week trip. We met members of the American Girl Scouts Association in Kentucky and then went on to Memphis and Nashville. A memorable trip when once more we found that many doors opened which are usually closed to members of the public.
The Uniform of the Association is respected world-
helped to attain incredible ambitions. Thanks B-
Christine Wells