Centenary
Centenary laser show at Dudley Castle
For the Girlguiding West Mercia Centenary Shop, click here
Our Centenary has arrived. It seems only 5 minutes, although it’s actually 2 years, since the Midlands Centenary Planning weekend. It was there that the possibility of an event for our Launch weekend was first muted. I think that the County were rather aghast when Fiona, our Centenary Champion, and myself presented our thoughts at the next Executive Committee but they were enthusiastic and encouraged us to “Go for it” to coin a well used Guiding phrase.
Our subsequent “Have Your Say Day”, for girls and Leaders, convinced us that we were on the right track and the girls who came, particularly the Brownies, knew exactly what they wanted, and so the Centenary Celebrations in West Mercia began to take shape. Most of you will think that you know what lies in store but don’t be so sure! There are lots of surprises within the events for girls and their leaders. Being a member of Guiding at this time is really exciting for us all, but for the leaders there is the extra responsibility to make sure that their units don’t miss out and that every single girl gets the opportunity to make memories that will last a lifetime. I will never tire of saying that the only person stopping you from being a part of Centenary is you.
The Laser Show at Dudley Castle was something to behold. I don’t think that our County had ever seen anything quite like it, but it is a taste of things to come. To my knowledge we have never had to have permission from the Civil Aviation Authority and alert Air Traffic Control when we have had a County Event before. The Police were also notified just in case anyone up to 7 miles away phoned to report sightings of a UFO near Dudley Castle! But what a night. The Laser Company did us proud and I have received so many e-mails, texts, letters and phone calls from people who came saying how fabulous it was and that they are glad that they can say “I was there!” What is good enough for Kylie Minogue is good enough for West Mercia!
Marion and myself want all of the adults in the County to have mountain top moments too, in the next 14 months. We hope that this will be a way of thanking you for all that you do for the girls. I know that you will have a fabulous time (and many of you will have already started at your Launch Parties) but this year is for us all to celebrate and have fun, which is what we do best.
West Mercia's centenary celebrations at Dudley Castle
We must also remember the girls who gate crashed the Boy Scout Rally at Crystal Palace in 1909, and asked Baden Powell for “something for the girls”. We have much to thank them for. They were very daring as we have to realise that, at that time, women were considered to be 2nd class citizens and not allowed to do anything which might appear “unwomanly”.
Agnes, BP’s sister, and her committee laid the foundations of Guiding but it was not until Olave, his wife, became involved that Guiding began to shed its rather old-fashioned, Victorian image. This was when Guiding truly became a movement.
Throughout the decades Guides have proved that they have remained relevant to the girls of the time. We have always given them a voice and encouraged them to take the lead. We have continued to provide a “girl only” space, which we know, is what they want, a safe haven where they can be themselves, and we reach out to all communities. We celebrate our diversity, making Guides available to anyone who wants to join.
By the end of the Launch weekend thousands of girls, leaders and their guests from across the County had joined everyone else in the UK and welcomed in what will be a year to remember. I hope with all of my heart that you will use this year to focus on all that is good about Guiding – our values, our Promise, our heritage, our worldwide sisterhood, and most of all our girls and the role we play in making them good citizens of the future.