Rushden Research Group: Guides 7th St Mary's

7th Rushden St Mary's Guides

The 7th Rushden St.Mary's Guides was registered in 1974. Meetings took place at the Institute in Robinson Road on Wednesday evenings.

Mrs June Lyne ran the guides for about four years, followed by Mrs Gill Burridge.who took over in 1979. Mrs Anna Allen started in 1981 to the present day where she is still unit helper.

We transfered from the Institute to the new St Mary's church hall for our new meeting place. As a church company, we always attend church parade once a momth.

There have been many changes in the guide movement over the years three different changes of uniform for one. Also to badgework, with the loss of individual badges, with the change over to GO FOR ITS. When we started, the girls worked for their Queen's Guide award. Emma Burridge and Joanne Petitt were the last to gain this award before it changed to the Baden-Powell award. Our company has at least twenty of these awards over the years. This includes Francesca Seamarks who is now the current leader of the 7th.

We have camped on many occasions over the years, venues being a farmers field at Thurleigh to the PLG for the centenery. The last few camps have been at Jubilee site.

To raise money for camping equipment for the company we have held many fund raising events such as jumble sales, fetes etc.

Evening Telegraph, undated newsclip Box Set For Guides - 1983

GUIDE patrol equipment will now be packed away safely after each meeting, thanks to the woodwork skills of pupils from Rushden Boys School.

Pupils have made five patrol boxes for guide units. They handed them over at St Mary's Church Hall.

David Rogers said: "The boxes were made as part
of our project to help the community. We asked
the guide leaders for ideas and the suggestion of providing boxes for patrol equipment was made."

The school has provided other equipment for schools and organisations in the town over the years, made by teenagers in their woodwork and craft classes.

Emma Burridge gained her Queen's Guide award in 1984

Evening Telegraph, undated newsclip Guide's honour - 1986

EMMA GADSBY, 13, has been presented with the guiding movement's highest accolade, the Baden Powell Trefoil award.

Emma, of Ashridge Close, Rushden, is a member of the 7th Rushden St Mary's Guides. She was previously with the 2nd St Mary's Brownies.

Her former Brown Owl, Mrs Gina Crouch, carried out the presentation ceremony.

Emma, a pupil of Chichele School, Rushden, collected a host of badges for various skills to achieve the award. Her community service was carried out at Rushden Hospital where she helped handicapped child patients.

She said: "It was very interesting and rewarding. I went along after school for about three months and also helped to feed the patients."

Emma also enjoyed hiking and cooking out of doors, and took up tapestry work.

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