Guides appeal for members’ memories

This year sees Girlguiding Alsager District celebrating its centenary, and the groups has appealed for memories from townsfolk.

Over the past 100 years thousands of girls and young women from Alsager and its environs have enjoyed hours of fun and friendship, having adventures, developing their self-confidence and fulfilling their potential.

They have travelled the length and breadth of the country to meet their sister Girlguides and travelled across the world learning about different peoples and cultures and helping with community projects to improve the lives of others.

Denise Lennox, of the Girlguiding Alsager district commissioner team, said: “We are celebrating with a year-long programme of events.

“We are having a fun day for all our members at Milldale Scout Camp in the summer, a mass picnic with families in the park in early autumn and a party to round off the year.

“Keeping our promise in mind, we will be serving our community with random acts of kindness around the town, supporting the food bank over the summer and running a treasure hunt during August.

“We are holding a service of thanksgiving at St Mary’s Church in May and even having our own blue plaque to commemorate our special year that local MP Fiona Bruce will unveil in January.”

Girlguiding has changed and evolved over the years in keeping with society ensuring it remains relevant and appropriate for young women.

Its underpinning ethos – the promise for members to do their best, to be true to themselves and to serve others – has been constant and unchanging.

Ms Lennox said: “Over the last 100 years, millions of hours of volunteers’ time has been devoted to giving girls the best time ever and helping them make memories that last a lifetime.

“Without its volunteer leaders and unit helpers, Girlguiding simply would not exist, and we will be paying tribute to our volunteers both past and present in the coming year.”

She added: “Many readers will have been involved with Girlguiding in Alsager and we would love to hear from you. Whether you were a Girlguide eight or 80 years ago – we want to hear your stories, see your photographs and share your memories.

“If you know of relatives who were Girlguides or have friends who have moved away from the area – please tell them we want to hear from them.

“We are creating memory books – both real and virtual – so that the adventures and fun of the last 100 years can be preserved and shared for the next 100!”

Anyone with memories can email alsagergirlguidingcentenary@gmail.com or call Denise Lennox on 07767 672 114 and share memories with her.