All the girls started the term by enjoying using the equipment from Sainsbury’s Actives Kids. Many thanks to all the parents, relatives and friends who collected vouchers for us. The Guides are quite disappointed if we don’t have time for a session on the hoppers at the start of a meeting!

Guides and Brownies took part in the Methodist Harvest Festival; four Guides performing a sketch in which two Planet Doctors diagnose and prescribe cures for Planet Earth’s many afflictions. Several of the Brownies volunteered to take part in an activity about the meaning of Harvest.

The Brownies have made bird feeders, very large wool pompoms, done some painting and decorated chocolate logs. Many of them have completed Interest badges associated with their skills and hobbies and as usual have played lots of games. Before half-term they enjoyed a pumpkin party, making headdresses and glittery black cats as well as apple bobbing and retrieving marshmallows out of flour. As the ‘Christmas Trees at Advent’ included wreaths, the Brownies have decorated their own Tree of Wreaths this year.

The Guides have also had a busy term, completing Go For It Fitness, Take Your Toothbrush and Top Jobs Challenges. They have also finished the 2008 Guiding Looking at Me Challenge by looking at ‘My Image’, parts of which were very thought provoking as well as being very enjoyable. Several weeks have been spent designing and making the Wreath for the Advent celebration in the Church.

The last few meetings before Christmas will be spent making festive things, the Guides will be making their usual mince pie deliveries to single, elderly people in the village and we hope to attend the Chapel Carol Service. The girls will also have to decide what to do for the 2009 Guiding Community Action Challenge, ‘Changing the World’.

Delia Wyers

P.S. We Are Still In Need Of A New Guide Leader.
Tel: 01283 813405

It was a very long summer term, but still not long enough to do everything planned! Both Units took part in the village Carnival and joined in the celebrations of 90 years of Guiding in Burton-on-Trent at Pageant 90 and Conkers. There was the usual friendly rivalry during Carnival preparations. The Brownies’ ‘Carnival of the Animals’ Float and the Guides’ ‘Carnival Dragon’ were both very colourful and involved lots of teamwork and inventiveness by the girls during their meetings. Very many thanks to the parents who helped to decorate the Brownie Float.

Pageant 90 took place in July at Meadowside Leisure Centre with activities from many of the Burton Units. About twenty-five Rolleston girls and leaders performed three dances, the Charleston, the Jive and a Line Dance in a display of ‘Dancing Through 90 Years’. Again, many thanks to the parents for making costumes for it. The afternoon ended with camp fire songs.

A week later almost al the girls visited Conkers with Burton Division and had a very enjoyable (almost dry!) day.

In between all these activities the Brownies had a few dry evenings for games outside, worked on various Interest years, had two Promise Ceremonies, visited the Blue Cross Centre and had an end of term party. Many thanks to one of the Guides who has helped at Brownies as part of her Duke of Edinburgh and Baden Powell awards.

The Guides have continued their Looking at Me Challenges and Go For It Experiment and Fitness. Two girls organised Japanese and Spanish culture evenings as part of their Baden Powell challenges. As part of their Leadership Training, Claire arranged a Scavenger Hunt at Brook Hollows followed by smores(sic) and campfire singing at the Church Room. Vanessa organised a visit to the Blue Cross Centre on the last meeting of term after which we walked along the Jinny Trail and had chips at Stretton. They both led a meeting based on the Guide Promise and Law and ran meetings when I was away. Claire will be off to University next year. We all wish her well for the future and are sure that she will continue in Guiding.

However, I have to retire this year and we are desparately in need of a new leader for the guides to prevent the unit having to close. Do you know anyone who can help?

I hope everyone has had a good holiday. Brownies will restart on Wednesday September 10th and the Guides restart on Thursday September 4th.

Delia Wyers

The Brownies are hoping for a much better summer than last when they hardly ever managed to get outside. This term they are concentrating on the RSPB Conservation challenges which should involve outdoor activities! They have all selected an interest badge to work on and as a unit will be starting the Seasons Badge. They have made cards for Mother’s Day and Easter and are learning twentieth century dances (the Charleston, the Jive and a Line Dance) for Pageant 90 that takes place in July to celebrate ninety years of Guiding in Burton. The Brownies also entered and only just lost the pancake race.

During the spring term the Guides took part in the pancake race, which they didn’t win but thoroughly enjoyed. At Easter they made boxes and truffles and made cards using tea bag folding. They started the Guide ‘Looking at Me’ challenge and have enjoyed games, activities and discussions associated with ‘My Feelings’. This term they have to complete ‘My Shell’ and ‘My Image’. They will also be doing Go For It Challenges and, like the Brownies are learning dances. In September we are hoping to take the guides to the Derbyshire County Scout Camp at Drum Hill for an ‘invite a friend’ weekend. They will be able to try activities that are difficult to organise for a small group locally.

As this is Burton Division’s 90th Birthday, there was a special thinking day Service in February at St. Modwen’s in which girls carried candles and flags and wore an Indian Brownie’s uniform to take the Thinking Day pennies to the altar. During the rest of the year there is the May Fair and Plant Fair at Tatenhill, a Guiding Day at Conkers, the National Fairy Day at Tutbury and the Big Gig at the NEC. However, at the moment meetings are devoted to preparing for the Carnival. With all the cold wet weather it’s difficult to get into the mood and we can just hope for a better day than last year!

We have the usual plea for more leaders, The Brownies have a full unit and at the moment the same leaders run both groups which involves a lot of work. Please do get in touch if you know anyone who can help.

Delia Wyers (Guide Guider)

A very short report this time as we have had so few meetings since early December. Before Christmas the Guides visited Brook House for a Christmas Craft evening followed by a meeting making decorations. The Brownies had their usual Christmas party whilst the Guides had two ‘working’ evenings! They delivered mince pies to elderly people around the village and then packed bags of Christmas shopping for customers at Sainsbury’s. The money raised will go towards paying for Baden Powell Challenge weekends for the older Guides. We also raised some funds at the FOJORPS Christmas Fair by helping the younger children make icicle and snowflake decorations.

This term the girls will have already taken part in the Pancake Races and a Division 90th Birthday Thinking Day service at St Modwen’s Parish Church by the time you read this report. In March we will be taking part in a Division Birthday Concert, performing dances through the 20th Century which will also form part of an interest badge. Then we still have Easter to look forward to, with cards, cooking and games.

Since September Rolleston District has joined with Stretton to form Craythorne District (which it used to be over 20 years ago). At present the Brownies have a full Unit but there are still places in Guides. However we are still in need of more adults as leaders in both Units.

Delia Wyers (Guide Guider) Tel: 813405.

Thank you

Another year gone by and once again the Girl Guides and their Guider turned up on a freezing cold night to deliver mince pies and sweets in time for Christmas.
It is a lovely thoughtful gesture which I appreciate.
Thank you very much.
Yours sincerely,
Val Beeson

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Last updated: 19 December 2008