Type name hereBedfordshire

BedsBuzzNo vember 20 08

Thank you all!

My thanks to everyone whomade a donation to myfarewell cheque - that’s alot of chocolate!

It has been a privilege and agreat pleasure to be CountyCommissioner of such a fan-tastic County.

I wish Debbie and her newteam good luck!

Thank you and goodbye from -

Kathy

We’re the BEST! BedfordshireAnnual ReviewIf you missed it, you missed one of the

high spots of the Bedfordshire Guiding

Year. There were awards galore - from

our amazing 9 Queen’s Guides, 38 BP

Awards and Kathy’s Awards to all

Members from Rainbows to Adults!

The audience applauded the ethos of

Guiding in Bedfordshire with a great

rendition of “simply the Best”. And best

we were in the greatest of guiding

traditions for Kathy’s farewell as County

Commissioner and Debbie Docherty’s

welcome as her successor.

A rendition of the Sound of Music - with

rather different words was enthusiastically

performed by a spirited troop of guiders

who soon had the audience crying for

more, and more they got - sack loads of

party poppers filled the auditorium and

stage for a grand finale and send off for

Kathy.

Before passing over her badge to

Debbie, Kathy was presented with flowers

and a large envelope containing a gift

from the County’s members. She

thanked everyone, especially Betsy

Marley who had been her assistant for

the last five years and Wendy Rider who

retired as County Secretary after an

amazing 27 years on the Exec. She was

delighted to be awarded the position of

a Vice President.

It was then over to Debbie to take charge

at the beginning of her 5 years in office.

Greetings from Debbie - Bedsnew County CommissionerI'd like to start with a great big thank you for the fantastic support from

everyone who attended the Annual Review. It certainly made me very

proud to be the new County Commissioner. With Changing the World

already launched and the Centenary fast approaching we have a very

exciting time ahead and I'm sure we'll have many more celebrations.

One of my aims is to meet as many people as possible all around the

County, so if you are having a Division or District event please think about

inviting me. I can't promise to get to them all but I'd love to get to one in

each Division by the end of next year. In the mean time I wish you all a

very Happy Christmas and a very busy and exciting 2009

DebbieDebbie Docherty - County Commissioner

A quorum ofCountyCommissioners!Left to right:Debbie Docherty, Kathy Carroll, Margaret Johnson and Jeanne Wain

B

UZZING AROUND.....

Giant Sleepover at Lord’s Cricket Ground1st Wootton Brownies were very excited when they discovered theyhad won a competition to sleepover at Lord’s Cricket Ground for theGiant Sleepover 2008.

The group take part every year in the Giant Sleepover which aims tobreak the Guinness World Record for the most participants sleepingover in one night and this year there were almost 35,000 childreninvolved, once again breaking the record!!

We arrived at Lord’s by coach and were shown to our sleeping areain the Indoor Cricket School. Then we watched a cricket matchbetween Eton and Harrow schools from the stands. The browniessoon got caught up in the atmosphere and were cheering for theirfavourite. A second Brownie Unit from Devon arrived and we soonmade new friends.

This was followed by an action packed evening. The girls loved the opportunity to have their photo taken by the people from the GiantSleepover and the Guinness World Records officials. One of our Brownies, Charlie, was interviewed by a reporter from CBBC Newsroundand gave her thoughts on the event. The girls posed in their sleeping bags both in front of the pavilion and in the grandstand. This wasfollowed by a BT activity involving the girls in communication. Later, it was time for a bedtime story and a midnight feast, then timeto get tucked up in those sleeping bags and break the record.

After breakfast, there was another chance to break a world record – all of the children sleeping over were involved in the AquafreshMinty Mouth Challenge – the most people brushing their teeth for two minutes simultaneously. This seemed like a very long time butthe girls had shiny teeth afterwards and will, hopefully, continue the practice. The last challenge for the girls was a sponsored skip toraise money for Save the Children. They were all very good at this and raised over £ 230.

Finally, the girls were given a grand tour, which included the pavilion, the museum (including the Ashes) and the England dressing room.We were also able to climb the 82 steps to the famous media centre where the girls had a birds eye view of the cricket pitch. Soon itwas time to get back on the coach and head home for some much needed rest.

Denise, Brown Owl.1st Wootton Brownies

BP Adventure!We were the second group thisyear from our guide group luckyenough to attend a BP challengeweekend at Icando in London.The weekend consisted of avariety of activities from artsand crafts to visiting the mainattractions. We arrived on theFriday night and after settlingin and makeing new friends, weexplored the Icando Centre.

We settled down for the nightin the indoor tent and manageda little sleep. The next day,was jam packed full of action-visiting exciting places in London,which we all thoroughly enjoyed.

Sadly on Sunday we had to say our goodbyes to our new guiding friends and thanked the staff fororganising such a fantastic weekend.

During the summer holidays we all attended Essex Jamboree with our unit and had a wonderful surprise.The Chief Guide Liz Burnley was visiting the camp and agreed to present our BP badges and certificates.We hastily donned our uniforms and made our way to the main arena were we received our awards.We will always remember this special occasion and will be proud of our certificates signed by theChief Guide.

We are now back at guides for the new term, two of us, not as guides but as Young Leaders. Guidingis Great in 2008 and 2009 will be even better.

Iona Watt, Amy Kyle and Alex Holly-Well Rolfe, 1st Kempston Guides, Bedford South Ouse District

Thank you very much for yoursupport and sponsorship moneyfor the Playtex Moonwalk.

Above is the official picture of meand a friend just after crossingthe finish line.

Philipa Tolley

Send your articles and comments to: BedsBuzzEditor - Diane Butler • 3 The Old School • Church Street Shillington Hitchin • Herts SG5 3LJ

email: diane@collingwood-design.co.uk

Next Issue: Spring - Copy Deadline - 30th November 08

Thanks for all your great articles and pictures. Keep sending, and I will print everything I can fit in!

Brownie prize winners take tea with the Dutchess at Woburn Abbey...

BUZZING AROUND.

....

County Shield winners1st Leighton Buzzard Guides won the County Shield at the County Cook-outCompetition - Well done!

Happy Birthday1st Flitwick Brownie PackOn Wednesday 16th July 2008 the 1st Flitwick Brownie Packcelebrated their 60th Birthday (1948-2008). We had a partywith a disco and buffet at Hetley House, Flitwick. Also presentwere past leaders, among them, Mrs Rosemary Spilling, whoran the Pack as an Assistant and then Unit Guider for almost

twenty years. Great fun was had by all and to mark this exceptionalevent, every girl who is a Brownie within this celebration year, willreceive a special commemorative badge.

SINGING CIRCLE DATES Autumn 2008

St Marks Church, Bedford Monday 24th Nov. 08 7:45pmHaverings, Luton Tuesday 20th Jan. 09 8:00pm

Readyfor takeoff...

Sophie and the Countess...

Changing the World...

Coming soon!!!

From the County

PR team

Look out for

Buzzin’ in Beds

Your Thinking Day

Challenge!

Katie Robertsonreceives her Queen’s Guide Award...Well done all 9Queen’s guides!

TwoVeryTallStories!Walking into the

GUINNESS BOOKOF RECORDS 2009is Michelle Frost aGuider in SouthOuse District!!

Page 185 features her picture almost astall as the page and stating her record forthe Fastest Marathon on Stilts achieved atthe Flora London Marathon 2008!!!

She has a place for the London Marathon

next April and will be competing - has not

decided how yet...

Proving that Guiding really does offer once-in-a-lifetime opportunities,July 2008 saw Bedford’s Lesley Cornish sail into history as part of thefirst all-female Tall ShipsRace crew. The race betweenLiverpool and Maløy inNorway is a real adventure.Well done to Lesley and therest of the Girlguiding UKcrew.

Your Picture Gallery

A

big thank you to

Kelly Quigley who has

left PR Team. Thanks for

all her hard work especially

The T in Beds campaign.

Welcome to Sarah Hunt

who has taken over her

role as Team

Leader.

PR CORNER!

www.bedsguiding.org.uk website email:sue.champkins@cool-icon.comThe number of website hits during 2007 : 1,031,771 Up to September this year 805,721

Twenty-One Guides in Icelandby Louise Forder

Haverings Trefoil GuildThe Guild started in October 1993 with nine members. By thetime we were registered on 22nd June 1994, our numbers hadswelled to nineteen. We have always enjoyed a very varied pro-gramme ranging from speakers to outings, providing teas at theannual Thinking Day Service, running a stall each year at theHaverings Fayre, to fundraising for various projects. We havealso supported the St. Albans Gang Show - a very entertainingevening. Over the years we have raised thousands of pounds forvarious charities including: Keech Cottage, Riding for theDisabled, Hospice at Home, MacMillan Nurses, Motor NeuroneAssociation, Kids Out, and of course our own Haverings.

Our first Chairperson was Jean Hawkes, and since then we havehad four more Chairpersons. I took over in 2007. Our numbershave steadily increased over the years and we now have fortymembers including five from the 2nd Luton Trefoil Guild whichclosed last December.

Until last Christmas we cooked our own celebratory meal andopened our gifts afterwards to much hilarity. Last year wedecided on a change and went to the Red Lion at Offley for avery enjoyable meal.

This year we have enjoyed talks by Zena Skinner on Facing theCamera. Two of our members related their experiences onkeeping a village store and we had a go at handbell ringing.Christina Hunt recalled her experiences at the World ScoutJamboree, we learnt about the Dark Horse Venture, DiscoveryAwards and enjoyed an evening at Putteridge Bury.

We look forward to many more meetings and the friendship thatwe all enjoy.

Jeanne Wain, Chairperson, Haverings Trefoil Guild

Thursday 31st We spend the morning whale watching, we seepuffins, jellyfish and dolphins, oh, and whales, minky whales to bespecific. We return to dry land and go to the Blue Lagoon, oh, nowyou’ll be jealous. A natural hot spring in the middle of nowhere,blissfully warm, even hot in places, with mud masks, steam rooms,saunas and spa treatments, aggghhhhh! We return to our lodgingsparkly and clean and get ready for our meal at an Icelandic Tapasrestaurant, where they prepare six dishes for us to try. A lovelyway to spend our last evening together.Friday 1st August We spend a few hours in Reykjavik before travellingto the airport. After a seven and a half hour delay, hmmm, we boardour plane. Once home we say our goodbyes and part our separateways taking the memories of our brilliant trip home and collapsinginto our wonderfully comfy beds.

We take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to Gill Lake formaking this fantastic trip happen. We are very grateful for hertime and hard work.

What could sixteen Guides and Senior Section plusfive Leaders possibly get up to on a GirlguidingBedfordshire trip to Iceland in July? Well…

Sunday 20th Packing, re-packing and re-re-packing our rucksacks.Monday 21st Our adventure begins. We travel to, and through theairport, through the air, and then descent through the clouds, rainand fog…woohoo, welcome to Iceland!Tuesday 22nd We leave our lodgings on the outskirts of Reykjavikand head north to the National Scout Jamboree, near the town of Akuyeri.As our coach rumbles on we gaze upon the empty landscape, it occursto me that we haven’t come to Iceland at all, in fact I think wehave got lost and have landed on Mars. Don’t worry it’s OK. As wetravel further north, the landscape changes from rocks and larvafields to moss and mountains, there’s even the odd tree here andthere. We follow the road, and then turn up to our campsite, weare pleased to see that the sun is out, the sky is blue, there is abeautiful view, oh, and lots of wind, tent pitching will be fun!Wednesday 23rd The day has dawned on a pioneering revolution.Our neighbours are busy sourcing and collecting building materialsand constructing architectural masterpieces. Our camp is a quiethaven, maybe the industrious atmosphere has worn our girls out –who needs flagpoles, towers, fences etc. Thursday 24th Today we invade the Viking Village. Weaving,braiding, felt making, leather and woodcraft, ironwork, herballotions and potions and having a song and dance. Good practice forthe sub camp campfire tonight.Friday 25th Swimming! Swimming in the swimming pool and theleaders find the hot tub and steam room, ooh yeah! After ourcleanse we spend the rest of the afternoon in the town, discoveringwhat Akuyeri has to offer.Saturday 26th Odin’s Day. The Jamboree throws open it’s doors towelcome visitors from the world outside. There’s lots to see anddo, including Scout Factor, oh yes, our very own Spice Guides wowthe crowds with their incredible talent, unfortunately competitionwas very strong, so no - Wembley will have to wait. In the eveningwe gather for a singsong, firework display (interesting, as it’s 24hour light here?) And a disco, whoop whoop! Sunday 27th A trip to the country, I quote “a long but light walkthrough the countryside to the legendary Christmas House”. Long,indeed it is, but light, well - debatable! After a six hour hike acrossthe mountains we all arrive at the Christmas House, too exhausted tobe bothered by the cinnamon scent, candy canes and Christmas trees.Monday 28th Half of the group spend the morning fishing andactually catch something, including haddock and cod, oh and notforgetting the sea urchin, very special! The rest of us are busybattling our way through water, turning our limbs green and purple,then getting filthy dirty on the water safari, bet you’re really jealous!Tuesday 29th We strike camp and pack up to travel back toReykjavik, sad that camp is over so quickly but looking forward tothe day trips we have planned for next few days.Wednesday 30th Hottest day ever recorded in Iceland, a whopping31 centigrade! We spend the day on the Golden Circle tour. Wevisit the spot where the American and European plates meet, anamazingly huge waterfall and best of all, the geysers, one of whichexplodes every eight minutes, soooooo cool!