SEAXE Summer 2014

I was lucky enough to be selected to go to the Queen’s Garden Party on 10

June, and it is a day I will never forget – particularly as a fan of the Royal

Family!

There was a group of 23 of us, 10 from Wales and 13 from Anglia. We met at

Girlguiding CHQ where we met the Chief Guide, she wished us the best of

luck at the special event. Afterwards, we headed to Buckingham Palace

where we entered through the side entrance, here we had security and bag

checks before we entered the grounds. We were shown through to our

private meeting room, where we enjoyed lunch and had our briefing. My role for the day was welcoming guests

at the grand entrance and collecting tickets. Before the guests arrived, we were lined up outside and were very

fortunate to meet the Queen – I had a mini conversation with her regarding the excitement surrounding the

day! It was definitely the highlight of the day!

At 3pm we took to our positions, as we welcoming nearly 8000 guests into Buckingham Palace, and then at

4pm the royals came into the Garden – including the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh and the Duchess of

Cambridge – it was particularly special as it was the Duke of Edinburgh’s 93rd

birthday.

Bethany Wallis, 11th Chelmsford Guides

A surprise phone call on Christmas Eve led to a day we shall never

forget. “I have an invite for you,” Helens voice said “But it would mean

you taking a day off work – is that possible?” We had been

nominated, and were going to one of the Queen’s Garden parties,

what a fantastic early Christmas present!

Afternoon tea was served and we glimpsed the Queen as she passed

by. Continuing to aerate the lawn with our heels, (definitely wasn’t a

good idea to wear heels), we explored the grounds and finally sat

round the lake to rest our feet, and listen to the band. Considering

how excited we had been it was suddenly very relaxing. Everyone,

(eight thousand people apparently but really didn’t feel like that

many), slowly made their way back up the terrace steps, and we took

one last moment to take in a sight I’m fairly sure we won’t see again.

Claire Booth, 1st Kelvedon Guides & Julia Rome, 1st Maldon Guides

Nine members of 1st Writtle Guides were

awarded with their Baden Powell Trefoils.

Mhairi, Fran, Georgia, Mollie, Izzy, Phoebe, Yas-

min, Emma & Emily celebrated with a party in

the park.

1st Wickham Bishop Guides enjoyed a Safari Themed Camp at Thorrington. The Guides had a fantastic time and were able to try building a raft, use the zip wire and sung round the campfire.

Olivia, Brooke, Abby, Amy, Niamh & Shannon enjoyed a night walk

Congratulations! The following girls have

completed their Baden Powell Challenge

1st Danbury Guides Eliza Finn

Sunshine Hurrell Hannah Hayter

Florence Harrison Ruth Perry

Isabella Moruzzi Francesca Moruzzi

Juliette Bird

1st Gt Baddow Guides Holly Woollett

Hannah Newsome

1st Bicknacre Guides Elizabeth Duffy

Lia Viapond

1st WrittleGuides Mollie Brett Emily Baker Isabel Berry

Georgia Davies Mhairi Rankin Phoebe Wood Emma Dennis

Yasmin Spencer Francesca Burrows

11th Chelmsford Guides

Stacey Rolfe Amber Kirby

1st Witham Guides

Chloe Austin Megan New

Samantha Willmott

2nd Black Notley Daniella Last

Saskia McCulloch

1st Bocking Charlotte Wilkes

Amy Baker

5th Halstead Trinity Kara Fradley

Clare Etheridge Hannah Page

Ashleigh Squirrell

Girls and leaders from Girlguiding Chelmsford Division supported the recent Armed Forces Day in Central Park, Chelmsford, by demonstrating Guiding skills old and new. The display included a display of old and new tents, pictures and information on how Guides supported the war effort and Thelma Nobes, a long standing member of Girlguiding, wearing a retro uniform and teaching the girls a variety of knots and lashing techniques. There were also modern activities including a Brownies versus Guides assault course, parachute games and team building activities.

Rainbows from across Anglia

Region gathered in July for the

Rainbow Safari. They adopted

Lily the giraffe and Opal the

elephant as well as having the

chance to handle some

cockroaches and stick insects

at a special Rainbow session.

Elsie aged 7 said “I’ve been to

the zoo before but coming with

lots of Rainbows is so cool and

I love the badge!”.

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Hundreds of girls from all over the area have held an

extra-special birthday party . The two concerts were

hosted by Steve Williams and Sarah Louise, and featured

Johnny Mack as Olly Murs and groups the JLS Adventure

and Only One Direction. There were also the BENE Bop

Starmakers, a group of girls chosen from

across the county who performed their own

Brownie song and dance to

commemorate the Big Brownie Birthday.

Our special thanks go to Steve (who also wrote our special song), Sarah Louise, Trevor Wright (for his choreogra-

phy & support with the Starmakers), Colchester Accordian Show Band, our BENE Bop Starmakers (and their par-

ents for getting them to rehearsals) and our wonderful band of volunteers who helped the day run so smoothly.

127 Brownies, Guides, Senior Section and Leaders from Chelmsford South celebrated The Big Brownie Birthday with a trip to Alton Towers. The rain didn't put us off the rides, and when the sun came out we chose to get wet on the rapids. The

Brownies loved Wobbleworld and the Battle Galleons, the Guides, Oblivion and the Smiler. Nikki, Hils & Heather, Chelmsford South Division

Coggeshall Guides &

Rangers won first place in the

Walking Float category of

Coggeshall Carnival.

Katie Watts of 1st Coggeshall

Rangers was presented with

her Chief Guide Award by

District Commissioner Louise Edwards at Prances.

Kelvedon Rainbows

enjoyed a warm summer’s

evening with the Education

Team at Abberton

Reservoir. Everyone’s

favourite activity was pond

dipping with lots of pond life

being caught including baby

newts!

Tendring Division celebrated the Big Brownie Birthday by having a Brownie holiday at Thorrington. The theme was Bees because there are a lot of 'B's in Big Brownie Birth-day! The Beekeeper came and

showed the brownies and leaders what was needed to keep bees and gave a very interesting talk. There were lots of Bee crafts and games. For breakfast there were pancakes and honey and for our Birthday celebration, lots of Bee cakes were made. The weather was great for the weekend so the girls were able to enjoy the outside activities offered at Thorrington.

Guides from our County joined girls from across the region for an International Community Experience (ICE) residential weekend at Skreens Park. They were encouraged, through activities from across the globe, to think about their community and issues in the wider world. They then took part in a local service challenge of litter pick-ing and planting some of the 1000 saplings due to be planted at Skreens! Following the weekend, the girls were offered the opportunity to go on an international adventure in 2015, contributing to a community action project. 1st Witham

Guides visited

the Harry

Potter

Experience in

London where

they posed for

photographs

outside 4 Privet Drive, home to the Dursleys as well

as many other well know Harry Potter landmarks.

60 Guides from across

Witham Division enjoyed

their Guide Challenge Badge

Day where they completed

activities for the County

Growing Guiding 2014

Badge.

Activities ranged from

rockets to cooking.

1st Writtle

Guides enjoyed a

sleepover on

HMS Belfast.

On Sunday 18th May, 90 Trefoil Guild members from around the

county attended the annual Luncheon at the Colne Valley Golf

Club. As usual the food and company was excellent.

The speaker, Bryan Thurlow, described his experiences working

as an actor and singer in Old Time Music Hall shows, his

flamboyant rendering of songs and his antidotes about his

encounters kept us all on the edge of our seats.

On Friday 13th June, 16 Guild members from Essex North East

travelled to Cheltenham for the weekend to attend the National

AGM.

The County Trefoil Guild outing on 21st

June was once again blessed with lovely weather. Sailing from Ipswich down to Harwich, 63 members sunbathed on deck, taking in the views on the river and, of course, eating lunch. The trip concluded with a visit to a garden centre for afternoon tea and cake.

The 3 County Guilds Day was held on 1st July at Guide Acres, hosted by Essex South East, and 20 members from the our

county joined in the many activities that had been organised. An enjoyable day meeting old friends and once more the weather was perfect. Next year it will be Essex North East's turn to host the event which will be held at Prances Scout Camp-site on 1st July 2015.

In April, 8 of our members joined Trefoil members from around the region for a week in Switzerland. The trip was organised by the Trefoil in Lincs South. Whilst there, although still cold on the snow covered mountains, in the valleys we enjoyed temperatures in the twenties, blue skies and sunshine. We stayed in a hostel in Adelboden from where, across the valley, we could see Our Chalet of which we enjoyed a tour. Other visits during the week in-cluded several cable car rides one of which took us to the top of the Schiltshorn [the James Bond Mountain], a boat trip on Thunesee and a ride on the railway through breathtaking scenery to Lauterbrunnen. On the way home through France we made an unscheduled stop, as we passed through the Somme, at the Canadian Memorial where we walked

through the trenches and reflected on those who lost their lives so that we are able to be free today – a humbling experience. We enjoyed the trip so much that most of us have put our names on the list for the next trip which is planned for Spring 2017!

The 1st Essex Trefoil Guild had a lovely day at Brightlingsea Sailing club on Wednesday 4th June 2014, with

Trefoil members from Colchester, Stour Valley, Witham, Brightlingsea and Wyvenford joining them for the day,

enjoying a fish and chip lunch. Lovely company enjoyed by all, even the weather stayed fine enough for the more

able bodied to go for a walk whilst the rest stayed indoors and took part in a quiz . We finished a cuppa whilst the

raffle was being drawn. Thanks to all those that supplied the lovely raffle prizes.

Witham Walking Group continue to walk monthly taking in some of our counties most beautiful scenery. So far this year we have enjoyed walks from Stoke by Nayland where we marvelled at the stunning views across the Stour valley, Eight Ash Green which included a winding path through bluebell carpeted woods at West Bergholt, Burnham and Frinton. We are looking forward to walks from, among other places, Tiptree, Manningtree, Salcott, and Great Bardfield.

Contributions should be emailed to: seaxe@girlguidingessexne.org.uk

Deadline for next issue: 7th November 2014