(Editor's note: many photographs of the Haddenham Brownies 70th Anniversary Celebrations were captured but safeguarding concerns preclude our sharing all but a few here. If parents and guardians would like to obtain copies of images for their own private family album, please contact the rainbows, brownies and guide leaders, who have access to all the photographs)
Haddenham Brownies Mark 70 Years
The village is steeped in history and many of our local community groups and their amazing volunteers have been an integral part of that history.
Every year, these groups celebrate many milestones and for the 1st Haddenham Girlguiding Group, 2025 marks a special one for us. Sunday 9th March 2025, marked the 70th Birthday of the 1st Haddenham Brownie Unit. We had a small celebration with all of our units on Monday 10th March to mark this momentous occasion.
Whilst none of the current unit leadership team were around when the Brownie unit was first started, we certainly do have more than 70 years of Girlguiding experience between us. I was 7 yrs old when I joined the 5th Hatch End Brownies (NW London) and, as I say to my friends and family. "I forgot to leave!". I will earn my 30 years service award as a Unit Leader in 2028!
For those of you who are unfamiliar with Girlguiding, we have a long history of empowering girls and young women to be their best. Our late Queen Elizabeth was herself a member of the Buckingham Palace Girlguiding Units.
The Guide Association was established in 1909 – thanks to the efforts of many intrepid girls who refused to accept that scouting was 'just for boys'. Soon, these young women began completing badges in sailing, aviation and home electrics. Later still, Girlguiding members were making important contributions to the First World War effort – growing food, acting as messengers for government organisations and working in hospitals, factories and soup kitchens.
It's been over 100 years since Girlguiding was established, and our members are still pushing boundaries and achieving great things. Girlguiding has grown into a vast and vibrant network of members (300,000 young people and 80,000 volunteers) across the UK.
Girlguiding offers girls a space to belong and have fun. We bring girls together to have incredible adventures, figure out what makes them tick, share laughs and learn about the world around them. Maybe you recognise it from your own childhood, used to know the organisation as the 'Girl Guides', or spotted the iconic Jeff Banks-designed uniform out and about?
Whilst the uniforms, name and our programme may have changed over the years, what hasn't changed is its ethos of creating a place for young girls and their leaders to meet and have fun.
I know that when I have had the busiest of days at work or feeling like the day is throwing a few too many challenges my way, there is nothing I enjoy more than being greeted by 18 Rainbows and hearing them enjoy themselves on a Monday evening. Their laughter, enthusiasm and curiosity to learn is infectious.
And what makes it even more rewarding is that I still get to see them when they move up to our Brownie Unit or Guide Unit (which also meets on a Monday).
Zoe (1st Haddenham Brownie & Guide Unit leader) and I, along with the rest of our wonderful volunteers, are given the opportunity to play a big role in our members lives. We have seen some of our Rainbows (who joined us at 4 and 5yrs old) move up to our Guide Unit (who start at 10yrs old) and we have witnessed them turn into confident, independent and kind young women. As you can imagine, this gives us an enormous sense of pride.
New Leaders Needed
Zoe and I are very much hoping that in another 30 years, we will get to see the Unit celebrate it's 100th Birthday (we will have most definitely hung up our Girlguiding shoes by then). We will watch from the sidelines as the next generation of Unit leaders carry on the legacy of the last 70 years worth of inspirational women and young people who have helped shape these units to be what they are today.
However, in order to do that we need some more unit leaders to help. Could you be the next Unit leader for our Rainbow, Brownie or Guide Unit? We don't just need people to come along and help each week (although we always welcome new Unit Helpers). We need some people who are willing to do something amazing and take on their Leadership Qualification. We want you to come and be an inspiring role model to our girls and young women.
Being a leader is so rewarding. You get to work directly with girls, help them to grow into confident young women and have loads of fun along the way.
With Zoe and I there to support you, you will become an integral part of our Leadership Team. You will be given the opportunity to plan sessions, pass on your skills and experiences to the members as well as learn about more practical things such as budgeting and event planning. Don't forget you also get to come on some great adventures with us and attend some really great events around the village.
We know that this isn't a small ask, but it's hugely energising and satisfying and really contributes to your own personal development and growth. If you have read this far and you think you've got what it takes to be a unit leader, then we want you to come and join us!
We are looking for women over the age of 18 to come along and join either our Rainbow (4-7yr olds), Brownie (7-10yr olds) or Guide (10-14yr olds) unit.
I could spend hours telling you all about the benefits of being a part of Girlguiding, but you will only know its true value once you come and join us.
If I have piqued your interest, then why not come and find out more and take the opportunity to be a part of a really special community group. If you are interested in joining us, then please do get in touch. Email us at: firsthaddenhamrainbows@yahoo.com
Sam Harris
1st Haddenham Rainbows, Brownies & Guides
