To celebrate 90 years of Girlguiding in the town, 1st Wilmslow Guides are holding an Open Afternoon at The Guide Hall on Hawthorn Street.
1st Wilmslow Guides are inviting local residents to pop along on Saturday 14th May, between 2pm and 4.30pm, to enjoy the photographs, past uniforms, relive funny and happy memories and see what Guiding can offer in 2011.
The origins of Guiding in Wilmslow go back to 1920 when Miss Doris West asked the girls from her Sunday School class at St. Bartholomew's, if they would like to be Girl Guides. She also asked the daughters of friends and girls she met whilst out in Wilmslow - which resulted in the first get together, one Saturday afternoon in January 1921 at the Parish Hall on Water Lane.
The word soon spread from friend to friend and very quickly there were fifty girls meeting each Saturday with Miss Doris West as Captain and Miss Norah Agnew as Lieutenant of the group. The girls were divided into six or seven patrols which were all named after flowers. Those remembered are Scarlet Pimpernel, Marguerite, Red Rose, Sunflower and Forget-me-not.
Guider Lynn Bond explained "The company grew quickly, because at that time there was very little girls could join and take part in. It seemed to be that a girl of Wilmslow was either a Guide or a member of the Girls Friendly Society.
"The whole company was enrolled by Lady Brocklehurst and registered in May 1921. The memories of these early Guides were of drill, doing good deeds, playing games and going swimming."
The first camp was held at Bosley Cloud, near Congleton, in the summer of 1923 - a member from this time remembered when she camped, taking palliasses filled with straw and the flagpole, cooking on wood fires and playing cricket.
The members of the unit raised the money to build their own meeting place, known as Wilmslow Guide Hall which was opened in 1928 and continues to be their home today.
Lynn added "When the unit held a 60th birthday these memories were written down and some photographs were donated. However there is nothing from the 30's, 40's and 50's and we are urgently seeking memories from those years.
"One question that we would like answered is what Guide activities did the girls take part in during the Second World War years?"
Have you been you a guide or an adult involved with the 1st Wilmslow Guide unit, or one of the other units ,who met at The Guide Hall? If so, can you help complete the units' history?
All past members and their families are invited to the Open Afternoon on Saturday 14th May at Wilmslow Guide Hall.
For further information email Lynn Bond or call her on 0161 437 6708.
Photo: Opening of the Guide Hall in 1928.
