A special evening to mark the centenary of Girlguiding UK will take place at Rhondda Heritage Park this month.
Rainbows, Brownies and past members of the guides movement are among those who will renew their ‘Promise’ to Girlguiding – at the same time as girl guides across the UK – at the Heritage Park in Trehafod, at 8.10pm on October 20, 2010.
Through the Promise, girl guides agree to abide by the laws and values of Girlguiding UK, such as always doing their best and being kind and helpful to others.
As part of the centenary celebrations, an exhibition of Girl Guide memorabilia donated by local people will be launched at the Heritage Park on Saturday, October 23. Margaret Jervis, Deputy Lieutenant of Mid Glamorgan and Ambassador for Girl Guiding, will launch the exhibition at 11am.
Rhondda Cynon Taf’s Deputy Mayor, Cllr Sylvia Jones, who was a girl guide herself in the late 1940s/early 1950s, will be attending the launch.
Grandmother of seven, Cllr Jones, who was born in Dinas, Rhondda, joined the Guides at the age of 11 and was a member of 1st Tonypandy St Andrews Guides. They met every week in Tonypandy and worked towards guiding badges including cookery and sewing. Cllr Jones also has memories of sitting around the campfire!
“I enjoyed my time in the Girl Guides. I joined because some of my friends were going along. I left when I finished school aged 15 and went to work as a wages clerk,” she said.
“It is good for young people to get involved in this kind of group. It will be interesting to see the exhibition and see how things have moved on in modern times. The uniforms have definitely changed over the years!”
All are welcome to view the exhibition from 100 years of Girlguiding at Rhondda Heritage Park from October 23-November 7, 2010. The exhibition is open between 9am – 4.30pm and admission is free.
For more information go to www.rhonddaheritagepark.co.uk
