MISSION CED, IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM DUXFORD, 2ND JULY 2005
On Saturday 2 July 1545 members from Cambs East (1075 girls, 470 adults) celebrated 60 years since the end of WW2 and 95 years of guiding.

THE ORGANISING TEAM
Sheila Betts, Ann Mitchell Coordinators
Chris Turnbull Activities Coordinator
Rosie Spencer County Commissioner
Sue Howell Office Administration
Jane Muncey Rhee Commissioner (Host)
Sarah Carter International Adviser
Pat Mansfield Brownie Adviser
Barbara Kippax Chair, Trefoil Guild
Toni-ann Hammond Outdoor Adviser
Denise Fear, Bev Sweet Arts Advisers
Grace Bristow Health and Safety
And their teams: catering, public relations, international, outdoor, arts and crafts, reception

EXTRACT FROM ROSIE'S ANNUAL REPORT
Delivered at the Annual Event
In 95 years we have had many changes; the Land, Sea and Air Rangers and Cadets of the war years are now the Senior Section and the 5-7 year olds have Rainbows. We are now Girlguiding UK but we still all make the same promise; the words have been updated but the principles are the same. Girls still work together in small groups and plan their own activities; some of these enjoyed by the girls today are very different from the traditional ones, but others are the same and the ethos of the Movement is unchanged. It is exactly that - a Movement - engaging girls from the 21st century, so different and so modern - but, as envisaged by our Founder, guiding is still a game that offers the skills needed by girls and young women to take their place in the community and become responsible citizens.

Service is a valuable part of our programme. Last year girls from this County raised over £10,000 for various causes, particularly Children with Leukaemia. The girls also purchased several goats, a lamb and some chickens for families in the Third World, and filled up shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child. They served lunch to the elderly, planted bulbs, sang at old people's homes, and once again Histon Rangers ran Kids Camp for 28 children who otherwise wouldn't have a holiday.

Guiding is a worldwide movement, and today there are over 10 million members in 144 countries. From this County last year we sent girls and leaders on international trips to Mexico, Finland, Japan, Switzerland and Northern Ireland. The girls are expected to 'put something in', by offering service at the destination or sharing crafts or cultural activities, sometimes quite a challenge when no-one speaks the same language! They learn independence, tolerance of others from very different backgrounds and cultures, and often humility when they come home and realise how much we have in the UK compared to the people that they met. Everywhere they find a welcome and the amazing spirit of belonging to a huge worldwide organisation. At home our younger members can try out international crafts, games, songs, clothing, festivals and food or learn about world issues in unit, district, division or county events.

World Thinking Day on 22 February is the occasion when we celebrate the joint birthday of our founder Robert Baden-Powell, and his wife Olave the World Chief Guide. Rhee Division held a special Thinking Day service at Ely Cathedral. It was a cold day, but the cathedral was absolutely packed with young people and their leaders. Girls and leaders with special needs are very welcome in guiding and have an important role to play. During the service everyone renewed their promise in sign language, led by a deaf Guide and her family.

Our holiday house, the Jarman Centre, is fully accessible and many Brownies, Guides and Senior Section members enjoyed a residential experience there during the year. Girls chose themes ranging from the jungle through pirates to James and the Giant Peach, Snow White and cats. We've slept under the stars and in the Science Museum and some Brownies joined a huge Funtasia at Butlins Bognor. It is at residential events such as camps, holidays and sleepovers that the programme really comes together and they are often the highlight of a girl's guiding career. Living together is a very different experience from the weekly meeting and the girls really do learn to care for each other and pull their weight in a fun, yet safe environment! Add to this a variety of outdoor challenges, different water activities including canoe taster sessions and narrow boating, and the largest ever Mepal Water Activities Camp. We walked for WAGGGS, went orienteering, hiking, ice skating and caving, tried Go Ape and archery and joined in the Girlguiding UK Football Festival. And indoors, there was the Big Gig in Manchester, and a new programme for the Rainbows, plus much, much more.

The Brownies celebrated their 90th birthday in 2004. Originally called Rosebuds, they sprang from the desire of younger girls to join in the fun and be part of the action. What a wonderful variety of events they came up with to celebrate, and how the girls enjoyed them.

And the Leaders - why do so many women give up their spare time for guiding? We see the girls blossom and grow into young women, ready to take a responsible role in society. Through guiding we can help girls, who are our future, to do things they might never have dreamed of, or had the chance to do elsewhere. There are also lots of opportunities and challenges in guiding for personal development; you can gain new skills that are useful in the workplace and in life generally.

Guiding in Cambs East is thriving. New units opened in all sections across the County and last year, we welcomed 38 new adult volunteers. In guiding we value all that our leaders can give, however large or small a part that might be, knowing that together we can make a real difference. In the words of WAGGGS, adopted at the 32nd World Conference last week in Jordan: Girls worldwide say "Thank you".

Sarah Scott, Guider 38th Cambridge Guides, spoke of her experiences in an all adult group on a Japan Cultural Exchange. It is rightly named, as the Japanese share all manner of things from communal bathing to cooking raw fish, from visiting special sites to education for sustainable development and in exchange the UK group share aspects of our culture. Thus international understanding grows - 60 years ago we were, after all, at war with Japan.

Helen Dye, Guider 2nd Bottisham Brownies, told us about her gap year travels in South America. As a Guide Helen had represented the UK at a camp in Denmark and that trip gave her the confidence to embark on this adventurous journey on which she also gave service.

Jessica Knight and Emma O'Brien, 2nd Duxford Brownies, told of the exciting and colourful 90th birthday party for Brownies that they had enjoyed.

Zoe East, 1st Hardwick Guides, thought camp was the best bit of guiding, especially sharing a tent and having fun with ones friends.

Patricia Scott, 3rd Cherry Hinton Guides, on being a leader, said, "Not having been a Brownie or Guide, I came into guiding 2 years ago. My main influence for this was my daughter Caroline, who was a Brownie, then a Guide and then a Guide Leader. When she went to university, the Unit needed another helper. Having seen how much enjoyment, fun and most of all confidence she gained from guiding, I felt I wanted to give other girls this opportunity too. So here I am, nearly a Guide Leader and going on my first camp in August".

From the Archives:
The Girl Guides' war effort was considerable. Many Guiders left home to take up war work, and units carried on, run by the Patrol Leaders. Our own Queen Elizabeth was an active Girl Guide at the time, and she and Princess Margaret continued even after they had been evacuated to Windsor. Girl Guides were prominent on the Home Front and many of the traditional guiding skills: first aid, nursing, cookery, signalling, sewing, thrift, emergency helper - were put to good use during the war.

In Cambridge, Guides used up many pounds of khaki wool knitting balaclavas and sea boot socks, and with oddments of wool, brightly coloured Wellington boot socks, greatly appreciated by the workers in the Fens. A wartime Cambridge Guide remembers endless collecting: National Guide Gift Week in 1940 provided two air ambulances, one life-boat (used for the evacuation of Dunkirk), 20 motor ambulances, 2 mobile canteens and a hut in Iceland furnished and equipped for merchant seamen.

Save all Supplies (SAS) ran throughout the war and involved collecting, baling or bagging, packing and despatching waste materials - paper, cardboard, jars and bottles, broken toys for mending, scrap metal and the carbon rods from batteries. Cambridge girls assembled components for the Pye factory, went hop-picking in Herefordshire, acted as bodies for First Aid training, went strawberry, potato and fruit picking, and cleaned rifles packed in heavy grease as well as washing up on Sunday afternoons to allow the staff at a convalescent home to have a break.

Camping has always been a special part of the guiding experience, even during the war when activities were so limited and tents had to be pitched under trees and of course, they were not allowed to have any fires or lights at all during the blackout.

The Guide International Service (GIS) was conceived in 1941. Guides could offer a particular service in the aftermath of war. They knew how to organise and run large camps with a minimum of equipment; many were accustomed to co-operation with fellow Guiders of other nations; all were used to working in a team. Therefore, given the right training, Guide teams would be well equipped to run refugee camps and wayside feeding stations in isolated country districts, until something more permanent could be devised. After rigorous training, the first GIS team took a troopship to Egypt in 1944, destination Greece. Two Guiders from Cambridgeshire, Alison Duke (Chick, above) and Marjorie Jarman (Jammie, photo page 5) and six other women and two men comprised this team. They worked tirelessly, Chick as interpreter, a job she had also done in August 1939 when World guiding met at Pax Ting in Hungary, and Jammie as caterer in dangerous and demanding circumstances. High in the mountains, they distributed clothing, found food, set up displaced person camps and most precious of all, they gave the Greeks hope.

AWARDS 2005
ANGLIA BROOCH AND CERTIFICATE
Rosemary Spencer for outstanding service to guiding in Cambridgeshire East and Anglia Region. The Anglia Brooch and Certificate were presented to Rosie by Tricia Dundas, Anglia Chief Commissioner at Mission C.E.D.

Rosie's guiding in Cambridgeshire began as a student with the Scout and Guide Club. In 1986 she returned as assistant with the 38th Cambridge Guides, going on to be Guide Guider, Ranger Guider, County Arts Adviser, District Commissioner and County Commissioner since 2000. She has dealt with good things and bad, visiting units and events, acknowledging and thanking those who support guiding in many different ways, and helping at holidays, camps and other events, some of which would not take place if she was not a member of staff. Very patient and understanding, she is able to mediate well when needed. Under her guidance, there have been many new, and successful initiatives. Cambs East piloted CRB disclosures in the wake of the Soham murders, which proved both hard-work and quite difficult. It also led to county teams going out to train other teams in the region; she was diligent and conscientious in sorting out the problems. Rosie has encouraged the young: the student Guiders who run units in Cambridge alongside their degree work, the establishment of STEPS, an active committee of which she is a regular member and which looks after the needs of the 14-25s. Nor has she ignored the older stateswomen: visiting and supporting the Trefoil Guild, attending and often taking an active part in funerals, appointing those nearing retirement to posts they can continue in after the age of 65. She is an inspiration to all who meet her, constantly thinking out of the box to develop guiding both in the County and in her role as a Trustee of Girlguiding Anglia, always with the Region's best interests at heart.

Mavis Middleton for outstanding courage and dedication to guiding, presented by Tricia Dundas, Chief Commissioner, Girlguiding Anglia, at Mission C.E.D.

Mavis has been a Guider with Brownies since 1975 and also a District Commissioner. In March 2004, on her way to work, she was knocked off her bicycle by a speeding motorist. She spent weeks in Addenbrookes Hospital, in a coma, then fighting her way back to health. She is remembered in hospital for her giggles and for inspiring her fellow patients. To all our surprise, and delight, Mavis came to the Annual Event last year; across the brace she was wearing, instead of 'surpr!se yourself' we read the words 'brace yourself'. She has since returned to part-time guiding and some work. It is highly appropriate, that one year on, Mavis receives the Anglia Brooch to acknowledge the courage with which she faced this horrendous accident.

COUNTY GOOD SERVICE AWARD
Joan Bullman for guiding in Soham and services to the Arts. Joan has been an important part of her District as Ranger (Senior Section) Guider for 20 years and Brownie Guider for 10 years. She is now District Commissioner and also regularly takes part in the District Gang Show. Joan has been an active member of the County Arts Team almost since she began guiding. She has many skills which have been used to good purpose at County Training Days, Arts events, weekends, camps etc., for girls and adults alike. Many of us have used an idea or a craft taught by Joan. This award is an opportunity for Girlguiding Cambs East to acknowledge publicly all that Joan has done for us over many years.

Debbie Mould is so involved in guiding since she joined us here 8 years ago that it is hard to know where to begin. She runs one Guide unit, helps with another, and also leads a very successful Ranger unit. After being District Commissioner for City West in Cambridge she took over as City Division Commissioner in 2001. In addition she is City Trefoil Guild's Treasurer. Debbie is an active member of the STEPS team, was founding editor of Communic8, our County newsletter for the Senior Section, and recently gained archery qualifications, enabling her to offer archery to many girls (and leaders). She sits on the Jarman Centre management committee and is keen to develop its potential for the future.

Olga Murkin is a truly dedicated Brownie Leader, running her unit with energy and enthusiasm. She has encouraged the Brownies to partake in many activities, charitable work and service to the community. Each year Olga takes the Unit on a pack holiday; for many it is their first experience away from home. Their favourite venue is Houghton Chapel Retreat near St Ives.

Olga has just retired as Joint District Commissioner for Harston. She has been actively involved in recruitment within the District and continues to be a named person for completing CRB checks when required. She has been a mentor to Guiders on the Leadership Qualification Training and to Guiders taking their pack holiday licence. She is Rhee Division Treasurer and has now joined the County Finance Committee, providing an opportunity to use her accountancy skills. Olga will always help if she can. Her Guiding is very important to her and the care, safety and development of the girls in her Unit are a top priority. Olga's family are very supportive, her husband, Barry, often jokes about "guiding time". When we say it will only take an hour, he says "Yes, a guiding hour".

We thank you, Olga, for your long-term dedication and loyalty to guiding.

Jean Verney has been a Guide leader since her 19th birthday and since then guiding has been an important part of her life. She has held many County appointments, including International Adviser (IA), and still takes a very strong interest in international matters as an assistant County IA. As County IA (and later Region IA) she selected, encouraged and enabled many girls to enjoy the trip of a lifetime, and leaders to gain the qualifications needed to take them.

Jean is also a long standing Ranger Guider and became Chairman of STEPS, the new County Senior Section team, in 2002. She has built the team up and raised the profile of the Senior Section in the County by encouraging wider thinking in events to include all members under the age of 26 years. Jean has actively and successfully recruited many new Guiders in Cambourne, resulting in several new units opening there recently, and in 2003 she became Joint District Commissioner for Comberton - the largest in the county. In addition she is organising the Queen's Guide event at Trinity College in September.

COUNTY SPECIAL GIFT
Emma Honey was appointed Queen's Guide Adviser while still a student at Cambridge University and did a great job, encouraging other students who had started their Queen's Guide award elsewhere to finish it during their stay in our County, and likewise home grown Senior Section members who had gone to university elsewhere. Her own passion for guiding is very infectious and she was a useful link between Girlguiding Cambs East and Cambridge University Scout and Guide Club, first as Service Secretary and then as Chairman of the Club. She was one of the founder STEPS members, a member of the British Youth Council, and also helped with two units, all while studying for her degree.

Joan Howard was a Guider with 1st Toft Brownies from 1968 to 1983 and 1st/2nd Barton Guides from 1983 to 1995. Since 1998 she has been an Occasional Helper with Toft Brownies, although 'Occasional' is a bit of a misnomer as in practice she has continued to help almost every week. She also continued to QM for Barton Guides at camp after 1995 and takes a full part in the annual Toft Brownie Pack Holidays. Barton Guides have raised funds via Webb Ivory since the late 1970s, largely thanks to the efforts of Joan. Barton Guide Guiders say that they "think Joan deserves a medal."

Joan became Comberton District Treasurer in January 1997, and continues diligently with this role to the present day. She is also a very active member of Rhee Division Trefoil Guild. It is easy to forget that Joan has been retired for many years as she can still be seen taking an active role at District events or helping to pitch a marquee or teaching the Brownies to maypole dance. We would like to take this opportunity to thank her for her continued support in so many different ways.

Support Staff at Meldreth Manor College were presented with a framed Cambridgeshire East Standard badge.

The Ranger Unit at the College is rather special in that all the members have severe disabilities. Many are in wheelchairs and require special care and support, which is given generously by the staff, enabling the Rangers to take part in a variety of activities, including Thinking Day events. This integration has been beneficial to all involved and the staff's enthusiasm has been infectious, even at difficult times. Without them this very special unit could not exist, and we thank them for their unique contribution to guiding in Cambs East.

Sarah Vowler is running a Brownie Pack which would have closed if she hadn't taken it on, and assisting at a Guide Unit in another district, which means coping with twice as much admin and complication. Also, for the last 3 years as representative on the STEPS team for young Guiders, she has organised events and publicity for them. Sarah is also mentoring three new volunteers to give us leaders for the future.

THANKS BADGE
Jane Weston is Unit Helper with 1st Witchford Brownies, but is leaving at the end of the term. In the unit's words she has been a 'real star'. She has planned with the leaders, turned up each week, helped wherever she has been asked, attended Pack Holiday and generally been very supportive. Thank you, Jane.

Grenville Goodson has been a staunch supporter of guiding in Littleport for as long as his wife Margaret has been involved (over 30 years). Until last year they owned the greengrocers in the village and had one week off every year for their summer break. They always used that week to take the Guides to camp. He has been to camp and is an indispensable member of the team; he was on hand whenever he was needed for 'back room' things as well as standing in for Margaret on occasion - at campfires and organising games. He knows everyone worth knowing in Littleport and often comes up with the answer to Guiders' queries. He is the churchwarden and has got the unit involved with church activities - climbing the tower, a historical tour or helping out at the church fete. Grenville is one of those people who very quietly gets on with supporting us, always going the extra mile. We publicly thank him for all he does for guiding.

Edward (Ed) Otter has been a constant support to Sheila in her guiding wherever they have lived. Over the many years of being a guiding widower, he has made and repaired patrol boxes, acted as a taxi driver, helped haul equipment around the country, taken phone messages and, in some cases, solved the problem! A lady once called to ask if she could go to camp without a licence. Ed told her she could go with up to 8 girls (as it was then) but she would have to fill in the forms! He has also been very helpful with finances, supporting all events, by doing useful things - looking after drinks, shifting furniture and so on. He has recently also become a computer expert and has been able to help with the database for the Registrations.

COUNTY THANKS GIFT
Sheila Bishopp has been County Walking Adviser for more than 10 years, and continued as a District Guider after 24 years as Guider for 3rd Meldreth Guides, until the unit closed.

As Walking Adviser she organised two Challenge hikes (one around Soham and Wicken Fen, the other at Wimpole Hall), including finding marshals and checking the route was safe. She also ran the Orienteering at Zoo 2001, the County camp. She helped set up the annual Orienteering Days in Thetford Forrest and has looked after the Squirrel Scamper each year since; she also ran various Walking Safely and Towards Level 1 training sessions. She has helped at the County Narrowboat weekends too. But most importantly Sheila has looked after the Outdoor Committee's money extremely well. She has taken hundreds if not thousands of cheques to the bank and kept the books balanced. Sheila, although you are now retiring as County Walking Adviser, we thank you and hope we continue to see you at many events.

The following awards have been gained during the last twelve months; some were presented at Mission CED.

QUEEN'S GUIDE AWARD
Jackie Houghton

DUKE OF EDINBURGH'S AWARD
GOLD AWARD
Wisbech: Cheryl Lambert, Sarah Bridgeland, Natalie Baxter, Suzie Johnson
Histon: Hannah Reynolds

BP CHALLENGE AWARD
Little Downham Guides: Charlotte Fuller, Emily Palmer, Leanne Feast
Cherry Hinton Guides: Amy Cooper, Michaela Howley
3rd Ely Guides: Kathryn Neal, Teoni Jugg, Laura Goad
2nd Linton Guides: Natasha Taylor, Isabel Speller
26th Cambridge Guides: Rebecca Fayer, Claire Creek
1st Melbourn Guides: Isabel Bains, Fiona Llewellyn
1st Shelford Guides: Susannah Bangham, Elaine Patterson
1st Hardwick Guides: Ellen Tack
1st Barrington Guides: Hannah Brown
1st Comberton Guides: Sabrina Purser
1st Gransdens Guides: Christina Pettit

LONG SERVICE AWARDS 2005
30 Years
Patricia Brown Wisbech
Doreen Gilbey Soham
Anthea Kenna Granta
Jane Muncey Comberton
Mavis Middleton Witchford

20 Years
Sara Barker Wisbech
Joan Bullman Soham
Sue Carpenter Ely
Julie Crane Melbourn
Claire de Boehmler Newmarket
Pauline Frusher Wisbech
Ruth Ginn Soham
Pamela Hart Ely
Christine Newman Linton
Wanda Rogers Littleport

10 Years
Christine Armstrong City East
Elaine Bailey Histon
Ruth Broadway City North
Susan Cole March
Karen Coningsby Melbourn
Sally Dunn City East
Beryl Fedyschew March
Lynda Fentiman Histon
Maureen Frost Littleport
Jenny Grey Shelford
Jane Groves March
Josephine Hall Bar Hill
Christine Hurworth Cottenham
Trudy Lark Littleport
Avril Lawrence March
Madeleine Lilley March
Clare Lindsay City North West
Carolyn Meadows Littleport
Rachel Mikelson Comberton
Fiona Nichols City East
Sue Preston Comberton
Abigail Roberts Melbourn
Claire Rutter Soham
Hilary Shaw Melbourn
Catherine Smith City West
Claire Smith Bottisham
Allison Souter Histon
Valerie Stubbings Litttleport
Melissa Warby March

5 Years
Sarah Allen City North West
Sarah Ashby Soham
Angela Bellis Soham
Gail Bridgeman Soham
Catherine Brown Harston
Mary-Ann Claridge Comberton
Rosemary Clarkson Harston
Sarah Day Bar Hill
Helen Dupere Histon
Linda Ellis Soham
Andrea Evans Soham
Geraldine Fludger City North West
Corinne Garvie City North West
Sarah Goldsack Soham
Laura Heath Comberton
Liz Jefferson Newmarket
Alison Jones Wisbech
Amanda Kippax Ely
Claire Laurence Soham
Lisa Milne Soham
Janice Neale March
Emma Penfold Linton
Deborah Penn Littleport
Catherine Philips City South East
Patricia Pope Littleport
Emily Radcliffe Soham
Diana Read Newmarket
Claire Rose City North
Elaine Russell Comberton
Emma Southwell March
Jenifer Turner City North West
Alison Waddington Newmarket
Janice Ward Comberton
Karen Welland March
Amanda Wheatley March

COMMUNITY SERVICE 2004
CAM
1st Impington Rainbows
1st Waterbeach Rainbows
3rd Cottenham Brownies
3rd Histon Brownies
2nd Histon Brownies
2nd Girton Brownies
1st Oakington Brownies
1st Impington Brownies
1st Milton Brownies
2nd Milton Brownies
1st Willingham Guides
1st Cottenham Guides
1st Waterbeach Guides
1st Milton Guides
1st Milton Guides, Daisy Patrol
Histon Guides
1st Willingham Senior Section
Histon Action Plus Rangers

CAMBRIDGE CITY
1st Cherry Hinton Rainbows
18th Cambridge (Good Shepherd) Rainbows
19th Cambridge Brownies
26th Cambridge Brownies
38th Cambridge Brownies
30 Cambridge Brownies
1st Cambridge Brownies
29th Cambridge Brownies
3rd Cherry Hinton Brownies
10th Cambridge Brownies
4th Cambridge Brownies
41st Cambridge Brownies
Kings Hedges Brownies
22nd Cambridge Brownies
18th/25th Cambridge (Good Shepherd) Brownies
Kings Hedges Guides
26th Cambridge Guides
5th Cambridge Guides
38th Cambridge Guides
2nd Cherry Hinton Guides
1st Cambridge Guides

FENLAND
1st Leverington Rainbows
3rd Wisbech Rainbows
1st Chatteris Brownies
6th March Brownies
4th March Brownies
5th March (St John's) Brownies
1st Chatteris Guides
3rd Wisbech Guides
1st Elm Guides

GRANTA
3rd Trumpington Brownies
1st Stapleford Brownies
2nd Duxford Brownies
3rd Sawston Brownies
2nd Balsham Brownies
1st Horseheath Brownies
2nd Sawston Brownies
1st Stapleford Guides
1st Shelford Guides
1st Sawston Guides
1st Brinkley Guides
1st Linton Guides
2nd Linton Guides
Sawston Rangers

GREAT OUSE
1st Bar Hill Rainbows
2nd Bar Hill Rainbows
1st Bar Hill Brownies
2nd Bar Hill Brownies
2nd Over Brownies

ISLE OF ELY
2nd Ely Rainbows
1st Ely Rainbows
1st Sutton Rainbows
1st Littleport Brownies
1st Ely Brownies
4th Ely Brownies
3rd Ely Brownies
1st Little Downham Brownies
1st Sutton Brownies
3rd Ely Guides
1st Sutton Guides

RHEE
1st Caldecote Brownies
2nd Cambourne Brownies
1st Comberton Brownies
1st Coton Brownies
3rd Hardwick Brownies
1st Toft Brownies
1st Hardwick Guides
1st Gransden Guides
1st Haslingfield Brownies
1st Barrington Guides
Barton Guides
1st Melbourne (All Saints) Guides
1st Barton Rangers
2nd Meldreth Manor Rangers

THE LODES
2nd Burwell Rainbows
1st Burwell Rainbows
1st Bottisham Brownies
2nd Burwell Brownies
1st Burwell Brownies
1st Fordham Brownies
4th Soham Brownies
1st Isleham Brownies
2nd Newmarket Brownies
6th Newmarket Brownies
1st Chevely Brownies
1st Wicken Brownies
1st Soham Guides
1st Isleham Guides
1st Newmarket Guides
Newmarket Rangers
Soham District Rangers

THANK YOU . . .
TO IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM DUXFORD

Especially Adam Kendall, Assistant Events Manager, who answered questions promptly, was helpful and supportive and, on the three days we were on site, was in attendance in case we needed him. He said of us that he had greatly enjoyed working with Girlguiding Cambridgeshire East, because we were organised, understood health and safety, gave him the paperwork he needed on time and had not overstepped the mark - we had been most welcome.

Thanks also go to the Education Department, and the Tank drivers and Radio Operators from Duxford Aviation Society who came in specially for us on a Saturday.

TO THE BIG LOTTERY FUND

for your generous HOME FRONT RECALL grant, which gave us the freedom to create a better event.

TO THE RAINBOWS, BROWNIES AND GUIDES:

The ice cream lady in the American Air Museum was very complimentary - the girls had been polite, considerate, neat, tidy and not at all pushy! Well done!

OUR THANKS TOO:

To everyone in guiding who lent a hand to make the day go well and to those outside guiding - Tony Claydon, (pioneering), the tent pitchers and security - Iain Hayman, Dave Muncey and Tim Tack plus friends, the Red Cross, Dave Betts (crazy bikes), members of the Spinners Guild, Ian Kippax and Derek Ottoblade our photographers. To our Magician - Jeremy, whose family has good guiding roots, to Will Heal and his wife on The Rock, to Daniella with the drums and Boffo and his circus skills - they all helped make the day very special.
AND THANKS RECEIVED FROM YOU . . .

Well Done for Duxford! . . . we had some very positive feedback from the girls. Thanks, Judith

Just wanted to say on behalf of Littleport District a big thank you to everyone involved . . . the girls had a fantastic time and didn't stop talking about all the things they had done! Many thanks, Corrina

I just wanted to write on behalf of all the units that attended this event from Bottisham District. We all had a really good time and appreciated all the hard work that had gone into providing the museum quiz and the activities in the guiding arena. We wished we had had more time to sample the array of activities but thoroughly enjoyed those we took part in. Please convey our thanks to all involved in staging such a good event, I know how much work goes on behind the scenes to make everything run smoothly. Thank you, Maureen

Thanks for all your efforts . . . the girls we asked said that they'd had a great time. That means all your efforts were worthwhile. Helen

Just wanted to thank everyone on the organizing team, and all the leaders, helpers, husbands, partners, friends etc., who were involved in any way, for putting on such a fabulous day. My Brownies had a great time, and several asked if Mission Control was always at Duxford, and were amazed to find out that no, it was Guiders, like Brown Owl, with the help of their families and friends, who had arranged it for them to enjoy. Please pass on my thanks to all involved. Gill and 2nd Cottenham Brownies Would you please pass on my congratulations to the team that organized your county event. I had an excellent time with the girls and their leaders. Julia

The wristbands worked! We lost one of our Brownies outside Mission Control and just as we were starting to panic I had a call on my mobile from a Brown Owl who had 'found' the Brownie! - Claire

What a great day it was for the girls. My Guides had a brilliant time. I had a thought about the AGM. I don't know, if for the AGM, a loop system had been thought about. This means the hard of hearing with hearing aids can hear more clearly what is going on. Camtad hire out a system for free, we have used them for some of our meetings at work. Might be worth considering for the future. Thanks again, Linda

Thank you all for your hard work setting up Mission C.E.D. All my Brownies and Guiders really enjoyed it, particularly the activities at Mission Control. A couple of my Brownies' parents who came to help were really impressed with the organisation and the work that had obviously gone into making such a special day. The only downside comments were the length of the AGM. It was really too long for Brownies and Rainbows and when they went off to do the activities they obviously needed the adults with them, not in the marquee. Other than that it was a brilliant day, Many thanks to you all and to everyone who helped as well. Olga

Thank you for organising everything so well! It was a shame that the singsong didn't happen. Valerie

We would just like to thank you all for organizing such a fantastic day at Duxford for us. We just can't imagine how we managed to do so many different things in one day. Crazy bikes, gokarts, coconut shy, balloon modelling, badge making, blindfold sandwich making, graffiti, watching a magician, crocheting with carrier bags, limbo dancing, jenga, friendship sticks, wellie pegs and chalk art, plus all the other things that we ran out of time for. And not to mention the challenge that we rose to in building a pioneering bridge to which we give tonnes of thanks to Tony, Jane and Katrina (I do hope that is your name!), we have never had the opportunity to try that out before - being a Guide Unit who, I have to admit, struggles with reef knots, and are hoping this year that our bed racks at camp may stay up all week with the help of the new knots we have learnt. We ended up staying late to enable us to look around the amazing museum, as we could not have gone home without looking at the planes and some of the history, it was just a shame that we did not have enough time to answer the questions in the quiz. Thank you all again for organising such a wonderful day. Alison and Histon Guides

I am sorry I didn't make Duxford. However, all 3 groups, Kings Hedges Brownies and Guides, and Histon Guides all rang to say what a fantastic time they had. I'm so grateful to Ely Guides making it possible for Kings Hedges Brownies to go - they had a lovely day. It was an incredible effort by everyone involved and I hope you went home (tired I'm sure!) very pleased. Thank you again, Aggie

The 38th Cambridge Brownies would like to say a big thank you to everyone who was involved in organising Mission CED on Saturday. All our Brownies (and parents that came along too) had a fantastic time . . . with lots of comments at home time of when will the next one be!!! Many thanks once again, Laura

SOME GEMS FROM THE GRAFFITI WALL
Brownies are the best
Guides Rule
Brownies Mums deserve a badge
Make Poverty History
Rainbows are fun
I § Brownies
Brownies are forever
Excellent day out
Senior Section Rule
Guides rock
A Littleportian goes a long way
Go for it groovy guides
Brownies is good
Guides is fun
Plus: lots of units 'are the best!'
And a shout:
Everywhere we go-o
People always ask us
Who we are
And where do we come from
So we tell them
We're from [Haddenham] Guides
And if they don't hear us
We shout a little louder

MISSION C.E.D. LOST PROPERTY
The following items are at the County Office awaiting their owners. They will be kept until 30 September 2005.

New style Brownie hooded jacket, size 28", named 'Hannah Mc'
Grey hoodie, 'Gymnastics' printed on back, 'Hurons' on front
Navy Peter Storm Waterproof, age 11/12 years
Pale blue zipped jacket, GAP Kids, age 12, star chart attached
Mauve zipped hoodie, Next, age 10 years
Ladies purple Peter Storm waterproof jacket, size 16
Pale yellow necker
Dark purple necker
Bright blue sun cap with silver and blue star on front
Plain white sun cap, name 'Christy'
Brownie promise badge
Heavy child's ring with blue stone

POSTSCRIPT
COSTUMES
Julia Routledge, International Adviser for Bedfordshire shared her wonderful collection of international costumes. She is willing to come to events or meetings in the county, but not on a Thursday evening. Please offer petrol expenses. Contact details from county office.

CROCHET
A number of girls wanted to do more of this. Barbara Kippax is willing to come to a unit meeting and teach. Her details are in the year book.

PAINTED FIGURES
of Guides and Brownies of yesteryear!

If you want to use these at an event, contact the office, where they are housed at the moment. In the longer term we are looking for a permanent home for them as space is very limited at the office! Offers to Alison at the office please!

HOT-PINK WRISTBANDS
If you need some for an event, we have a supply in the office, available in multiples of 10, @ £1 per 10 inc. p&p. They would be useful on outings to big outdoor places such as Legoland etc. Contact the office with your order.

However, a cautionary tale: If you put a contact phone number on a wristband, be sure the phone works, is on and will be answered. Four girls, to our knowledge, got lost at Duxford and went to Reception. The number on the wristband was called. Result: 2 turned off, 1 silent and 1 on answerphone!

PHOTOGRAPH CD
We are compiling a CD which you can buy. Over 200 delightful photos were taken on Mission Control by Ian and Derek, many of girls doing activities. If you have digital photos we can include, please send them on a CD to Sheila Betts by 15 September (address in year book).

If you would like to have a CD please send a 46p stamped, self-addressed A5 jiffy-style envelope and a cheque made out to Cambs East Guides for £1.50, to the office. We will then have the appropriate number of CDs made and send one to you.

Offer closes 30 September.