Oscar Winning Girlguides
Sharon Small, star in ‘The Inspector Lynley Mysteries’, opens glamorous event

Fitting as many people as you can in a phone box, visiting a radio station, eating chocolate fondue, designing a real life maze and being a cheerleader for the night were just some of the challenges completed by young women aged 14 to 26 in Girlguiding Cambridgeshire East this year.  They put on their glad rags to celebrate their achievements at an Oscar night of their own on Saturday 8th September, at the Cass Centre, Cambridge.  Special guests of honour were actress Sharon Small, most famous for her role in BBC One’s ‘The Inspector Lynley Mysteries’ and the Deputy Mayor of Cambridge, Cllr. Mike Dixon.

‘Oscars’ were awarded at the glamorous event for effort, initiative and creativity – it marked the culmination of a six-months long Movie Challenge competition for groups of young women from across the county. The county President, Lady Olwen Cass, County Commissioner, Ann Mitchell and Christine McRichie-pratt, a local music teacher and performing arts specialist judged the entries.

Victoria Paulding, a 17 year-old from the 17th Cambridge Rangers, who won the overall prize, said: ‘We had loads of fun taking part in all the different challenges and the Oscars ceremony was brilliant – I felt like a star!’

Sharon Small, who herself was a Brownie and a Guide, was very impressed by all the entries and praised their creativity – she was also on hand to offer advice to anyone wanting to pursue a career on the stage and share her best memories of Guiding. 

Gemma Sinnerton, who organised the event, said: “The young women really rose to the challenge – having a go at ten different tasks, each one themed by the name of a film, to enter the competition”.  The tasks they undertook were a mix of fun, exciting and some more serious activities – ranging from hosting a yummy chocolate fondue evening (Chocolat), going to an air show (Top Gun), visiting the studios of BBC Radio Cambridgeshire  (Good Morning Vietnam) and even discovering how many people they could fit in a phone box (Phonebooth)!