NEWS ARCHIVE
LAUNCH PARITES GET THE CENTENARY OFF TO A FANTASTIC START
07 SEPT 2009
All over North West England members of Girlguiding and their friends were celebrating the launch of our Centenary Year. There were parties large and small across the Region from Cumbria to Cheshire, from Lancashire to Manchester.
The largest party in the UK was at Heaton Park on Saturday 5th September. Girls and young women from 4 different counties, Manchester, Greater Manchester West, Lancashire South East and Lancashire Border, took part in a huge range of adventurous activities and the whole event was covered by the national media.
In Lancashire East there was a party and pageant at Waddow. Cumbria South had two tribute bands for ‘Cumbagig’ at the Westmorland showground and Keswick was invaded by girls and young women from all over the county to take part in activities related to the environment and a lantern-lit finale.
On Sunday, Lancashire West paraded around St. Anne’s, Lancashire North West filled an international stadium to tell the story of guiding and sing their hearts out! Cheshire Border filled Congleton Park with activities old to the sound of steel drums and even the local MP had her face painted! In Cheshire Forest, Chester was overrun by girls in the morning followed by an afternoon of activities at the Race course. For the finale, everyone sang the specially composed Centenary Song. Although our other counties didn’t have large county events, they celebrated in Districts or Divisions and whatever they did all the girls had a great time.
OK, the weather wasn’t great, but it didn’t matter – guides know how to party anywhere!
Sue Lomas, Region Chief Commissioner, and Anne Holt the Region President managed to visit all the county parties (and a Senior Section sleepover) over the weekend, covering 535 miles! Every one was different, but at each one girls and adult alike were having a great time.
Thanks to everyone who made all these celebrations such a success. There’s plenty more to come!
