Guiding in Box, 1972 - 2008
By Jessica Ayers, Wendy Hodgson, Julia Tyte and Carol Lonsdale who also supplied photos June 2016
By Jessica Ayers, Wendy Hodgson, Julia Tyte and Carol Lonsdale who also supplied photos June 2016
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Above: some of the qualities learnt through Guides, order, self-reliance and team work
First Restart, 1972
In 1972 Rosemary Yarker and Wendy Hodgson decided to start a Guide unit in Box. There had been no Guides in Box for at least 25 years. The first meetings were held in Rosemary's home at Springfield Cottage, near the Church, starting with six girls and numbers soon grew.
In 1972 Rosemary Yarker and Wendy Hodgson decided to start a Guide unit in Box. There had been no Guides in Box for at least 25 years. The first meetings were held in Rosemary's home at Springfield Cottage, near the Church, starting with six girls and numbers soon grew.
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In September 1973 they moved to the School Hall, and in 1977, when the Jubilee Youth Centre was fully refurbished, met there. When Rosemary gave up, Mrs Price came along to help.
By 1980 the unit had grown so big they decided to divide in two and the 2nd Box Guides started with the help of Margaret Price. Christine Jones also came to help. Jessica Ayers took over 2nd Box in 1984 and was later helped by Cindy Jackson. In 1986 the two units amalgamated again. Wendy retired from the company to become outdoor activities advisor for the county and unable to find any leader to help her, Jessica also retired. |
Rosemary Yarker and Wendy Hodgson (courtesy Jessica Ayers)
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It can be very difficult to find someone to help an experienced Guider and the hope was that someone else would step forward to run Guides. This happened and Margaret McGrail took over and then her daughter Claudette, who was helped by Julia Tyte. When Claudette was unable to continue Guides folded.
Another Restart, 1994
By September 1994 Julia Tyte had managed to find another helper, Carol Lonsdale (then Oliver), and Guides re-started, this time with seven girls, again meeting in the Jubilee Youth Centre. Numbers grew rapidly and when Corsham Boys Football Club had a beautiful new Pavilion built at Leafy Lane, the Guides started meeting there. Girls had always been drawn from Box and Rudloe, so it was Box's turn to travel and this had no effect on numbers. It offered a lovely open area for games and activities, with easy parking and access to fields and woods. In July 2007 both Julia and Carol decided it was time for them to stop. The unit was run for a further year by Lauren McKell but then closed.
During our time as Guiders we all felt very supported by the village: financially by the Bingham Trust, Parish Council and by members of the village including funds from Box Revels and a Community Grant. Rev Tom Selwyn-Smith stored our camping equipment and let us make fires and trails in the vicarage garden. Mr Lacy let us camp in his field as did Sheylor’s Farm. Capt. and Mrs Heath let us swim in their swimming pool. We visited Shockerwick Nursing Home and Bybrook Residential Home for Christmas Carol singing. Quarry Woods saw lots of opportunities for trails in the day time, but much more fun at night and very spooky. We joined the village community at Rogation, Remembrance and Revels. Guides took their turn with other organisations running the family service at St Thomas a Becket Church, and also on Thinking Day for many years.
By September 1994 Julia Tyte had managed to find another helper, Carol Lonsdale (then Oliver), and Guides re-started, this time with seven girls, again meeting in the Jubilee Youth Centre. Numbers grew rapidly and when Corsham Boys Football Club had a beautiful new Pavilion built at Leafy Lane, the Guides started meeting there. Girls had always been drawn from Box and Rudloe, so it was Box's turn to travel and this had no effect on numbers. It offered a lovely open area for games and activities, with easy parking and access to fields and woods. In July 2007 both Julia and Carol decided it was time for them to stop. The unit was run for a further year by Lauren McKell but then closed.
During our time as Guiders we all felt very supported by the village: financially by the Bingham Trust, Parish Council and by members of the village including funds from Box Revels and a Community Grant. Rev Tom Selwyn-Smith stored our camping equipment and let us make fires and trails in the vicarage garden. Mr Lacy let us camp in his field as did Sheylor’s Farm. Capt. and Mrs Heath let us swim in their swimming pool. We visited Shockerwick Nursing Home and Bybrook Residential Home for Christmas Carol singing. Quarry Woods saw lots of opportunities for trails in the day time, but much more fun at night and very spooky. We joined the village community at Rogation, Remembrance and Revels. Guides took their turn with other organisations running the family service at St Thomas a Becket Church, and also on Thinking Day for many years.
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Above: On formal duty at Rogation Day 1996 (Hattie, Katherine, Natalie, Becky, Sue and Jo) and Rembrance Day 1995 (courtesy Carol Lonsdale).
Preparing for Camp
Camp was the highlight of our guiding year. Many winter activities were preparation for it, for instance wood-craft skills, square lashing to make gadgets, team games that used knots. We learned new songs and enjoyed the cold for camp fires, discovered the mysteries of our flags, how to hoist them and perform flag ceremonial, and how to recognize whistle signals. These skills would be used for camp in the summer.
Camp was the highlight of our guiding year. Many winter activities were preparation for it, for instance wood-craft skills, square lashing to make gadgets, team games that used knots. We learned new songs and enjoyed the cold for camp fires, discovered the mysteries of our flags, how to hoist them and perform flag ceremonial, and how to recognize whistle signals. These skills would be used for camp in the summer.
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Above adventures in Box Brook and area (courtesy Carol Lonsdale)
As soon as the evenings became light we would hold our meetings outside, enjoying wide games, cooking on fires in Quarry Woods, floating tiny rafts (beautifully square-lashed), mounted by tea lights, down the little stream that runs along the bottom of the recreation ground, amongst other activities. Sometimes on Saturdays we perfected our fire lighting (below left Cordeli Ayers and Claudette McGrail, courtesy Jessica Ayers) or we took on a challenge (below right Rosemay Yarkers giving out orders in 1972, courtesy Jessica Ayers). The vicarage garden was a great place for a weekend camp where we learnt how to erect a tent and fix our bedding roll and roll up the brailing.
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Sunday morning we spruced up to parade at Church, below left at Parkend and right at Box (both photos courtesy Jessica Ayers). By July we were ready to go. Mr Miller and his coach were stars and took us all plus equipment to Wroughton or Parkend or Spye, singing as we went.
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Guides on Overnight Camp
Camping makes such a difference to the way the girls and leaders all relate to each other and gives an opportunity for so much fun and learning. We took the opportunity to camp at all the local Guide camp-sites, Deer Park, Gloucester, Berwick St James, South Wiltshire, Wroughton, the one belonging to our county, the old and new Guide Huts in Corsham were venues for overnight stays. Most of our time at camp was spent learning how to make ourselves comfortable living outside.
Camping makes such a difference to the way the girls and leaders all relate to each other and gives an opportunity for so much fun and learning. We took the opportunity to camp at all the local Guide camp-sites, Deer Park, Gloucester, Berwick St James, South Wiltshire, Wroughton, the one belonging to our county, the old and new Guide Huts in Corsham were venues for overnight stays. Most of our time at camp was spent learning how to make ourselves comfortable living outside.
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Above: Food is one of the most important things at camp. In order: cooking, eating and washing up (courtesy Wendy Hodgson).
A typical day would be as follows:
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7.00 am Q.M lights the fire to make tea for the guiders.
In Patrols 7.30 - 8.00 guides get up, wash, dress, and pull out bedding to air if fine. 7.45 am FIRE 2 people to light the fire MESSENGER 2 to gather wood COOKS 2 prepare the food 8.00am FIRE Tend fire and heat the water MESS Lay table and set out uncooked food. COOK cook food 8.30am Eat breakfast 8.45am FIRE Tidy fire area and stack wood MESS clear away COOK Wash up 9.15am Bedding rolls and bedding racks; tidy tent, inspection 10.0am Flag Raising, Morning Prayer and reading. Daily messages 10.15am Prepare packed lunch if going out 10.30am Go out |
3.30 to 4.00 pm Home Again.
Everyone goes wooding to get a large amount in order to cook the evening meal. FIRE Light fire and keep it going! MESS Prepare table COOKS Cook food 6.00pm Evening meal FIRE Tidy fire area MESS Clear table COOKS Wash up Brailing down Evening Activity 8.30pm Prepare for bed, wash, pull out bedding rolls Colour Patrol strikes colours If at Parkend the Church lights would come on and everyone went in to Church for compline led by Felix Watkins. Cocoa and lights out. |
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Each patrol cooked its own food (above left, courtesy Jessica Ayers) and shared a store tent, and had its own wood store.
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Days out could be a walk through the forest to the Dean Heritage museum or to Fancy view or Clearwell caves. We always walked to Lydney Pool and then shopped for a special patrol meal, and bussed back. There was riding from Spye Park and Parkend. Andrew and Fergie’s wedding day was re-enacted in style and Silly Sports (above right, courtesy Jessica Ayers) were always a winner, especially when it was hot. Clearing up began with pot cleaning the day before we left. Wood ash did a great job.
Camp fire was special. The photo right (courtesy Jessica Ayers) shows a Guides' Own Service combined with camp fire at Spye Park. Awards for patrol and individual achievement were given out. Our young leaders gave us so much help, fun and pleasure. |
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Weekend Camps
Shall we camp this year? The answer was always yes … so, first things first, find your staff. Although towards the end of our time as leading Guides we took another unit with us, in the middle years it was just Box. That meant we needed an extra adult, the minimum required is three and luckily we had a willing volunteer in Eileen Robinson from Corsham. She came with us as our First Aider, a very experienced camper.
Then we had to decide when and where? The when was always a weekend at the end of the Summer Term. Where depended but one of our favourite sites was Deer Park, the County Campsite of Gloucestershire. Needless to say the girls had to be consulted about activities, menus and who they would share a tent with. The first-time campers had to learn new skills and the rest had to be reminded. All of this was done in our weekly meetings, hopefully as a fun activity. Below camping in September 1996 (courtesy Carol Lonsdale).
Shall we camp this year? The answer was always yes … so, first things first, find your staff. Although towards the end of our time as leading Guides we took another unit with us, in the middle years it was just Box. That meant we needed an extra adult, the minimum required is three and luckily we had a willing volunteer in Eileen Robinson from Corsham. She came with us as our First Aider, a very experienced camper.
Then we had to decide when and where? The when was always a weekend at the end of the Summer Term. Where depended but one of our favourite sites was Deer Park, the County Campsite of Gloucestershire. Needless to say the girls had to be consulted about activities, menus and who they would share a tent with. The first-time campers had to learn new skills and the rest had to be reminded. All of this was done in our weekly meetings, hopefully as a fun activity. Below camping in September 1996 (courtesy Carol Lonsdale).
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We divided up the jobs amongst the leaders and all took responsibility for some of the activities we would run. The equipment was checked and every year we tried to buy something new to make life easier. The gas water boiler is a very good example of that. Prior to buying one of these, we had to heat our water on a fire in a metal dustbin for washing up and washing.
Julia Tyte (always called Jaffa, our quartermaster) put the menus together and made a huge shopping list. We asked half the girls to bring a cake with them and the other half to bring fruit so we were covered for snacks of that kind but the rest had to be bought. By the last few years we could order on line and it was delivered which was wonderful. To shop for a camp of forty people you need a large vehicle but, in the years when it was just us, Julia and I used to shop on the Thursday evening.
A few weeks before we went we had a parents' meeting. One of the main points to get across to the girls in front of their parents was that I was in charge and if I said JUMP, I didn't want to be argued with. The appropriate answer would be how high. It is a huge responsibility taking twenty girls away in tents and it was really important that they understood we would only order them about if their immediate safety depended on it. Thankfully they all took this on board - well I think they did, we never had any problems.
As we were only going away for a weekend we didn't go too far and as a result the parents were able to take two or three children plus their kit in a car and collect them, so transport wasn't difficult to arrange for them. We all took our own cars, often piled high with first aid equipment, spare bedding, craft bits and pieces and, in Julia's case, food. Once we got it back it all had to be put away if it was dry on the Sunday.
Julia Tyte (always called Jaffa, our quartermaster) put the menus together and made a huge shopping list. We asked half the girls to bring a cake with them and the other half to bring fruit so we were covered for snacks of that kind but the rest had to be bought. By the last few years we could order on line and it was delivered which was wonderful. To shop for a camp of forty people you need a large vehicle but, in the years when it was just us, Julia and I used to shop on the Thursday evening.
A few weeks before we went we had a parents' meeting. One of the main points to get across to the girls in front of their parents was that I was in charge and if I said JUMP, I didn't want to be argued with. The appropriate answer would be how high. It is a huge responsibility taking twenty girls away in tents and it was really important that they understood we would only order them about if their immediate safety depended on it. Thankfully they all took this on board - well I think they did, we never had any problems.
As we were only going away for a weekend we didn't go too far and as a result the parents were able to take two or three children plus their kit in a car and collect them, so transport wasn't difficult to arrange for them. We all took our own cars, often piled high with first aid equipment, spare bedding, craft bits and pieces and, in Julia's case, food. Once we got it back it all had to be put away if it was dry on the Sunday.
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Weekends Away
Friday 6.00 – 6.30pm Arrive 6.30 Put up tents 7.30 Snack and put down bedding 8.00 Explore camp-site – game 9.30 Hot drink, get ready for bed 10.30 Lights out Saturday 7.30 - 8.00 Get up, wash, dress, and air bedding if fine 8.00 - 9.00 Cook breakfast, eat and clear up in patrols 9.00 - 10.00 Bedding rolls and tidy tent for inspection 10.0am Flag Raising, Morning Prayer and reading. Followed by Activity and elevenses where it will fit in. 12.30 - 2.00 Lunch prepared by Cook patrol then quiet time. |
Saturday afternoon
2.00 - 5.30 Afternoon activity 5.30 - 6.00 Chores 6.00- 7.30pm Cook Evening meal in patrols, eat and clear up 7.30 Beds down, prepare for bed, Colour Patrol strikes colours 8.00 Camp-fire plus entertainment 10.00 Hot drink and bed 10.30 Lights out Sunday 7.30 Get Up 8.00 - 9.00 Prepare, eat and clear breakfast 9.00 - 10.00 Activity 10.00 - 1200 Break Camp and elevenses 12.00 Leaving Ceremony 12.30 Go Home |
The aim was to give the girls fun, teach them to be more self-reliant and to live together in a short space of time. We normally went to a recognised Guide campsite that had activities laid on so the girls could do archery or climbing or a high rope course, something adventurous. This also meant toilet and shower blocks; we all preferred that to portable loos and washing from a bowl. The Saturday afternoon wide game was a series of little challenges, normally including rehearsing an entertainment for Saturday evening. With each challenge completed you got an ingredient so the final challenge was to cook scones in a cardboard box oven, eaten with jam and cream.
We always had a camp-fire on Saturday evening. Singing was something we all enjoyed whether we were good or not so good. This was also a good point to give out awards for tidiest tent, the patrol who worked the best together, as well as a few silly ones. We very much hope that the girls enjoyed themselves but also began to develop and become more independent and capable, traits that would help them in the future as they grew into adults. It was fun for all, including the leaders (below Wendy and Julia at Foxleaze, courtesy Wendy Hodgson).
We always had a camp-fire on Saturday evening. Singing was something we all enjoyed whether we were good or not so good. This was also a good point to give out awards for tidiest tent, the patrol who worked the best together, as well as a few silly ones. We very much hope that the girls enjoyed themselves but also began to develop and become more independent and capable, traits that would help them in the future as they grew into adults. It was fun for all, including the leaders (below Wendy and Julia at Foxleaze, courtesy Wendy Hodgson).
Adventure and Overseas Camps
We also went further afield, some of our Girls joined a Scout and Guide Jamboree in Windsor Great Park, so many activities available such as boating abseiling, caving, circus skills offered a really new experience. We camped with the rest of the county at Foxlease in the New Forest and in Cirencester Great Park, again with a range of amazing activities on offer.
Guides could also apply to attend a canoeing and sailing camp, for a week in the summer. This took place in the Swindon area;
the girls camped at the County Camp site at Wroughton. Also through County there were opportunities to apply for overseas camps which involved one week in camp and one week in a host family. These involved an international camp for a week followed by a week in one of the guide’s homes.
We also went further afield, some of our Girls joined a Scout and Guide Jamboree in Windsor Great Park, so many activities available such as boating abseiling, caving, circus skills offered a really new experience. We camped with the rest of the county at Foxlease in the New Forest and in Cirencester Great Park, again with a range of amazing activities on offer.
Guides could also apply to attend a canoeing and sailing camp, for a week in the summer. This took place in the Swindon area;
the girls camped at the County Camp site at Wroughton. Also through County there were opportunities to apply for overseas camps which involved one week in camp and one week in a host family. These involved an international camp for a week followed by a week in one of the guide’s homes.
Learning to canoe in Swindon (courtesy Carol Lonsdale)
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Beccy Ayers at International Camp, Sweden 1987 (courtesy Jessica Ayers)
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Outings
We ran trips to London and visited the Tower of London and the London Eye as well as some of the girls getting the opportunity to see the Trooping of the Colour. We visited Guide Headquarters and watched the changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. We took them to the theatre in London to see Grease and to Bristol Hippodrome to see Beauty and the Beast and Starlight Express. For several girls it was their first experience of London or of live theatre. The Guide Association ran an annual Pop Music Concert, The Big Gig at Wembley Arena and Birmingham. Box leaders arranged a coach for Box and Corsham Guides, deafening but great fun. Below left on the water and right going airborne at London Eye (both courtesy Carol Lonsdale).
We ran trips to London and visited the Tower of London and the London Eye as well as some of the girls getting the opportunity to see the Trooping of the Colour. We visited Guide Headquarters and watched the changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. We took them to the theatre in London to see Grease and to Bristol Hippodrome to see Beauty and the Beast and Starlight Express. For several girls it was their first experience of London or of live theatre. The Guide Association ran an annual Pop Music Concert, The Big Gig at Wembley Arena and Birmingham. Box leaders arranged a coach for Box and Corsham Guides, deafening but great fun. Below left on the water and right going airborne at London Eye (both courtesy Carol Lonsdale).
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Local Activities
Needless to say in all these meetings we covered lots of activities; food always featured high on the list of favourites, from lemon curd to dampers (flour and water rolled round a stick and cooked in the fire) and all sorts in-between. We made things just for their beauty and costumes for Panto's and plays, and Chinese New Year celebrations with wonderful Dragon’s heads made from cardboard boxes and curtains. We sewed and stuck and drew, some of us better than others but everyone tried to do helpful things in our own community.
Needless to say in all these meetings we covered lots of activities; food always featured high on the list of favourites, from lemon curd to dampers (flour and water rolled round a stick and cooked in the fire) and all sorts in-between. We made things just for their beauty and costumes for Panto's and plays, and Chinese New Year celebrations with wonderful Dragon’s heads made from cardboard boxes and curtains. We sewed and stuck and drew, some of us better than others but everyone tried to do helpful things in our own community.
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Activities for the girls in 1997 included: above left Chinese New Year masks, and right doing the California Freeze line-dance (courtesy Carol Lonsdale)
Winter Evenings in the Youth Centre
We met in the Jubilee Youth Centre, in the Market Place, Box. Once the two companies had amalgamated in 1986, we found it practical to divide the patrols into two, some working upstairs and the others down. Upstairs might have a patrol cooking in the kitchen, and another group activity taking place at the stair end. For some time Valerie came and taught groups of girls how to make lace, upstairs. Graham, who ran the St John’s Ambulance Group, was most generous in teaching us First Aid and allowing us to use his equipment including Ressussiannie.
From time to time the Girl Guides Association would send out a challenge for whole companies to take up, with a special badge at the end for each guide who took part. We had a go at Integrate in 88, which was designed to help us get alongside those who were handicapped. We learnt among other things how a wheelchair worked and how to use the sign language used by some who are Deaf. In 1985 the Association celebrated 75 years of Guiding, Jubilation 85!
We met in the Jubilee Youth Centre, in the Market Place, Box. Once the two companies had amalgamated in 1986, we found it practical to divide the patrols into two, some working upstairs and the others down. Upstairs might have a patrol cooking in the kitchen, and another group activity taking place at the stair end. For some time Valerie came and taught groups of girls how to make lace, upstairs. Graham, who ran the St John’s Ambulance Group, was most generous in teaching us First Aid and allowing us to use his equipment including Ressussiannie.
From time to time the Girl Guides Association would send out a challenge for whole companies to take up, with a special badge at the end for each guide who took part. We had a go at Integrate in 88, which was designed to help us get alongside those who were handicapped. We learnt among other things how a wheelchair worked and how to use the sign language used by some who are Deaf. In 1985 the Association celebrated 75 years of Guiding, Jubilation 85!
Postscript
When we (Jessica, Wendy, Julia and Carol) got together to write this article the memories were coming faster than we could write but what we all remember is the fun that we and the girls had. Obviously as Leaders we had huge responsibilities for other people's children but always did out best to keep them safe whilst everyone had a good time. Education for life was part of what we were trying to achieve and to broaden their horizons and teaching them sometimes how the other half live.
When we (Jessica, Wendy, Julia and Carol) got together to write this article the memories were coming faster than we could write but what we all remember is the fun that we and the girls had. Obviously as Leaders we had huge responsibilities for other people's children but always did out best to keep them safe whilst everyone had a good time. Education for life was part of what we were trying to achieve and to broaden their horizons and teaching them sometimes how the other half live.
