Fifty Years of Mitcheldean Brownies
1st Mitcheldean Brownies were formed on 13th June 1957 and on 16th June 2007 we celebrated the 50th Birthday.
We held a special event for anyone who had been a Brownie or Brownie Leader in Mitcheldean during the last 50 years, at the Conference Centre at Vantage Point (aka Ranks/Xerox) in Mitcheldean.
There was a circus skills workshop, refreshments, photographic and uniform displays and a chance to meet old friends and make new ones.
All the current Brownies joined in the Circus skills workshop and gained their Circus Skills badge.
Dot Brunning, who started the unit back in 1957 was there along with her husband Eric (who used to be the village 'Bobby'). Several of Dot's original Brownies were there too, which was fabulous.
We had several mother and daughter teams where both were Brownies or one was a Brownie Guider and the other a Brownie. We even had a three generation run with grandma, mum and grandaughter all having been a member of 1st Mitcheldean Brownies.
Thank you to every one who attended.
Here are some more snippets from our visitor book:
- Dot said: "I started Mitcheldean Brownies to keep a promise to my young daughter - I didn't dream it would be so successful 50 years on.
Becoming involved in Guiding lasts a lifetime - you move house and the news travels and you find yourself involved in some fashion again.
It has been wonderful to join these celebrations - I shall be able to tell my local Trefoil Guild at our next meeting!
I have been a Guide Guider since leaving Mitcheldean but my time with Brownies has been my favourite time of all."
- "It was lovely to meet Dot Brunning again, 50 years on. Since then my daughter, Christine, has been a Brownie and in turn my grandaughter Sophie -
so three generations of the family have enjoyed the fun and friendship that being a Brownie brings. Its lovely to see all the current girls still enjoying the fun."
- Vicki said: "I remember being frightened of being thrown out of Brownies for not paying my subs. I had put it on my head to walk to the toadstool.
The sixpence went down into the bun on top of my head and I couldn't get it out.
I also remember going to a camp fire in Westbury. I was very excited as i was out in the park without my parents, and eating burgers."
- "During my time at brownies I have enjoyed many parties, ten pin bowling and pack holiday. I can't believe its been so successful after all these years. Thank you to Sue and Trish for organising thing for us to do every week. Games I enjoy playing at Brownies are ladders and fishes. I loved to play rounders against the cubs - especially when we WON!"
1957 Brownies - Are you in this picture? Susan and Jackie are with Dot Brunning and Olga as Guiders
Tea Challenge - At Mitcheldean Library in 1984 with Annete Cooke as Guider
When was this taken? - Perhaps you are in this picture? Tina in the front row thinks it was in 1975 with Janet Harris as Guider.
