lydiateworld

GIRLGUIDING UK

A history of Girlguiding in Lydiate and

Girlguiding in the 21st Century

sent in by

Elizabeth Holt

Guiding started in 1910, when girls wished to join the Scout Association. Baden Powell asked his sister Agnes to start an organisation similar to that of the Boy Scouts-a very radical step in those days. We in Lydiate belong to the North West Region of Girlguiding. Our county is the county of Sefton, which although taking its name from our metropolitan borough includes part of Lancashire. Our Division is Maghull and our local area is Oakhill District. The name being taken from Oakhill House which was situated on the corner of Kenyons Lane and Liverpool Road where the bowling greens are today. There are many references to Oakhill in the local area.

Guiding in Lydiate started in 1934. during the 1950's the Brownies and Guides met in Lambshear Lane school until a small group of parents spearheaded by George Tate   decided that everyone would benefit from their own home. Work began to raise money and permission sought to build on the land where Lydiate Youth Club eventually was erected in Lambshear Lane . Thankfully permission was not granted and eventually permission was given by the trustees of Lydiate Parish Hall to erect a building on the field to the rear of the hall. Bungalows were being built in Nedens Lane and the builder Mr Marshall gave the wooden building, which was formerly  a bungalow and home on the site of Nedens Close, to the guides as long as it was taken down and removed from the land.This was our home for over 40 years until it came to the end of its repairable life.The building of the new Girlguiding Centre has taken a massive fund raising programme for over 10 years and with assistance from the Big Lottery Fund and other donors, our architect and builder have provided a state of the art building for the 21st century for the girls to enjoy.The new centre was handed over to the girls on 7th January 2007 in the presence of many people who have supported girlguiding in Lydiate over many decades. The recent visit of the Chief Guide has provided the," icing on the cake," and was a great honour for us to have her visit.

Guiding in Lydiate has grown over the years and from the first Brownie and Guide Unit there are now two Rainbow units, four Brownie Units, two Guide Units and the Division Rangers use the HQ for their meetings, but not on a regular basis. The Units at Lydiate are open to all denominations and religions. Only one of the Brownie Units is Church sponsored. Girlguiding UK is the largest youth organisation in the UK with over 200,000 more members than the next largest The Scout Association. Here at Lydiate we have enjoyed excellent relations with St Thomas Scout Troop ,sharing in fund raising events, camps and activities.

Girlguiding in Lydiate has provided girls and young women with the opportunities to take part in many camps and activities outside the Guide Meeting. Often using the County Camps Site at Scarisbrick as well as camping further afield and at Region, National and International events-with a good number of our members being asked to represent the Association at special events and Royal occasions in this country and abroad.

Girlguiding provides a very great service to the community and offers girls oppportunities that are unbelievable in magnitude and only available through belonging to this very special organisation.

For further information please call at the Guide Centre, it is in use every night of the week.

Parents are invited to support the Guiders as members of The Parents Group which meets on the first Monday of the month in the Girlguiding Centre at 7.30 pm. Tel:526 5377