Farewell catches guide leaders unprepared

Echo clipping dated 1987

The Girl Guide motto — Be Pre­pared — should have stood these two retiring commissioners, centre, in good stead. But even though they knew their time as district commis­sioner and assistant was coming to an end, they could not have been prepared for this emotional send-off.

Guide law says the two senior positions have to be vacated after 10 years, but Mrs Barbara Harding, right, and Mrs Gladys Curd were sad to go. Mrs Lorraine Woods, Brown Owl at Canvey’s St Josephs brownie pack, recalled how Mrs Harding coaxed her through the brownies and guides nearly a decade ago.

She said: “I remem­ber her then, so it was quite emotional at the party when she retired. All the children gathered round and gave a last salute.” The pair have held the Canvey East posts and seen little brownies come and go…now it’s their turn.