It was about the centenary of the Girl Guides movement and especially how this evolved out of Scouting. Agnes, sister of Robert Baden-Powell, was the instigator way back in 1910 but what she achieved may never have happened if it had not been down to the determination of a "group of feisty girls carrying poles and haversacks" who joined 11,000 boy scouts at the Crystal Palace Rally of 1909.

They persuaded 'BP' that there was a real need to provide 'something for the girls' (also the title of Alison Maloney's official guide to the first hundred years of Guiding).

His response, which raised their spirits, was "you can take part in the march past at the end". One hundred years on, ten million Girl Guides have representation in more than 140 countries.

At the start of 2009 in Banbury and the surrounding villages there were 693 members of Cherwell division, of which 184 were Guides.

Down the years the movement has retained its appeal and popularity to the extent that those who wear the uniforms do so bearing in mind four key messages:
– We give girls and young women a voice.
– We provide a unique girl-only space.
– We promote equality and diversity.
– We're relevant to today's girls.

Several experienced Guiders have written about their memories, especially those connected with being away from home. On June 30, 1923, the Adderbury Company visited Horley for 'a day in camp'. The occasion was especially notable as the girls were awarded full marks for a dinner they prepared that consisted of stew followed by fruit. Their reward was the district cup and a photograph, which included the trophy on display.

Julie Wood of the 1st Hook Norton Guides has highlighted her camp experiences at much more distant locations. In particular she recalled a 1970s visit to the Lake District when the site was flooded during a violent storm and her Guider, who was a Miss Rose, showed great determination in adversity. Hers was a disciplined regime and if bedrolls and washstands were not right then they had to be done again.
Another outstanding recollection was of a beef suet pudding steamed for hours over the campfire.

Someone else for whom camp experience meant a great deal was Pat Gibbs (née Mitchell). She joined the 1st Grimsbury Guide Company in 1950 and has vivid memories of her first camp near Helston in Cornwall. The girls went by train to London where they joined the Cornish Riviera Express.

The next part of the journey was part of the overall wonderful adventure. With eight girls in each compartment together with their kit, sleeping was an interesting experience. Two of the party tried luggage racks whilst the other six stretched between seats on either side. Kitbags bridged the gaps.

Memories of the 1st Grimsbury Guides come also from Eileen Shea. She was part of that company from 1942 to 1948. Her camp recollections are particularly vivid because in 1947 Miss Wakelin hired someone with a furniture van to take the whole party all the way to Charmouth near Bridport, Dorset. Here the two weeks away were the first seaside holiday most of the girls had ever had.

Qualifying for badges has been as much a part of the life of Guides as parades for occasions such as Remembrance Sunday. The outcome was an accumulation of badges enabling Eileen Shea to secure her Little House emblem, which – to her excitement – was noticed by the Chief Guide during a visit to Oxfordshire.

The 1st Grimsbury group was encouraged to aim high for Queen's Badge Awards; Pat Gibbs was the seventh to be successful.

In her book Something for the Girls, Alison Maloney demonstrates how and why badges have changed. Girls today lead very different lives from those who were pioneers of the movement: "Some of the first Guide badges such as Cook and Florist were rather more genteel than the Scout badges of the day."

The Hook Norton unit encourages group involvement, while more generally the changing interests of girls are reflected in badge titles like Survival Skills and Chocolate. The latter brings an understanding of Fair Trade and requires Patrol members to taste a variety of chocolate products.

Aline Griffiths (née Ward Smith) has written about an unusual experience back in the late 1950s during Bob-a-Job week. She belonged to the 2nd Banbury Methodist Guides and was leader of the Fuchsia Patrol. She knocked on doors in the affluent Oxford Road and after undertaking the usual shoe cleaning type jobs she came to a small cottage. The door opened to reveal a distressed elderly lady. Using skills gained through Guiding, Aline was able to help her with a personal problem and as a result gained a donation to the Guides and the lady's immense gratitude.

Locally those involved in the movement during the 1940s will recall Lady Baden Powell's visit to Banbury Town Hall in 1943 when the Guides sang patriotic songs and a nonsense item 'As I was going to Banbury'. In her address the Chief Guide raised a laugh when she remarked that "she always looked upon Guides as her own children and hoped that they looked upon her as their mother and grandmother".

The experience of the past 100 years suggests that the high standards of the movement will continue to be upheld. 'Something for the girls' in 1909 has become 'let's hear it for the girls' in 2009. Happy 100th anniversary!

- I am grateful to the following for information and photographs: Mary Brodey, Joan Sprittlehouse, Julie Wood, Eileen Shea, Pat Gibbs, Marie Idziaczek and Aline Griffiths.