ONE of my favourite childhood photographs shows me and my twin sister Yvonne standing in my granny’s back garden wearing our new Brownie uniforms.

We were about seven or eight – so it was the mid-1970s – and while one of us (me, I think) is smiling, the other looks slightly apprehensive. The mud-brown tunic dresses are box fresh. We look super smart in the knee-length tunic, yellow crossover tie, leather belt and bobble hat (though not sure about the vomit-coloured tights, Mum).

I don’t remember much about this time in my childhood, but I do remember vividly my time in the Brownies; like making my Brownie Promise before my pack and receiving my first badge. The fact I can still reel off the Promise some 33 years later says much about the impact of those Brownie years.

I remember the fun we had in the Brownie hall, playing games, learning how to knit, and struggling over tying knots. And how could I forget falling into a bed of stinging nettles at Brownie camp and the excitement after lights out.

There was the thrill too, and sense of accomplishment, of completing a Brownie badge. And great pride in becoming a Seconder and eventually a Sixer, when you were literally one of the leaders of the pack.

Brownie memories came flooding back this week after my seven-year-old joined the local pack in Fishergate.

The first thing that struck me was how things had changed. The most obvious difference was the casualness of the uniform. Brownies today have a choice over wearing a long or short-sleeved T-shirt, a gilet or hoodie, and leggings or cargo pants and a yellow baseball cap. Admittedly, it’s a lot more sensible and comfy.

Also new is Brownie Adventure: a fun book where girls can find out all about the history of the organisation and fill in information about themselves and their pack members. There’s a gift guide at the back detailing other Brownie accessories, such as pencil cases and soft toys – an innovation that I’m not so sure about.

Not so my daughter. Even before the first meeting, she was brimming with enthusiasm about Brownies. “Mum,” she gushed. “There’s so much stuff to get.”

Mmmm… not quite the point.

Happily, Brownies hasn’t really changed much since my day, and my mother and grandmother’s day. The Guiding movement begins a year of centenary celebrations this month and it's heartening to see that in our whirlwind world some things remain the same.

The Brownie motto of Lend A Hand remains, as does the aim to do a good turn every day, and uphold the promise to “do my best” and “help other people”.

What better guiding principles for a young girl?

• SO how was Car-Free Day for you? It was fine for me, thanks – until I had to use my car.

“But did you really?” I hear you ask. Well, my seven-year-old and I could have walked the three miles or so to her swimming lesson, or at a push walked a bit, paid a fortune for a bus, then walked a bit more.

Ideally, we could have cycled there in ten or 15 minutes, but I don’t believe it’s safe enough.

I know York’s army of cyclists may disagree, but I don’t consider York to be a cycle-friendly city. Sure, we have cycle lanes, but they are mostly on the road and too close to speeding cars, buses and lorries.

We live in town, just five minutes from the City Walls, but if we want to cross from one bar to another, we have to cycle on the inner ring road. How insane is that?

So putting safety first, if it’s too far to walk, we’ll be taking the car.

• Were you in the Brownies? Send us your pictures and stories, we want to hear from people of all ages for a special feature to mark 100 years of Brownies. What did you wear, where did you camp, what badges did you complete? Contact: Maxine Gordon, Features, 76-86 Walmgate, York, YO1 9YN; email: maxine.gordon@thepress.co.uk; phone 01904 653051, extension 334.