Guiding lights for 70 years

The Southlands unit is one of only three in the York area that have survived for so long without a break.

And three leaders have maintained the continuity, serving almost 60 years between them. They include Nellie Buckley, who was in right at the start and still worships at Southlands. She has also been a district and division commissioner.

The other two are Mary York, who also became a district commissioner, and Penny Lee, who has now handed over to Diane Main after 18 years.

But the fact that Guides and Brownies exist at Southlands is due in part to a man - Alf Hutchinson, remembered as a wise and kind "elder statesman" of the church.

Early in 1931 he suggested to a meeting of Southlands church officials that Guides should be started. Four members of the Young Ladies' Class, Kathleen Gray, Nellie Buckley, Mary Layton and Bettie Mackie, were asked to look into the matter with the result that Mary and Betty started a Brownie pack on March 23, 1931, and Kathleen and Nellie started the Guide Company on October 14, 1931. Over the years there have been many outstanding Guides attached to Southlands. Three gained Gold Cords, 31 became Queen's Guides and seven gained the Baden-Powell Trefoil Award.

For 50 years the company also had its own campsite for weekend camps at Nun Appleton Hall.

The main anniversary celebrations are being planned for this Sunday, starting with the morning service at Southlands, and this will be followed by a lunch for present and past members and friends.

It is expected that nearly 100 former Southlands Guides will be at the service and with them will be a number of former officers.

Greetings have been received from a number unable to attend, including the first Brownie leader, Mary Layton, who is 91 and lives in Bournemouth, and Kathleen Gray, who started the Guides with Miss Buckley. Kathleen, who still lives in York, is unwell.

Updated: 13:59 Friday, November 23, 2001