SEAXE Spring 2016

Spark Alexandra Palace

20th & 21st February 2016

What did the girls of 1st Little Waltham Brownies think? Sophia said, ' I liked all of the day but especially the silent

disco with the big headphones and making the giraffe mask.' Rose was won over: ‘It was the best day of my life. I enjoyed celebrating thinking day with my friends. My favourite thing

was clinging to the giant wall. I was a bit scared but I would love to go back there again!’

Alice mused: ‘ It was so much fun, my favourite part was when we went on the Frozen obstacle course. The silent

disco was great. It was funny to watch people dance when you couldn’t hear the music’

Ruth said ‘I liked the silent disco. It was fun making the notebooks – they were cool’

Heidi wrote: ‘It was so much fun and I got to try new things. The climbing wall was scary but

amazing! I got about half way up’

2 Teams from 1st Coggeshall Rangers, Footloose and Loud & Proud, enjoyed Anglia Region’s Clueless in Cambridge to start their Senior Section

Spectacular year. Teams had to drop an egg 6 feet without it breaking, take part in an assault course, code breaking a quiz and other challenges during the day.

3rd Stanway Brownies shared Stories by Candle to raise money for the WWF. A professional story teller led animal stories while the girls enjoyed hot chocolate and biscuits with their cuddly animals. Hannah said, “I really liked the bit where we all had to row the boat! The candles made me feel very sleepy”

Witham Division held a very successful handicraft competition with the themes of Spring Time and Beatrix Potter making the exhibition a real feast of colour for the eyes. We had 33 units taking part and over 1000 entries on display! The judges had a really tough job as the standard was very high. Everyone received a certificate for taking part and shields were presented to the winning units for each section. We were delighted that Helen, Caroline, Sheila and Mary Putt were also able to join us for the judging and to see the girls work. Well done to everyone who took part. Kerry Brothers, Division Commissioner

Girls from 1st Galleywood Guide unit recently accepted a cheque for £1000 on behalf of Girlguiding Essex North East. The cheque was presented by Daphne Field of Essex Woman's Advisory Group (EWAG) and will be used to give girls and young women aged 10 – 25 the opportunity to participate on international Girlguiding trips.

Leaders from Essex North East joined with others from around the Region to take some “Time Out” at Anglia’s Members Day held in Bury St Edmunds. Leaders chose to

make, bake, build, mend, spend or just relax at the event.

With activities ranging from cupcake decorating to wine tasting, plumbing to geocaching, crafts to DNA extraction from strawberries, members threw themselves into the

days activities.

Jean from Colchester who attended a geocaching for be-ginners session said it was a fantastic day and that it was

great to try something that she hadn’t done before and meet

people from around the Region.

Although an early start and late home for some, the coach journey allowed for stories of the day to be shared and faces to be put to names. Leaders thanked Essex North

East who kindly funded the coach, making the day possible for so many of them.

Anglia Region “Time Out” Members’ Day

1st Monkwick Brownies celebrated their 60th

Birthday in March with a party. Invited guests included former Brown Owls with whom the girls shared a cake. The girls loved changing into Brownie uniforms from

the past 60 years.

Girls from Colchester North and South

Divisions took part in the St George’s Day Parade

in Colchester Town

On Saturday 27th February over 300 Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Senior Section, Trefoil Guild and adult members of Colchester South Division gathered together to celebrate World Thinking Day.

The activities, taken from the WAGGGS Connect Challenge were organised by 6 leaders in training from within the Division, ably supported by experienced leaders who agreed to become mentors. Activities included Rainbow super heroines, Brownies deciding on True or False statements and Guides identifying skills to become good friends. Senior Section and Trefoil Guild members were on hand to assist the leaders in training run the activities.

Visitors to the event included the local MP, Will Quince, County President Sheila Everitt, Assistant County Commissioner, Caroline Humphreys and County Trefoil Guild President, Jean Mullane.

The event was also fortunate to have the Region Chief Commissioner, Mary Putt, come along and whilst there she presented several awards: Anglia Region Buddy Award to Tia Winterbottom of 2nd Lexden Guides, Adult Leadership Qualifications to Julie Pearson of 1st Mersea Guides and Marie Hunt of 14th Colchester Guides, along with long service awards to Rena Robinson (40 year); Susan Scales (20 year); Sarah Cook and Maria Buckingham (10 year).

Guides and Scouts from Chelmsford Gang Show 2016. Yet another fantastic week of shows.

February’s Baden-Powell Adventure Weekend saw girls from the County embracing all things 1970s in Harwich. Activities included a visit to the Radio Caroline pirate radio ship, making their own pirate radio programme with help from the GENE girls,

tie-dying t-shirts, designing their own

bags, making

their own black forest

gateaux and

sharing the 70s

staple, a buffet.

Tey District had a fantastic trip in

April to see Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at Cliffs Pavilion,

Southend

1st New Town Rainbows sent 90th

Birthday cards to Her Majesty The Queen

Frinton District celebrated Thinking Day together with crafts from around the world

Tey District celebrated Thinking Day completing the WAGGS Challenge.

Our congratulations to Elisha who was presented with a North East Young Persons Award by Assistant County Commissioner, Caroline Humphreys in front of her family and peer group for demonstrating courage and cheerfulness.

The Young Persons Award is for girls aged 5 to 18 who have shown exceptional initiative, bravery or courage in either pain or adversity or a notable display of commitment to their Guiding Promise.

If you would like to nominate someone for this or any County Award details can be found on the County website Awards page.

http://www.girlguidingessexne.org.uk/Members+Area/Awards/

The County Growing Guiding badges were designed for every section to learn more about their own and other sections starting with the Rainbow programme in 2012 through to the Adult Leadership and Trefoil Awards in 2016.

For the past four years Witham Division have held an event for the featured sec-tion to complete that year’s Growing Guiding Challenge Badge. So on 21st May 28 Leaders from around the Division enjoyed the chance to come together, learn new things and have fun.

Activities included fruit carving, a colour and style analysis presentation, cupcake decorating and signing to songs rounded off by a fish and chip supper all accompanied with much laughter. Monica, a new Leader in Training commented “It was fantastic to get together and meet new people. Everyone is so lovely I’m enjoying these Guiding events”.

Congratulations!

The following girls have completed their Baden

Powell Challenge

2nd Frinton Guides

Vicky Staras

Kristen Thomas

2nd Marks Tey Guides

Charlotte Wright

Catherine Parry

Zoe Bishop

1st West Bergholt Guides

Chloe Taylor

1st Myland Guides

Elise Ferris

Natasha Richardson

2nd Myland Guides

Celena Blake

1st Mersea Guides

Sophie Carter

2nd Lexden Guides

Katie Parker

Web Site & Public Relations: Photos and articles may be used by the County on the website or for

public relations purposes.

Photos: When sending in photos, it is the responsibility of the Leader in Charge to ensure that all

necessary permission to reprint photos has been given.

Direct Mailing: Please advise us of any alterations to the direct mailing of SEAXE by filling out a form at

www.girlguidingessne.org.uk

Contributions should be

emailed to:

seaxe@girlguidingessexne.org.uk

Deadline for next issue:

27th August 2016

Don’t forget to share your

events!

1st Writtle and Southminster Guides boarded the Good Ship Guidewoods for an action packed Pirate weekend with Captain Clare. They toured Southend life boat station, boarding the boat and hovercraft as well as trying on the safety wear. After fish and chips they headed to the Sealife Centre to meet the sharks and turtles and other fish. They made pirate crafts, played loads of Pirate games and a Treasure Hunt. Oooh agh!

Congratulations to 1st Colchester Brownies who raised £70 during their Smarties Challenge Badge. The girls were each given a smarties tube and once the smarties were all eaten they filled the tubes with 20p’s and raised £70.00. They decided to donate the money raised to a cancer patient called Johnny.

3rd Frinton

Brownies went on a

Circus Sleepover.

They practised their circus skills and then put on a circus show complete with tight rope walkers, jugglers, a human cannon ball and a lion tam-er! All performed under a big top

tent. The girls also enjoyed making clown cakes and dressing in circus

costumes.

Congratulations to 3rd Lexden Brownies & Guides on raising a

whopping £270 at their MacMillan Coffee Evening in November. We’re glad that we didn’t have to count

the sprinkles on the cake to get the answer for their game!

In January, Dr Carly Howett a former member of Girlguiding, held two evening presentations in Braintree to talk about her work as a as a top Nasa scientist working on a mission that has travelled 4.6billion miles to the far reaches of our solar system. The events were held to raise funds for Blackwater West District and Carlys sister Tanya Aitken,

Brownie Leader at 1st Bocking Brownies and her nieces, Jess Howlett and Chloe Aitken all played a huge part in making the evening a success.

Three Rivers Trefoil Guild enjoyed an evening of cake decorating producing sheep and bunnies to celebrate Spring. The members also produced 97 knitted squares between them for mothers who express their milk. The squares are worn by mothers and put next to baby when they

are fed.

Trefoil Guild Dates for your Diary

6th June County Trefoil Executive Meeting at Henry Dixon Hall - 10.30am

7th June County Song Group, Witham Scout & Guide Hut - 7pm

18th June National Trefoil AGM at Harrogate

24th June Annual Review with Girlguiding ENE jointly with Trefoil at Colne Valley Golf Club

26th June County Trefoil (and invited guests) Afternoon Tea, Colne Valley Golf Club

5th July County Song Group, Witham Scout & Guide Hut - 7pm

6th July Essex Three County Trefoil Day - Essex West - Further details to follow

13th July County Trefoil Summer Event at Prances Scout Camp, Wickham Bishops

23rd July County Girlguiding Dinner Dance at Weston Homes Community Stadium, Colchester

5th –9th September Regional House Party at Hautbois

23rd September County Trefoil Social evening—venue to be confirmed

10th October County Trefoil Executive Meeting at Henry Dixon Hall - 10.30am

20th November County Trefoil Lunch at Colne Valley Golf Club

Stour Valley Trefoil Guild members voiced their

Handy Hints and Thrifty Tips in January and provided themselves to be very resourceful. Everything from leaving bicarbonate-of-soda on carpet stains left

overnight then vacuumed, to making rubber bands from discarded rubber gloves, and the use of old tights to catch drain debris before it reaches water butts to

cleaning leather with the inside of banana skins, produced a list of 51 Good Ideas. One member's

suggestion of "to save electricity, don't vacuum too often" was especially welcomed!

In February they welcomed an enthusiastic speaker who brought nine types of cheese to try - exhorting those who only ever use Cheddar to try a different

texture for once, even just a nibble.

On 1st April Witham Division held a surprise tea party for Trefoil member Ann Scott who retired from running the Witham Depot for the last 30 years. The Depot has blossomed under Ann's care from initially stocking a few items of uniform to currently holding just about everything in the catalogue! Over 40 Guiders & Trefoil members saw Kerry Brothers, Division Commissioner, present Ann with a rose especially named "Witham Depot' in her honour. She was also presented with vouchers to enjoy afternoon tea at Prested Hall with her family who have finally regained use of their spare bedroom! Many of the Witham units also presented Ann with gifts as a token of their appreciation for her long service.

On 19th May Barbara and I had the absolute honour of representing Essex North East at the Queens Garden Party at Buckingham Palace. Together with hundreds of

other volunteers from various organisations and service men and women we queued like 2 Rainbows at an ice cream van to enter by the front gates. The feeling of walking across the forecourt we’d seen so many times on TV and the splendour of the Palace itself definitely made up for the wait. The gardens were glorious with Barbara hatching plans for her own new garden. Due to lucky timing we were treated to close up views of the whole Royal Party and were amazed at the energy of The Queen, resplendent in pistachio and pink, and the Duke of Edinburgh. Most certainly a once in a lifetime experience for which we are truly grateful. Barbara Heathcote & Anne Francies

Happy 5th Birthday Scout & Guide Hospital Unit

5 years ago on the 15th March 2011 the Children's Ward playroom at Colchester General Hospital became the venue for an exciting joint venture between Guiding and Scouting. The Scout and Guide Hospital Group provides patients and visiting children, including siblings, an opportunity to experience the fun and friendship on the ward every Thursday evening. Caroline, Assistant County Commissioner said "it's an amazing venture to be involved in and I am proud to be a part of the team which is led by experienced Rainbow and Brownie Leader Rena Robinson and Scout Leader Jean Ball. A team of volunteers offer patients a time to forget the traumas of hospital life and, whilst they engage in creative and therapeutic activities in the playroom, parents and families can take time for a welcome break, although often they choose to join in the fun too! Children who are too poorly to leave their beds do not miss out with leaders taking activities to their bedsides.” 779 children have benefited from time with the unit since it opened.

The unit is funded by grants and donations and no charge is made to those taking part.

If you would like to join the volunteers on the rota or your unit has left over craft items that they would like to donate to the unit please contact County Office.