Modern & Relevant

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For many, the first thing to come to mind when talking about Girl Guides is singing the traditional Ging Gang Goolie round the campfire or saluting the flagpole. But modern guiding is much more than this.

Founded in 1910 by Robert Baden-Powell, the Girl Guides Association aimed to provide girls with skills for life. But over its 100 year history, this has undergone a dramatic change, along with many of the other traditions.

Now broken into four separate groups, Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and the Senior Section, the popularity ofthe association has never been as strong.

The Girl Guides boasts over half a million members and a further 48,000 girls and young women on waiting lists to join their local pack. It is the largest voluntary organisation for young women and girls in the country.

Maureen Rigg, 64, first joined the association aged eight, when it was a very different experience. She went on to become a guide leader for the 1st Egglescliffe Guides and has recently retired after being involved with the organisation for just over 50 years.

Throughout her time within the movement, she has seen it change dramatically, and vividly describes how barn dances have been replaced by the Big Gig at Wembley Stadium, which features chart-toppers such as Pixie Lott.

“ I also learnt that girls could do lots of things which many people thought were more suitable for boys.”

Maureen still holds fond memories of her experiences as a Guide, especially the values and techniques it taught her, she says: “I learned things like how to polish leather shoes properly, how to iron our uniform and how sew on buttons… I also learned that girls could do lots of things which many people thought were more suitable for boys.”

But for her, the most memorable activities were outdoors such as camping and hiking, which have become synonymous with the Girl Guides. She says, “The ones I most remember were the ones outside – fire lighting and cooking on the fire, hiking on the North Yorkshire Moors, camping, singing round the campfire and parades for Remembrance Sunday. We were very proud to be chosen to line the High Street in Stockton when the Queen came to the town.”

Whilst she recognises that the Girl Guides Association has modernised to embrace the interests of today’s youth, Maureen believes that the ethos which encourages girls to celebrate diversity, abide to healthy lifestyles and take part in novel and interesting experiences remains the same. The difference nowadays is that they use a variety of new activities to achieve the same end.

Maureen says, “There’s a much wider choice of activities now so that far more girls can find things that interest them, though some of the most popular are still the ones I enjoyed like camping and fire lighting.”

“Being an all female movement means that girls have one place to go where they don’t feel pressured to compete with or attract boys.”

“When I started there was a very strong hierarchy, military in style. The leader was called Captain, the assistant Lieutenant.”

However, the activities aren’t the only thing to have changed. The way in which the girls are involved in the whole process has been reformed, helping to replace the once formal and military style with a more relaxed and friendly approach.

“When I started there was a very strong hierarchy, military in style. The leader was called Captain, the assistant Lieutenant and so on. There was a lot of marching and saluting with emphasis on doing it smartly. By the time I retired such things were done as part of the history of Guiding.”

Kate Sharp, 27, is part of the new generation of Guiding and has been an active member of the organisationfor nearly 20 years, after joining as a Brownie in 1991. Now a programme leader for Salem Guides in Cheltenham, she agrees that Guiding remains beneficial for young girls and says that it has offered her many opportunities and allowed her to make achievements that she is proud of.

“I achieved my Queen’s Guide Award, the highest award for 16-25 year olds to gain in Girlguiding UK, which was a rewarding challenge.”

“I worked in partnership with the Bristol CREATE Centre to create an eco-exhibition, challenged myself to improve my tatting (a retro lace-making hobby) with ladies in Leicestershire; attended an international camp as part of the craft team; and will visit the House of Lords for my award presentation…. There are so many varied opportunities available if you want them.”

“There was always the same promise to do our best, always a respect for others and a sense of duty to do things for others.”

But, for Kate her role is also about empowering young girls, an area that she believes makes Guiding and its values remain relevant in Britain.

“I love helping girls to become confident and independent, empowering them to face challenges, think creatively and help other people.”

“In an age of worry about overprotecting young people, allowing guides to cook their own breakfast on a fire they’ve made at camp is such a privilege. Guides are much better prepared for life after and outside school than those not involved in the movement because they’ve been allowed the space to develop organisational skills, and responsibility for themselves and for others.”

The recent Girl Guides Association Annual Review proves that the experiences on offer are exciting and a long way from those that Maureen took part in.

In 2009, 69,000 girls rode jet skis, surf boards and kayaks whilst 27,000 learnt to climb. Kate explains that: “It tries hard to be modern and relevant; there’s more emphasis on fun than duty, and the interest badges, programme and uniform are frequently modernised, in consultation with members.”

Maureen supports this new wave of empowerment which helps to give girls confidence, even if it means it’s a more difficult job for the leaders.

“There’s much more emphasis on the girls having a say in what they do and how they do it now, and that’s good… It’s very challenging for the Guider as they have to be aware of the wishes and needs of every girl much more than when I was first a Guider.”

But, during Maureen’s time as both a young Guide and a leader, some things never changed.

“There was always the same promise to do our best, always a respect for others and a sense of duty to do things for others.”


The Marvellous Morris

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Morris Dancer in full molly. By David-F

One end of a sweaty handkerchief is pressed into the palm of our hands as we hastily take our place in line ready for the next dance. It’s apparent when we begin that morris dancing takes some practise and a certain level of co-ordination.

We struggle to get our legs and arms to move independently and in time to the music, something that seems to both frustrate and humour the professionals around us.

Friendly Phil the music man plays his jigs in the background, as the others move off into formation and say to us ‘don’t be afraid to make as much noise as you want.’

If shuffling our feet and gasping or breath is the type of noise they were looking for, it’s fair to say we’ve got it covered.

Morris Dancing has been around in the UK since the 15th century, but today it is viewed as a humble tradition performed in pub car parks and village fetes.

Barry Goodman, Chairman of the Morris Dancing Federation, explains that today’s morris is also very different version from the original.

“The Morris that we see today comprises interpretations of the old dances as collected in the early 1900s, new dances in the style of the collected dances, and completely new traditions invented and developed by individual teams.”

This new style is attracting a wide of range of people to a dance that was once thought to be dying out. Joy Knight, 34, one of the dancers we have joined in with at the Kesteven club, says that: “It is a fun and energetic hobby which is bit different from the usual.”

The fifteen strong female team at Kesteven, Lincolnshire are proof that “there are probably as many women dancing morris as men.”

There have also been attempts to encourage younger generations to get involved, such as the Spring Event, which has seen the tradition cross genres to create a blend incorporating street dancing and the Morris.

According to Barry, this has raised the profile of the dance, helping to recruit new members:“There are more [groups] chasing them from the wings, and the prospects for young teams starting up and continuing to dance the Morris are very encouraging.”

“There seems to be more acceptance of it as a dance form among young people recently than I can remember for many years.” All this leads Barry to believe that Morris dancing will have a strong future.

But, for us, the class has come to and end and it’s time we put down the sticks.

The Modern Day WI

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The Women’s Institute is an icon that speaks directly to the women of Britain. Holly Hardiman finds out about how new WI groups are doing things their way.

With roots reaching back to 1915, the WI has a long history embedded within the social heritage of the UK. It was initially founded to educate women across the nation about producing enough food for the community during the First World War. The modern WI is something of a mystery compared to such strong images of women on the ‘Home Front’.

But its association with jam and flower arranging is beginning to fade as groups all over the country are bringing the WI up to date, through new and exciting activities and an increase in younger members.
Anne Marcantonio, from Stratford-upon-Avon’s WI Lite, says that their group is one of the next generation of Women’s Institute groups to launch in the UK.

“We offer a really wide range of activities, meet monthly and have an interesting speaker, workshop or event designed to entertain our members. In recent months we’ve held a jewellery workshop, cocktail making workshop, a Christmas shopping evening in aid of a local Charity and heard tales from aWimbledon umpire.”

She believes that with these new activities and adaptations, the WI can remain relevant and important in today’s society.

“The WI provides opportunities to escape from day to day responsibilities, meet new people from different walks of life, try out new things and learn new skills, all within a supportive environment.”

Far from being all jam and Jerusalem, the modern version of the Women Institute has adapted with the times. Via Facebook and Twitter, they allow the world a glimpse at what really goes on at the WI. Kerry Edwards, president of City WI in Nottingham says:

“If people are interested and do some research into something, they’ll find out the truth – there’s a massive variety of types and ages of people who are involved in the WI, but most people don’t know that and so hold the stereotypical view.”

However, Anne says that even the traditional view of the WI is  something to be proud of

“I don’t think the WI needed to shake of its old image, even if you accept the stereotypes, it was offering a great deal to many women.”

Kerry also explains that even though the members of her group are young, there’s still a passion for the skills taught by the WI generations ago.

“We’ve found that our members were really keen to learn how to knit. For a lot of younger people, learning to knit or bake is appealing… I think that’s because, although you can buy a scarf or a cake, nothing is ever better than homemade”, she says.

For Kerry, there’s a real feeling of belonging within the Women’s Institute, regardless of age or location. “The beauty of the WI is that every branch has its own personality… It’s really about building relationships with people you wouldn’t have become friends with any other way.”

A Stitch in Time

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Cross stitch is the latest craft to become cool again. Holly Hardiman finds out that for the older generation, it never really went away.

Cross stitch has seen a recent revival on the high street, from embellishment on clothing and accessories to cross stitch kits being stocked in Topshop.

This new wave of cross stitch can only be described as crafting with a twist. These kits are geared towards a younger, more culturally aware  audience and feature designs which  include the retro gaming icon Pac-Man and the ironic street artwork of Banksy.

The idea of craft as  a ‘new phenomenon’ has been reinforced by television programmes such as Channel 4’s ‘Kirstie’s Homemade Home’ which gives viewers an idea of how to start, where to buy kits and how much it will cost.
Lucy Arthur, a 19 year old student from Newport, South Wales, explains where her love of cross stitch started and that stitching is not just for the older lady:

“I was ten years old  when I completed my first cross stitch piece, a ladybird. My mum was, and still is, an avid stitcher. She introduced me to it and helped me learn the basic stitches. It’s just a hobby for me, I find it very therapeutic but I do think that cross stitch is becoming more accessible to younger people.”

“However, it is still seen by many as old fashioned and a craft for the older generations.”

Cross stitch has always been inherent in British society, but not all is well amongst the older generations of stitchers. Barbara Nutland, 68, ran a group called Cross Stitch Nutters in Burgess Hill, Sussex for thirteen years and has
recently closed the group due to lack of interest.

“It started out as a group of friends who were keen on cross stitching, including my daughter who was about 15 at the time. The aim was to help each other, we had two or three members who were disabled and cross stitch was ideal for them, a chance to get out of the house and get to know different people.”

 “It was really self sufficient, if anyone was in trouble, someone in the group would have the knowledge and be able to help. We were a community, we even had an annual outing to the Stitch & Craft Show in London.”

“I’ll never give it up. Cross stitch is an art form, the creativity it provides is overwhelming.”

One thing that’s clear through both Lucy and Barbara’s experiences in cross stitch is that the craft is born out of community, being passed down from mother to daughter and amongst friends as it always has been in society.
When asked about their thoughts on the Topshop kits, both women agreed that it’s a good thing for the craft and that more young people will be encouraged to get involved.

Cross stitch is undoubtedly popular trend right now and the increased awareness in the high street can only be a good thing for the future of this British past time.

John Edwards from the award winning needlework and crafts online shop, Material Needs, says:
“Cross stitching is more than a trend. It is ongoing but there are times when people seem to lose interest… it comes back into fashion as it is now. People are definitely back in to crafts.”

For more information about Material Needs and the Stitch & Craft Show, visit our website.

Living the Good Life

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Self sufficiency is on the rise. Kerry Lambie, who lives in Market Rasen at the heart of the Lincolnshire Wolds, explains why she has  embraced the country lifestyle.“I’ve been living the good life for a few years now. Our smallholding started as a little hobby, with just a few chickens.  They would walk around the allotment and were quite happy, then things took off and we started breeding them.

An average day starts with a coffee. I walk the dogs, I feed the chickens, ducks, cats and dogs, make breakfast and do dishes. The same routine happens at night. If I’m out for the day I will throw something into the slow cooker for dinner. But I love when I get to spend the day in the garden, or at the farmers market. I always manage to come back with something. My last purchase was a mincer which I have already tried out by making venison sausages.

We have about seven and a half acres that we use for growing veg, fruit and keeping the animals. It’s not right near the house which makes it difficult but we’re lucky in this day to have the land to be able to grow on. Our livestock includes 40 chickens and 20 ducks of varying breeds, we have a goat and will be getting some more sheep soon. We used to have pigs but found that they were not for us. Lovely to look at but very hard work to look after, the plan was always to butcher them, which may sound cruel but that is country life!

Expense wise, we were lucky in the fact that our land has been in the family for years. You’ll need a license to keep animals but a couple of chickens will set you back anything from £10 to £50, depending on the breed and where you get them from. Hen houses can be a huge expense, but we made our own by using old garden sheds which we customised. Sheep and pigs are more costly, but sheep work magic at keeping the grass down – who needs a lawn mower! On a weekly basis it costs around £40 to feed all the animals.

My family are very involved in the small holding. My step-dad gets feeding duties if we go on holiday, my son adores being outside and is always feeding the chickens, or pulling veg up. He is attached to the animals and does name them, but he also knows that they are there predominantly to be eaten.

I think a lot of people associate self sufficiency with just vegetables but we’re starting to think about making our own cheese – it’s quite an easy process. We also make our own wine and cider, which is lethal! It’s great to give away to family and friends for Christmas gifts because you can make wine out of everything that is available in the country: elderflower, elderberry, hawthorn, potato, brussel sprouts – although I really would not recommend that one! Our cider press is made out of an old beer barrel. We always have huge amounts of apples, as we have trees in the garden, so it’s a great way to make use of them.

People need to be aware that it takes a lot of time and commitment to live the good life, you can’t just nip away for the weekend without checking that you have people to look after the animals. If everybody could do it then I would say go for it, its hard work but worth it. It takes up a lot of time, and energy. Getting up in the dark, frost and snow is awful but you just do it because you know that you have to. 

Things really do taste better when you know that you have grown them or made them, or that its meat that you have raised or shot yourself. It’s really satisfying to know that I have prepared a fantastic meal from all our own produce; it makes it all worthwhile.”

For more information about Kerry’s small holding visit our website, or if you’re interested in becoming self sufficent visit defra.gov.uk for advice.

It's a Good Life for some...

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