Brownie leaders say goodbye
TWO brownie leaders who have dedicated more than 25 years to running a pack in Clifford have said a final farewell to the group they have cherished for so long.
Stalwarts Glennis Allan and Janet Allen retired from running Clifford Brownies on Tuesday after reaching their 65th birthdays – but both admit it will be extremely hard for them to let go.
Mother-of-three Glennis said: “We’ll both find it very difficult because we’ve been doing it so long and we’ve seen generations of brownies go through and bring their own children along to the group.
“It’s been extremely rewarding and at every meeting we see the girls develop and grow in some way.
“I’ve seen shy little seven-year-olds, for example, really grow up over the three years and come out of themselves.
“Running the brownies in Clifford has been a big part of both our lives for all this time so, if I’m perfectly honest, we don’t really want to go.”
Both Glennis and Janet say they have seen big changes in the brownie organisation since the pair first got involved back in the early 80s.
“Things like the badges the girls do have changed a lot,” said Glennis.
“They’ve become a lot more relevant now.
“And the pack holidays are different. At one time we would camp out in the local village halls in Bardsey, Linton and East Keswick, but now the girls enjoy trips to the Guides’ campsite at Wynches, in Burley-in-Wharfedale.
“But the fundamental lessons are still there and the girls learn things at brownies that they don’t learn anywhere else so it’s still a great activity for young girls to take part in.”
As a thank you for all their hard work, the brownie pack held a party in Glennis and Janet’s honour.
Present were Nicola Lister and Jo Johnson, mothers of two of the current brownie members, who will be taking over the running of the group.
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Weather for Harrogate
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -7 C to 1 C
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Wind direction: South east
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