Will she? Won’t she? Questions I’m asking myself actually, as I try to decide if I can build up the courage to travel across the Manchester Ship Canal on a zip wire! If you fancy travelling between the Imperial War Museum North and the Lowry suspended in a sling, visit the Region website about our Up High event. It will certainly be an exhilarating start to the weekend!
However, I’ve a few more travels to tell you about before we get to that.
When I left British shores the day after my last post it was warm and sunny, and after two weeks travelling to Singapore, Sri Lanka and Dubai, I was very surprised to return to the UK to find snow and hailstorms were the dominant weather conditions at home!
The Summer Term always provides an array of opportunities for me to travel across the Region. Not only is it Annual Review season, but people also start to venture outside to hold events and participate in trainings. I love to visit County events because it gives me a chance to meet many more of our adult members and often, some younger ones too.
I was in Macclesfield early in April for Cheshire Border’s Annual Review. Another very successful year for Sue Taylor and her team was illustrated by lively presentations from girls from every section – the Rainbows talking about their event stole the show! It was good to see representatives from local businesses and Local Authorities in attendance too; ensuring our messages about the opportunities we offer to girls and young women are spread even wider.
We held our first training weekend for In4mers and their Coordinators at Guy’s Farm near Lancaster earlier in April. There were some exceptional young women at this event and we want to make sure that they are given every opportunity to develop their skills and share their expertise, so look up your nearest In4mers and get them to come to your units to provide excellent programme activities.
Last Thursday I accompanied our new Region President, Suzie Reynolds, to Cumbria South’s Annual Event. The venue was the brand new Furness College in Barrow where the students did us proud with a splendid buffet meal (and I spotted one of them wearing her badge tab!). Listening to Barb Littlewood talk about their highly successful WOW event last year reminded me what a brilliant opportunity it had been for all ages to camp and live together beside Lake Windermere. Young women also told us about their international adventures and over 200 years of service to Girlguiding Cumbria South was recognised in presentations. A great evening!
A quick dash up to Edinburgh on Friday to give the after dinner talk at Girlguiding Scotland’s County Commissioners’ Conference finished off my week and meant I’d journeyed over 800 miles since Monday – lucky I love to travel!
I’m ending on a sad note this month. Before travelling up to Cumbria I attended the funeral of a dear guiding friend in Leigh. Anne Thompson had held Region appointments, was a Senior Section Leader and had been the President of Lancashire South County. One of my best memories of her was, when we were both Senior Section Advisers, attending a conference at Sheffield University where we both took part in an Arts event that included parading through Sheffield Town Centre dressed as clowns! Anne was a true Guide. She worked tirelessly to support the girls and young women in her care and ensure that they were offered the best opportunities. She was respected by all who knew her, a measure of which was reflected in the packed church in Leigh for her funeral service. We shall miss her and we are grateful for everything she did for Girlguiding UK.
Well, the next few weeks see me visiting several more Annual Events, so perhaps I’ll see you there!
Sue Lomas
