| | | Thinking Day - 19 February 2019 |
Travelling Through Time (Click on the link to hear the story, or song.)
Line-up of the girls arriving from the Tardis
St.
Mungos’ was once again delighted to host the 2019 Thinking Day service for
the Girl Guides, Brownies, Rainbows, and Rangers on Tuesday 19th February.
 The
Girlguiding Midlothian South Division were celebrating with Guides and
Scouts from all around the World, together remembering
the Guide movement from early beginnings to the present time.
Kathryn Topham told us what 'Thinking Day' celebrates. 22nd
Feb was the joint birthday of Lord Robert and Lady Olave Baden-Powell,
the founders of Scout and Guide Movement. Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
have been marking this special day since 1926.
To
start the celebration we sang 'Flags Flying High', as the colours were
brought forward and presented to County Commissioner Gill Amos, and
County President Margaret, for display at the front of the church.
Rangers told us about World
Thinking Day, which remains one of the most important dates in the
guiding
calendar, and every year the theme of the event encourages members to
think about the big issues affecting them and their global community.
She continued to tell us of the Guide Friendship Fund (GFF) which
helps overseas Guide Associations by funding projects that improve the
lives of girls and young women and benefit their communities,
and also helps units or Associations affected by natural disasters
or emergencies such as flooding or fire. The GFF operates through the
WAGGGS Mutual Aid Scheme.
Caitlin introduced the Grand Howl, led by Isobel before hearing the approach of the Tardis, to the Doctor Who theme. With the arrival of
the Tardis we met the girls as they emerged as members of the Guides movement from
its early beginnings to the present day.
 Gill Amos told us of the early years, when in 1909, a group of girls appeared
at a Boy Scout Rally in the UK declaring themselves to be Girl Scouts.
By 1910, Guiding in Britain had been founded by Lord Baden-Powell &
his sister Agnes Baden-Powell. By 1912, the idea was spreading
around the world and Juliet Daisy-Low founded Girlguiding in
USA. In 1914, the first Brownies started. They were originally
called Rosebuds, but the name was changed after girls said they did not
like it. The name Brownies was suggested by Agnes Baden-Powell, as
Brownies were helpful little creatures in a fairy story she loved.
Moving into the Roaring Twenties we were
told that in1929 the Brownies were officially allowed to wear socks as
opposed to stockings! In 1930 Olave, Lady Baden-Powell, the wife of
Lord Baden-Powell was elected the World Chief Guide. And in 1937 a 100
Brownies dressed up as a dragon and took part in the London County
Rally at Wembley Stadium to celebrate King George VI’s coronation
year.
In the 1940’s, the Girl Guides’ skirts were
worn shorter, which reflected the fashion and the fact that material
for clothes was scarce during war years. During this time the Queen and
her sister were Guides.
The Promises were then made, starting with the Rainbows, followed by Brownies, Guides, Rangers and finally the Adults.
Laura introduced the 'shiny penny'. In 1932, it was highlighted that
birthdays typically involved gifts, and perhaps girls could show their
thanks on Thinking Day by raising funds for the organisation. Make
new friends, but keep the old, One is silver the other gold, A circle’s
round, it has no end, That’s how long I want to be your friend. In
response, Olave Baden-Powell wrote a letter to all Guides and Girl
Scouts asking them to donate just a penny - enough to buy a loaf of
bread in those days - to help fund guiding around the world.
After bringing our pennies to the front, We travelled into the Fifties and Sixties. Heather told us that In 1951 displays were given
by Rangers in London for the Festival of Britain Year and a Cadet Rally
held in London, and in 1964 the Brownies had their Golden Jubilee
and marked the occasion by giving flowers to people. Also in
1964, Brownies were allowed to wear cardigans!
 In the
1970’s members of Girlguiding took part in a Cheer Challenge to
celebrate the Diamond Jubilee. They had to cheer-up themselves, someone
else and a place. In 1987 Rainbows started. The very first Rainbow was
Lynsey Hickling.
Time for a song, 'It's a Small World', followed by returning into the Tardis
Claire took up the story at the 1990's and the Millennium. There were many more
changes, with new uniforms and new badges. In 2010  centenary
of
Girlguiding there were many celebrations. All sections have
taken part in numerous celebrations. In 2010 and 2011, Penicuik
Girlguiding took part in the Purple Pinkie appeal a project to
eradicate polio throughout the world, and planted purple crocuses near
Penicuik House.
 Kathryn led the 'Hand Prayer' the girls all joined in 'We’re altogether again, we’re here, we’re here. We’re
altogether again, we’re here, we’re here. And who knows when
we’ll be altogether again, singing altogether again, we’re
here, we’re here..
We sang 'Sing for Joy'
as the flags were returned to the flag bearers, to be lowered as we
sang the National Anthem. Our final song for the evening was 'One More
Step Along the World I Go', followed by the 'Brownie Smile', and the
Rainbow 'Look, Learn, Laugh, Love', closing songs.
A great evenings celebration, time travelling through space and time.
Published 21 February 2019
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