SEAXE Winter 2014 Zodiac Rangers recently held a bake off within their unit, Congratulations to Chloe Haynes who goes through to the next round. Next year sees the Anglia Region Bake Off. Will your unit take part? The competition is open to Guides (aged 10-14), Senior Section (aged 14—18) and adults (Leaders, Senior Section, Trefoil, Unit Helpers aged 18+). Look out in the County Update for how to take part and get your unit involved. For Rainbows, Brownies and those not wishing to take part in the actual Bake Off, there will be a Region Bake Off badge to gain, so keep an eye out for details…. Annual Review 2014

Friday 26th September saw many of us gather together in Marks Tey, North, for our Annual Review evening. Following refreshments provided by the Trefoil Guilds from Colchester North and South we were welcomed by 2nd Marks Tey Guides who gave us some local history, points of interest and information about Guiding in Tey District. Brownies from across the Division paraded through in uniforms from 1916 onwards as the Division is also home to Sue Leng, our County Archivist. A 90th birthday was celebrated by 1st Brownies during the year and we were given a very informative talk by three of the current Brownies who talked about passed traditions and what they liked about being a Brownie now. The girls had taken part in many Big Brownie Birthday celebrations and had particularly enjoyed the BENE Bop and Just One Direction with the backdrop of “amazing stars shining in the dark”! They described Brownies as a “big family that I like to visit each week” – what a wonderful accolade for guiding in Colchester North. Charni Peck, an ex-Rainbow, Brownie, Guide and Senior Section member and current Leader from Tey District. treated us all to a PowerPoint presentation on her recent trip to India, sharing her personal highlights of a trip that allowed her to experience a new culture, make new friends and showed Girlguiding working at the heart of the community, teaching life skills to mothers and children. County Commissioner, Helen Venner welcomed everyone to her home Division and thanked Colchester North for their entertainment saying how lovely it was to see the girls who had started with her as Rainbows progressing through to Brownies, Guides and Senior Section/Leaders. Every guest was given a joint guiding and trefoil report in the form of Memory Books for members to share their guiding memories with friends and families. Several presentations for leadership and service in the County including County Commissioner Thank You badges, Commendations and Certificates were then made. Many of these were to leaders for their work during the Big Brownie Birthday Celebrations. This was followed by me thanking Helen on behalf of the County for her hard work for the county as a whole and particularly during the birthday celebrations. Without her willingness to “think outside the box” much of what we achieved couldn’t have happened! She was presented with a Brownie Birthday “I made it happen” badge, flowers, chocolates and a huge applause! We were then very pleased to welcome Mary Putt, Anglia Region Chief Commissioner for the presentation of the Anglia Brooch to Jean Mullane. Jean is the first Trefoil Guild member in the Region to receive this award which was so truly deserved! Another very enjoyable review evening, celebrating the achievements and dedication of volunteers in our County who truly make a difference! Caroline Humphreys – Assistant County Commissioner Did you hear Amy, one of our County’s 4 Peer Educators, on the December GENE show? Congratulations! The following girls have 4 is Girlguiding’s Peer Education Programme completed their Baden Powell designed 4 you. Girlguiding members aged 7 and Challenge above can benefit from 4. Senior Section members 1st Dedham Guides can train as Peer Educators, like Amy, who deliver Briana Lelliott informal interactive sessions on a variety of Ruth Carey relevant topics and skills to Elizabeth Head their peers, in and out of Guiding. 4 gives Abbie Barrell participants a chance to become in4med, speak up and explore their attitudes through fun and 1st Bocking Guides in4mative activities. A Peer Education session will Alice Dixon enable the girls in your unit to explore the issues Tey Bowers surrounding body confidence using Free Being Me in a safe environment. It’s a fun, interactive way of 4th Colchester Guides learning. Emily Hunn To find out more and to book a session for your unit Katie Shone contact our County 4 Coordinator Sam Hudson Rebecca Barclay [email protected] Emily Curtis Cicely Thomas Lisa Ward Web Site & Public Relations: Photos and articles may be used by the County on the web- st site or for public relations purposes. 1 Maldon Guides Rebecca Mahoney Photos: When sending in photos, it is the responsibility of the Leader in Charge to ensure Erica Cook that all necessary permission to reprint photos has been given. th Direct Mailing: Please advise us of any alterations to the direct mailing of SEAXE by filling 5 Maldon Guides out a form at www.girlguidingessne.org.uk Aleksandra Pawioldska

1st Myland Guides Girls from across Division joined Louise Hewitson

for their Section events. 1st Guides In November over 60 Guides and Teigan Dewis Senior Section members gathered st early on a Sunday morning for 1 Tollesbury Guides exclusive use of Rollerworld in Jasmine Emson Elsie Phelan Colchester.

Over 300 Rainbows and Brownies 2nd Frinton Guides cheered and shouted through their very Rhianna Brooks own pantomime performance of Hannah Silvester Cinderella at Maltings Academy, Cathlin Venables Witham. Girls were treated to drinks and ice creams in the interval. Grace said Congratulations! “It’s so much more fun watching with just Emily Davies & Daisy Vass on completing their Rainbows and Brownies!” Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award. We’re delighted that they are both progressing to their Gold Award.

Contributions should be emailed to: [email protected]

Deadline for next issue: 2nd March 2015 On 23rd October some 400 guides, leaders, family members and friends from Girlguiding North East all met to join in the annual The Jack Petchey Achievement Awards celebration event. During the course of the year 54 girls had been recognised under the awards scheme, for their wholehearted and dedicated contribution to their unit and had received a grant of £200 for the benefit of their unit. The evening at Charter Hall saw the presentation of a commemorative medallion to the girls, in front of a large audience, which included the High Sheriff of Essex, and was an ideal opportunity for everyone to applaud them for being extra special in either their work in the unit or for their work in the community. Four leaders also received their Jack Petchey Leader Award Certificate. These leaders had been nominated by their girls or fellow leaders as being very committed and enthusiastic, making the time in guiding for the girls extra special and giving them wonderful adventures within the guiding programme. Entertainment was provided during the evening by girls from the County in the form of music and singing; this was all carried out to a very high standard and much enjoyed by all. We were also fortunate to hear from two of our girls who told us all about their international trip to Iceland during the summer. This was a wonderful evening and we left with so much pride in our hearts for our girl and leader achievements. Sheila Everitt, County President

Wow! What a way to end Big Brownie Birthday celebrations in the Maldon & Purleigh District with the Brownies entering a float in the local carnival Little Lucy’s Bakery with “Brownies Now & Then” and won best in class said they had a and best in Carnival. wonderful afternoon helping the White Court Rainbows decorate their fruit cakes! What a bunch of lovely, sweet and polite little girls who are all very talented at decorating cakes!

GENE team members, Hannah, Jade & Maxine were thrilled to be granted press passes again for this year’s Big Gig held at Wembley arena. Jade & Hannah interviewed many of the acts including Diversity, Union J, Kimberly Wyatt and Kingsland Road. They also enjoyed the chance to be celebrities themselves and be photographed in front of the Big Gig press wall.

3rd Kelvedon Brownies completed the Essex Air Ambulance badge in Spring. They held a Penny Fayre and raised money for the EAA charity and were lucky enough to visit the EAA hanger in September where they met all the staff and crew. They raised a total of £320 which was presented on the night.

15th Colchester Brownies are working on the GENE Just a few of the many Leaders and Senior Section media challenge badge and asked Maxine to judge members who helped at Danbury Scouts firework the winner of their photograph competition. display.

Maddison won with a fantastic photograph of daisies but it was a very hard decision as they were all so good! County Trefoil had a most enjoyable Dabble, Supper and Quiz at the 3rd Witham Guide and Scout HQ in September. Witham Trefoil Summer Outing this year In the afternoon we were busy working at a range of crafts with saw us enjoying a three and a half hour a celebration theme - we made candy cane mice, felt angels, cruise rom Ipswich Docks to Harwich on baby sock snowmen, marzipan fruits, flower arrangements and The Orwell Lady. Although rather a variety of cards as well as decorations from buttons. overcast the weather did not dampen Following a ploughman's supper six teams shared lots of our enthusiasm as we listened to the laughter as they agonised over the quiz questions set by Janis, informative commentary and marvelled our County President. We now have a team ready to represent at the beauty of the countryside. We us at next year's Regional Trefoil Quiz. had a heavy shower as we approached the Orwell Bridge on our return journey but, being Guides, we were well prepared with our waterproofs!

Nine members of Trefoils from our County spent a most enjoyable week in September with Trefoil members from around the Region. During the Christmas themed event we did Christmas crafts, had a Christmas meal and a Christmas party Stour Valley Trefoil organised a and sang carols under the moon and stars holding our Brownie Challenge party in June with an homemade lanterns. The evening was complete when we were enormous cake. Everyone dressed in given mince pies and mulled wine! yellow and brown with all the food During the week we enjoyed a following the colour theme. Members trip on the Broads on a wore their Brownie badges and many of paddle steamer, visited them took part in the Brownie Challenges. Holkham Hall and enjoyed a walk alongside the track of the Bure Light Railway. We are already looking forward to next year's house party which is being held at Foxlease.

th th NORA MARGARET FROST 6 July 1919 - 6 July 2014 In the Summer we lost a very dear friend, Nora was a dedicated Guide and our oldest Vice President. Nora was one of the old school, who had strong beliefs and very high standards. This was never more apparent than when the wording of the Guide Promise was changed and Nora wrote to Guide HQ to register her protest. Nora loved children and for 40 years she taught in various Junior Schools in Colchester and delighted in meet- ing past pupils with their children. She doted on her own family of nieces, nephews and great nephews and nieces. Nora loved people and showed a genuine interest in their well being and gave encouragement to them to achieve in their lives. On visiting her, she would always say “Do come again soon”. Nora was a Sea Ranger, Guide Captain and Division Commissioner, spending her guiding years in Colchester. She was also a member of the Colchester Civic Society. In later life, Nora joined the Trefoil Guild and helped to provide lunch for the County Team after their morning committee meetings. Nora joined Colchester Trefoil Guild, Stour Valley and Brightlingsea Guilds and looked forward to the joint summer meeting held at the Brightlingsea Sailing Club. In 2013 Nora was presented with the Trefoil Brooch at the County Review and she said it was the proudest time of her life. We said “Good bye” to Nora on 28th July at St. Michael & All Angels Church, , when Leaders from around the County attended to show their last respects and sang Taps at the end of the service. 1st Silver End 'Aztec' Rangers recently held a photography display. This was a fun event intended to exhibit the girls skills and to welcome guests while raising a little bit of money for the unit. The girls were given the theme 'Beauty' and told that they would have a table each to display their photographs all of which they should have taken themselves. The results were amazing; every display was completely different including

beauty in colour, peace, nature and family.

A lovely social evening was spent enjoying everyone's hard work, sharing drinks and lots of delicious cakes and raised £33.00 as well.

Lest we forget ……..

Brownies, Guides and Senior Section provided a Guide of Honour at St Peter’s Church, Coggeshall Inspired by the Changi Girl Guide quilt, the Bradwell Juxta Mare Guides each made 1st Clacton Rainbows, a patchwork poppy and Brownies and Guides embroidered their initials were honoured to repre- onto the centre. These were sent the youth then made into a quilt which organisations at Clacton’s they took to the World War One Memorial Remembrance Service. Parade