Girlguiding History
       
       
       
History of Guiding
In the early years of the 20th century, Robert Baden-Powell, a famous army general, developed a scheme for training boys. He tried out his ideas at a camp on Brownsea Island in 1907 and the following year published them in a book, Scouting for Boys. The book was an instant success and boys throughout the UK enthusiastically took up Scouting. As a result, Baden-Powell soon found himself organising the Boy Scout Movement.

At the Scouts' first rally, at the Crystal Palace in 1909, a small group of girls turned up. They represented hundreds of other girls and insisted that they wanted to be Scouts too.

In an age when skirts were ankle length and young ladies never ran, the idea of girls being involved in camping, hiking and similar activities received a mixed response. Angry critics denounced 'girl scouting' as a 'mischievous new development', a 'foolish and pernicious movement' and an 'idiotic sport'.

However, Baden-Powell's letters from this time show that he had a scheme for girls in mind. In 1910 he formed the Girl Guides, asking his sister Agnes to look after the new organisation. A few years later his wife Olave became involved and, in 1918, was appointed Chief Guide.

Such was the enthusiasm for guiding that it soon spread worldwide and since those early days countless millions have made the Guide Promise. Today there are ten million girls and women involved in guiding worldwide.




What's in a name?
The pioneers who turned up at the 1909 Crystal Palace rally called themselves Girl Scouts, but when he founded the girls' movement, Baden-Powell decided that the name should change.

This was partly because he thought it would antagonise the boys for whom Scouting had been developed and alienate parents, who would not welcome such a tomboyish image for their daughters. But mostly he wanted to create a separate identity for the girls so that they could work for self-development independently, not in imitation of their brothers.

Baden-Powell had to think of a name, and soon he remembered that he had been particularly impressed with some 'Guides' in India. These men had operated on the north-west frontier and their main task was to go on very dangerous expeditions. Even when they were off duty the Guides were still training their minds and bodies. With this in mind, Baden-Powell decided that 'Girl Guides' would be a good name for these pioneering young women.
Key Dates
  • 1907 Baden Powell set up an experimental camp on Brownsea Island, Dorset, for 21 boys to try out his Scouting ideas.
  • 1909 Self-styled Girl Guides meet BP at the first Boy Scout rally and ask for recognition.
  • 1910 The Girl Guides Association is formed. BP's sister, Agnes, is made President.
  • 1911 First County Commissioner for Oxfordshire appointed - Mrs Sanderson Furniss
  • 1912 BP marries Olave Soames
  • 1914 Junior section called 'Rosebuds' for girls aged 8-11 is formed (later to become 'Brownies')
  • 1916 Senior Guide groups are formed - renamed 'Rangers' in 1920. Sir Robert and Lady BP inspect over 100 Oxfordshire Scouts and Guides on the lawn of 163 Woodstock Road.
  • 1918 Lady BP is appointed Chief Guide
  • 1919 Lady BP forms the International Council, forerunner of WAGGGS
  • 1920 Princess Mary becomes President of the Association. First International Conference held in Oxford. Oxford Girl Guides hold rally on Worcester college football ground - attended by Lady BP.
  • 1922 The first training and activity centre, Foxlease, is opened.
  • 1924 First World Camp takes place at Foxlease, at the same time as the third International Conference
  • 1926 It is decided to have a World Thinking Day on the 22nd Feb each year
  • 1928 WAGGGS is set up (The founder Member countries of WAGGGS were: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, Iceland, India, Japan, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America and Yugoslavia.) 1931 Guiding's new HQ at Buckingham Palace Road is opened 1932 Our chalet, the first World Centre, is opened in Switzerland. The World Thinking Day fund is created
  • 1937 Princess Elizabeth is enrolled as a Guide, and Princess Margaret as a Brownie
  • 1939 First Girl Guide/Girl Scout World Camp in Hungary takes place
  • 1940 Guide Gift Week raises £50,000 for the War Effort
  • 1941 Robert Baden Powell dies
  • 1943 Trefoil Guild begins
  • 1946 Queen's Guide Award is introduced
  • 1950 World Conference held in Oxford
  • 1957 The Our Cabana World Centre opens in Mexico.
  • 1960 Jubilee year - 5o years of Guiding
  • 1965 Princess Margaret becomes Preident of the Association
  • 1966 Sangham World Centre opens in Maharashtra, India
  • 1977 Lady Baden Powell dies
  • 1981 A memorial is dedicated to Lord and Lady BP in Westminster Abbey
  • 1982 First Girl Guide postage stamp is issued by the Post Office
  • 1987 A new section for younger girls is introduced - the Rainbows
  • 1991 Pax Lodge World Centre opens in London, UK
  • 2002 The name of the association is changed to Girlguiding UK
  • 2003 Sophie, Countess of Wessex becomes President of the Association
  • 2010 100 year anniversary of Girlguiding!


Changes in Uniform
Download our poster that depicts uniforms in guiding in the last century. For more information, there are several publications dealing with guiding history, which can be purchased from the online shop.
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