Sussex West
History
It was on the 28th April 1979 that the county was divided for the second time in its history. The first time was in 1965 when Sussex as a whole was divided into Sussex East and Sussex West. Now in 1979 Sussex West became Sussex Central and Sussex West. At the same time Worthing Division was divided and renamed Worthing Cissbury and Worthing Highdown. The new Division Commissioners were Mrs Vera Hooper and Mrs Audrey Gibson-Poole respectively. The dividing of the county was marked by a service and parade of colours in Chichester Cathedral and the new County Commissioner, Mrs Di Swanwick took office.
In 1980 the very first WS international camp was held at the Ardingly showground, a joint project with the Scouts attended by 25 different countries.
Mrs. Di Swanwick retired in 1984 and Mrs. Penny Hardwick became the new County Commissioner.
1985 was the 75th anniversary of Guiding. London and South East Region organised a rally at Crystal Palace as a celebration of 75 years of Guiding. Most Guiders and Guides travelled up to Crystal Palace by coach and enjoyed many activities. Mrs. Sybil Canadine, one of the few remaining original ‘Girl Scouts’ who gate crashed the 1909 Scout Rally at Crystal Palace demanding that Lord Baden-Powell ‘should do something for the girls too’ was also in attendance. The arena displays were somewhat marred by the sudden drop in temperature and freezing rain which caused many a Guide to suffer from hypothermia. Our own county 75th celebrations centred on Goodwood Race course where the ‘Flame of Guiding’ was flown in by helicopter from Shoreham airport and then given to each Division Commissioner who in turn passed ‘the flame’ onto Districts and Units.
After months and months of rehearsing The Concert and Carol Service took place at the Chichester Festival Theatre on 7th December. 700 girls and leaders took part and there were two packed performances.
A Brownie Challenge took placed in 1988 and this was won by the 1st Fernhurst Brownies.
The very first rainbow guide unit in the county opened in West District, Worthing Cissbury in October 1988. Also in 1988 a county carol service was held in Arundel Cathedral.
The County Outdoor weekend was held at Foxlease in June 1989 and attended by 120 Guiders. Also a blue cedar tree was planted in the grounds of Foxlease in memory of Mrs Mary English the county Trefoil Guild Chairman who died the previous year.
1989 was the centenary of the birth of Olave Baden-Powell, wife of Lord Robert Baden-Powell and incidentally the very first County Commissioner for Sussex 1916 –1918. County celebrated this event with the Olave Walk on 16th July, a really hot summer day. The route taken went from Whiteways along the Southdowns Way to Bignor and back ending with a wonderful campfire. About 500 Brownies, Guides, Rangers, Young Leaders and Leaders took place and a special badge was designed for the occasion.
1989 was also the 75th anniversary of Brownies.
A county swimming gala was held on 31st March 1990 at the Aquarena Worthing and the winners of the shield were Worthing Highdown Division.
The third WS camp was held in 1988, during the opening ceremony hundreds of balloons were released and the furthest one reached Hungary.
April 1990 saw the arrival of the new uniform designed by Jeff Banks. Four stewards from Sussex West were at Central Hall Westminster for the launch of the new uniform and a guider from Billingshurst was a model for the guider’s clothes.
Another anniversary reached in 1991 was that of the Senior Section called “Celebration 91” many events were held including a campfire at Ecclesden Farm and Trail ’91 - a residential event running at all the Guide houses in the UK at the same time.
Mrs Penny Hardwick retired as County Commissioner in 1991 and Mrs Mags Marshall became the new County Commissioner. Also in 1991 a new Guide handbook was launched in September. The Swim Challenge also took place in September and over 50 units took part.
Thinking Day 1992, Sussex West had the honour of providing the colour party for the Chief Commissioner’s standard in Westminster Abbey. This was provided by members of Worthing Cissbury Division. 1992 was also the year of the international camp at Ardingly, the theme this time being the “Planets”.
Sussex SAGA (Scouts & Guides Activities Camp) was held in 1993 and no one who attended it will ever forget the thunderstorm on the Friday evening while the tents were being pitched, a real test of camping spirit.
In June 1993 the new wording of the Guide Promise came out, this was not without a vast amount of discussion and thought.
A carol service was held in Arundel Cathedral in December 1994.
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of VE & VJ Day in May 1995, a special badge was designed and £400 was given to the Royal British Legion from the sale of these badges.
WS96 was held in July and among the overseas visitors were girls and leaders from Dubna Russia as a follow up from Project Russia ’94.
The tenth birthday of Rainbow Guides was celebrated in 1997 with parties and events of every description.
It was during 1997 that the County took over responsibility for one of the bedrooms at Foxlease, soft furnishings were made, books about Sussex and details of each Division were placed in the room for the benefit of visitors. The year ended with another carol service in Arundel Cathedral.
A Brownie Ship Wreck Day was held at the Littlehampton School in June 1999.
2000 – the new millennium - new County Commissioner, Mrs Rachel Hammond took over from Mrs Avril Stouse in May.
Plans were in progress for a County Camp, called “Guiding Spirit 2000” at Parham Park in May and many activities and events were organised. Guiders and equipment arrived on the Saturday 27th May to pitch camp and prepare for the arrival of all the Guides on Sunday. Late afternoon it started raining and it continued raining for 12 hours. Guiders woke the following morning to find their beds afloat and stepped out of their tents onto a campsite knee deep in mud and water. After an emergency meeting of the sub camp leaders it was reluctantly decided the camp would have to be abandoned as the well-being and safety of the girls could not be guaranteed. It was heart-breaking and very disappointing for everyone involved, after so many months of planning and preparation. However, in the true spirit of Guiding, many units were able to re-locate and camp in smaller groups elsewhere.
Later in 2000 “The Mexican Wave” took place up on the Downs, an attempt to get into the Guinness Book of records. This was open to all youth groups in the county, along with their families and friends and was successful in the attempt.
The Brownies had their millennium celebration at Paultons Park on the 1st July.
A concert was held at Chichester Festival Theatre on 26th October 2003 called “Steps in Time”, a spectacular show of dance, drama, music and song with each of the eight Divisions portraying a period in time from the start of creation through to the swinging ‘60’s.
2004 – the Silver Anniversary, 25 years since the division of the county from Sussex Central. A special badge was designed for the occasion and a Silver Ball was held in September at Avisford Park Hotel.
2004 was also an international camp year “WS 2004” – the seventh to be held. The theme was the “Wild Wild West”. History is being made all the time………
Margaret, County Archivist
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Poem
The following poem was used by Hazel (Sompting and North Lancing District) when she took the Flame of Guiding to each of the units in her District.
“Guides and Brownies of………….I beg you draw near;
I’ve a story to tell you of why I am here.
When Scouting began, just before 1910,
“We hope,” said the girls, “this is not just for men”
We, too, want to join and be called Girl Scouts;
And we want to learn what it’s all about”.
“Sorry!!!” said Lord Baden “It’s just not done.
Parents don’t want daughters acting like sons”
But the girls persisted and at last he replied.
“Alright”…but a new name I’ll give you, I’ll call you
GIRL GUIDES
So he and his sister then got it going
And ever since then Guiding has been growing.
Lady Baden-Powell appeared and with her might and vigour,
We saw the Girl Guide ‘flame’ growing brighter and bigger.
…Now, down the years to YOU it is passed.
I know it won’t stop there…you won’t be the last.
It has spread through the world now, and though some things may change,
Our Promise, the Trefoil, our aims are the same.
It’s time now to pass this ‘flame’ so bright
Onto your Guider, here tonight.
She in her turn will pass it to you
And whether in brown or whether in blue,
To each of you comes a piece of this ‘flame’,
Which I hope through the years, you’ll pass on again.
And the Guides who come after you…what of them?
Will this ‘flame’ shine as bright…like gold or gem?
Or will it flicker and die and not stand the test?
I’m sure that it won’t, if you all – DO YOUR BEST.
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Last updated: 13/04/2008