Amazing Chorley volunteers guiding the way for youngsters for fifty years

Five Girlguiding volunteers from Chorley have been honoured for their work supporting girls and young women over the last 50 years with a prestigious long service award.
Paulene Barnes, Margaret Conroy, Gill Steele, Janet Houlkner, Kath Hodson Chorley girlguiding volunteers who have all received long service awards with 250 years between themPaulene Barnes, Margaret Conroy, Gill Steele, Janet Houlkner, Kath Hodson Chorley girlguiding volunteers who have all received long service awards with 250 years between them
Paulene Barnes, Margaret Conroy, Gill Steele, Janet Houlkner, Kath Hodson Chorley girlguiding volunteers who have all received long service awards with 250 years between them

Paulene Barnes, Margaret Conroy, Kath Hodson, Gill Steele and Janet Houlker have been presented with a specially-designed brooch in honour of a grand total of 250 years’ service by their county commissioner, Elaine Claire at a ceremony held at Leyland Golf Club.

Gill said: “My proudest moment in guiding is watching girls develop and grow, from being very shy, to leading a team, and gaining so much confidence.

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“Some of the daughters of my past brownies are now at my unit!”

Kath added: “It keeps you young. We give them values and skills which will hopefully stay with them for the rest of their lives.”

Highlights from their guiding journeys include being invited to the ‘Thanks and Recognition Service’ at Westminster Abbey, meeting the chief guide, taking their units on annual pack holidays and making life-long friends.

Paulene said: “I am so proud when I meet adults who say that they are the person they are now because they were brownies.”

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Margaret added: “As a volunteer with Girlguiding, I dedicate myself to giving girls the opportunity to develop their potential.”

For more information about volunteering with Girlguiding, visit www.girlguiding.org.uk

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