An exhibition will open tomorrow (Friday) in Tenby celebrating 100 years of Brownies and Guides in the seaside town

Members of the Lower Landsker Trefoil Guild (who themselves celebrated their 10th birthday this week) have been preparing for the for the centenary exhibition which will take place at the Scout and Guide Hall on Warren Street, and will run from March 10 to 12, between 11 am and 3 pm,

Tenby’s Mayor, Cllr Sam Skyrme-Blackhall will be on hand to open the exhibition, with all welcome to pop along to take a look.

The exhibition celebrates the fact that Brownies and Guides have met continuously in Tenby for 100 years, which is quite an achievement, with many past members contributing memorabilia that will be on show.

The 3rd Tenby Brownies and the 4th Tenby Guides were both registered in March 1923 and met in the basement of the Belgrave Hotel, although the Brownies first met at Rock House St Julian’s Street. They became so popular that a fund was started in 1925 to buy premises, and in 1929 the Scout and Guide Hall was officially opened.

There cannot be many women in Tenby who were not, at some time, a member of this vibrant organisation. Many readers will recognise the names of past leaders, including - Lilian Dowdswell, Angela Mottram, Maisie Benson, Bryn Watson, Kathleen Rees, Iris Mabe, Gertie Dinsdale, Joan Rees,Doreen Hammersley, Margaret Peake, Barbara Pegg, Jan Evans, Barbara Morris Marlene Boot, Julia Watts, and Kay Dagger.

Other units sprang up over the years and at one time there were two Brownie units, two Guide units, a Ranger unit, and then a Rainbow unit all meeting at the hall.

Many will remember the wonderful Gang Shows when the Scouts and Cubs joined the girls under that amazing musical director Pauline Allen. But many will also remember the camps, the walks, the campfires, the badges, and, of course, the fun.

Girls of 1923 probably did badges in knitting, in ironing, in semaphore and in making a cup of tea, while girls today can do badges in coding, computing and the environment. It’s not called a Movement for nothing!

Guiding has changed with the times but, at its heart, it has always sought to encourage strong, resourceful girls who can turn their hands to anything, who enjoy working together, and who know how to have fun.

Today, they are still there, in the hall having fun with leaders such as Rhian Morgan, Lauren Smith, Eleanor Catt and Sarah Greener, young women who are willing to give of their time and energy and carry the spirit of Guiding into the 21st century.

There is a saying, once a Guide, always a Guide, which may be why the adult branch of Guiding, the Trefoil Guild has over 20 members in Tenby, and this Guild, the Lower Landsker Guild, founded by the late Doreen Hammersley, celebrated its 10th birthday on March 8 - still having fun, still involved in local Guiding!

The Guild would like to welcome anyone whether you been a Brownie and/or Guide or Ranger in Tenby or not, to go along to share in the wonderful memories on display at the exhibition.