Girl Guiding
Guiding Memories
Kathy Smith nee Jinkerson
I joined 2nd Hatfield Brownies in about 1968 meeting in the old hut in Ground Lane. It was run by Mrs.Jean Newman,who later became District Commissioner as well.
I moved onto Guides with Mrs. Brenda Palmer when I was about 10 years old. Other members of the company then included Joyce Dixon (nee Roberts), Mandy Palmer and Wendy Sage.
We did a lot of badgework and I gained my Queen’s Guide. We went on camps – I remember going to Harmer Green Campsite, Southampton (possibly Crickets campsite or Fairthorne Manor)and the Lake District (at Rydal Hall where the warden was also the local Scout Commissioner). I remember that Brenda Palmer always got a gnat bite on her eyelid at camp!
I moved on to Rangers – then run by Mrs. Heather Andrews – where we had to run our own programme. One of our big events was to go to Sedan Chair rally at Gilwell. – we had to build our own chair and carry the lightest member around the course. There were prizes for the best dressed chair and fastest ranger team among other.
Kathy Smith nee jinkerson
Add your comment about this page
I joined 2nd Hatfield Guides about 1967 in the hat in Ground Lane. At the time I think it was run by Berdene Groom (nee Draper)(no relation). I remember the hut was cramped and dusty but we had a great time. On one occasion we went to camp at Tolmers and on another we made fires in Hatfield Park to cook our lunch. My family away from Hatfield around 1970 and I lost contact with guiding and my guiding friends. Joyce (Roberts) and I joined Guides on the same day and I believe she went on to run a unit in Hatfield. Strangley enough I’ve been a Guider myself in Lancashire, since my youngest daughter started Brownies in about 1994.