Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2014 | Page 26

IW Brownies
celebrate 100

C

elebrations have taken place on
the Island to celebrate the 100th
anniversary of the forming of the
popular young girls’ organisation The
Brownies.
The Island has always been a stronghold
for Girl Guides and Brownies, so it was
appropriate that many youngsters joined
together to mark the amazing milestone.
Hundreds of girls and their leaders packed
into the Events Centre at Cowes Yacht Haven
for the celebration, which proved to be very
exciting for everyone, and the very colourful
party was certainly a time to remember.
In a special tribute, Island Life looks back
at some of the achievements of the Brownies

on the Island over the past century:
In 1914, girls from the age of seven to 11,
realised their older sisters were having fun
as Girl Guides, after the Island Company was
formed at Ventnor in 1912. So the Rosebuds
were formed to meet the demand, but as the
girls did not particularly like the name and it
was decided to change it to Brownies.
As well as enjoying their fun activities,
Brownies, along with Guides Girls, played
their part in World War I, rolling bandages
ready to treat wounded soldiers. In 1918
a Guide and Brownie concert was held
at Shanklin in celebration of the end of
the Great War, and as the membership
grew several events were held including a
Handicraft Exhibition at Unity Hall, Newport.
In the 1930s a rally was held at Carisbrooke
Castle, with over 1,000 Guides and 450
Brownies attending along with Chief Guide
Olave, Lady Baden-Powell, while during
World War II Brownies on the Island again
helped the War Effort, with Lady BadenPowell visiting the Island in 1943.
She returned here in 1955 to visit
Carisbrooke Castle for another rally, and
nine years later Brownies celebrated their
Golden Jubilee with Districts holding Revels.

Pictures available to buy online from our website: visitilife.com