Girlguiding in Royston: Service, Friendship and Adventure
- Mar 16
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 19
Guest Article by Anna Bond, Girlguiding Royston District
For more than a century, girls and young women in Royston have been part of something remarkable. Through weekly meetings, camps and trips, community service and shared adventure, generations have grown up within the supportive community of Girlguiding. From its early beginnings to its centenary celebrations in 2019 and beyond, Girlguiding in Royston has played a quiet but significant role in the life of the town.
The Birth of a Movement
Girlguiding began in 1909, when girls demanded the opportunity to take part in the Scout movement founded by Robert Baden-Powell. In response, his sister Agnes Baden-Powell established The Guide Association, creating a movement that offered girls the same opportunities for adventure, leadership and service.
The movement spread rapidly across Britain. By around 1919, guiding had taken root in Royston. In the years following the First World War, local girls began meeting regularly, supported by dedicated volunteers who believed in the values of service, self-reliance and community spirit.
Over time, units developed for different age groups allowing girls to progress through stages of learning and leadership. From the beginning, guiding in Royston reflected the wider aims of the movement: building confidence, developing practical skills and forming lasting friendships within a structured yet supportive environment.
Guiding in Wartime: Courage in Action
Although guiding in Royston formally began around 1919, the wider movement had already demonstrated its value during the First World War. Across the country, Guides delivered messages, knitted for soldiers, rolled bandages and collected supplies for hospitals. Service was not simply encouraged; it was embedded in the organisation’s identity.
When the Second World War broke out in 1939, guiding was firmly established in towns like Royston. Once again, Guides stepped forward to support their communities. Nationally, they acted as messengers for local authorities, supported air raid precautions, grew vegetables as part of the Dig for Victory campaign, and trained in first aid and home nursing.
In a market town such as Royston, where agriculture and close community networks were central to daily life, local Guides contributed to food production, salvage collections and fundraising efforts. Meetings continued wherever possible – sometimes under blackout conditions – providing stability and reassurance during uncertain times.
Beyond practical assistance, guiding offered something equally important: friendship, routine and a sense of purpose for girls growing up amid rationing and anxiety. The resilience shown by wartime Guides left a lasting legacy. Preparedness, calm leadership and service to others remain core principles of Girlguiding today.
Growing with the Town
Through the post-war decades, guiding in Royston continued to flourish alongside the town itself. As Royston expanded, so too did its units, welcoming new generations of girls from growing neighbourhoods and schools.
Activities evolved with the times. Alongside traditional outdoor skills such as camping, knot-tying and first aid, girls explored arts and crafts, environmental projects, community action initiatives and opportunities for international friendship. Badge programmes reflected changing interests and expanding possibilities for girls and young women in modern Britain.
For many local families, weekly meetings became a familiar and valued part of life. Generations of women in Royston can trace their childhood memories through guiding: wearing uniform with pride, earning badges through perseverance, attending camps and taking part in town events.
Behind every unit stand committed volunteers. Leaders give countless hours to planning activities, organising camps, supporting badge work and mentoring young members. Their dedication ensures that guiding remains accessible, welcoming and firmly rooted in the local community.
Service in the Community
Service has always been central to guiding in Royston and continues to shape its programme today.
Each year, members proudly attend the town’s Remembrance Parade, representing the movement and paying tribute to those who served. This annual act of remembrance reflects guiding’s long-standing respect for community and shared history.
Units also participate in regular litter-picking initiatives, helping to care for the local environment. These practical activities teach responsibility and civic pride while making a visible contribution to the town.
Visits to residential homes, particularly during the Christmas season, are another valued tradition. Girls share songs, crafts and conversation with elderly residents, strengthening connections between generations. These encounters are often deeply meaningful for both the young members and those they visit.
Fundraising remains an important aspect of guiding life. Over the years, Royston units have supported local charities and community causes through sponsored challenges, seasonal events and creative projects. Through these experiences, girls learn that even small actions can have a meaningful impact when carried out together.
Celebrating 100 Years of Local Guiding
In July 2019, Royston Girlguiding celebrated 100 years of local guiding with a special centenary year of events. The opening celebration brought together Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Rangers, Young Leaders, volunteers and families for a day that honoured both tradition and community spirit.
Activities reflected the heritage of the movement while remaining joyful and inclusive. Girls built campfires and sang traditional songs, tied friendship knots, practised semaphore signalling and took part in challenges that connected past and present. One memorable moment was the swapping of neckerchiefs – a symbol of unity within the guiding world and of belonging to a shared history.
The centenary was not only a celebration of longevity, but also a testament to the enduring strength of guiding in Royston.
Looking Ahead
Today, Girlguiding in Royston continues to offer girls a space where they can try new things, build confidence and discover their strengths. From outdoor adventure to community action projects, the programme reflects the realities of growing up in the 21st century while remaining rooted in enduring values of courage, friendship and service.
The history of guiding in Royston is not only measured in anniversaries. It is told through thousands of individual stories: the shy Brownie who found her voice, the teenage Guide who discovered a passion for leadership, and the volunteer who dedicated decades of service to her community.
As Girlguiding in Royston moves further into its second century, its past provides pride and inspiration. From wartime service to modern-day community engagement, the movement continues to empower girls to face the future with confidence.
Here’s to the next hundred years of guiding in Royston.
Girlguiding Royston District today
Girlguiding Royston currently supports approximately 180 girls across 8 units, led by a dedicated team of volunteer leaders. With Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers meeting weekly across the town, girls enjoy a varied programme of skills-building, outdoor adventure and community action.
As part of the wider Girlguiding movement, Royston Girlguiding continues a proud local tradition of empowering girls and young women to discover their potential and make a positive difference in their community.
We are always looking for new leaders, so if our article has inspired you to join the team, please do get in touch (girlguidingroystondistrict@gmail.com) and be sure to Follows us on Facebook (Girlguiding Royston District) and Instagram (@ggroystondistrict).
Find out more about Girlguiding UK at girlguiding.org.uk.
Royston Museum is very grateful to Anna for contributing this guest article to our online exhibitions.