Girlguiding UK celebrates 100 years of 'girl power' on stamps
Boys will be boys - but what about the girls? That’s exactly
what a small group of brave girls demanded when they ‘gatecrashed’
the first ever Boy Scouts rally at Crystal Palace in 1909.
By 1910 their wish had been granted and now 100 years on, Royal
Mail marks the Centenary of the guiding movement with a special
commemorative miniature sheet of stamps.
Girlguiding UK Centenary stamps, issued today (2 February),
highlights the four age-groups of the UK’s largest youth
organisation as well as some of the exciting activities they take
part in.
The organisation currently has around half a
million members in the UK alone and many millions of former
Guides, among them some very famous and familiar faces.
These include chart-topping singer Pixie Lott, barrister and wife
of Tony Blair, former Prime Minister, Cherie Blair, Olympians Kelly
Holmes, Tanni Grey-Thompson and Sally Gunnell and television
presenters Kate Silverton and Gaby Logan.
But what’s the history behind this worldwide movement? Well, it’s
certainly memorable.
A small group of girls did indeed ‘gatecrash’ the first Boy
Scout rally in Crystal Palace Park in September 1909, demanding
‘something for the girls’.
The brave pioneers called themselves Girl Scouts, but when he
founded the girls' movement Robert Baden-Powell wanted them to have
their own independent identity and decided on 'Girl Guides', and
the organisation was formed in 1910 with his sister Agnes as
President.
Girlguiding UK Chief Guide, Liz Burnley, said: "We are thrilled
that the Royal Mail has decided to commemorate our Centenary in
this way. Girlguiding UK has and will continue to be led by the
ambitions and needs of girls and young women. I am certain our half
a million members will be delighted to discover that these
ambitions - and of course the girl-only space we offer - has been
captured within these stamps."
Julietta Edgar, Head of Special Stamps, Royal Mail said: “We wanted
this special Centenary sheet of stamps to capture the many
activities and achievements of an organisation which continues to
shape the lives of millions of young people around the world.”
The Centenary stamps are available to buy from the
Royal Mail online.