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1st Dorridge Brownies was started by Margaret Jupe in early November 1982 at our present meeting place. There were already Scouts, Cubs and Guides meeting there but no Brownie unit so Margaret started one.
At first there were only 12 girls so that they could get to know each other well and find out what Brownies did! The Brownie handbook and uniform have changed at least twice since those early days. When the unit was started Brownies wore brown cotton dresses, yellow ties and brown knitted hats. Today's uniform is much better as the dresses were not warm enough in Winter and were too warm in Summer. They were also not practical for running games and outdoor activities. Church Parades were once a month, not like now when it's 4 times a year.
Pack Holidays
The first Pack Holiday that the unit went on was in 1985 to Warwickshire's Pack Holiday house in Great Alne. This house is no longer used by Brownies. The Unit went there a total of 3 times. It was quite small so only 12 girls could go and they all slept on bunk-beds in one room. The Guiders had to sleep in the main living room! There was no proper bathroom, just washbasins and there were outside toilets. However there was one chemical toilet inside for use during the night!
Over the years the unit has been on 12 Pack Holidays mostly at Rowington Village Hall that is still used today. Once the girls stayed in a Scout and Guide Hut at the Royal Showground at Stoneleigh when they visited a farm and the village blacksmith. There have been many themes on these holidays including Disney, Care Bears, Winne the Pooh, Peter Rabbit, America, International and Safari.
Venture Days and District Revels
Venture days have also been held during the School Holidays. These have been just like a mini Pack Holiday but everyone went home to sleep. One was based on Noah's Ark and animals and another was Bugs and Beasties.
The unit has also taken part in District Revels and has attended Thinking Day services, celebrations and Division events throughout the years. The District Brownies once walked over the fields from Dorridge Park to a farm near Packwood where the Guides were waiting for them having cooked a supper of sausages etc on a camp fire. Each unit contributed an item of entertainment and the evening was finished by singing camp fire songs.
Sponsorship
For many years the unit supported children through World Vision. They started by sponsoring a young girl in Brazil, then a girl in Ecuador and finally Sharon in Uganda who Margaret personally sponsors to this day. The Brownies wrote cards to Sharon and loved hearing news about how well she was growing up and seeing photos of her. Coffee evenings and other events were held in order to raise money to sponsor her.
In 2003 Margaret and her husband moved out of the area meaning that she could no longer be the Guider for 1st Dorridge Brownies. However Margaret is still very much involved in Guiding and is now a District Guider for the Ledbury District.
Your Memories
 If you have any memories of the unit or you are a previous Brownie at First Dorridge Brownies, please let me know. My email address is found on the contact button at the top of the page.
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