‘Come and joins us’ says veteran Guide leader (From Bury Times)

‘Come and joins us’ says veteran Guide leader

10:48am Friday 18th January 2013 in News

A GUIDE leader with more than 40 years of service is encouraging people in Bury to join the organisation.

Jan Withington, of Millom Drive, Unsworth, hopes more people will come forward to help run meetings due to high demand from young girls.

Mrs Withington, assistant leader of 10th Radcliffe Guides, said: “I wish we had some young people coming along to take my job. The most important thing for Guides at the moment is to get more leaders and open more groups. Nationally it is a big problem. We are very short of leaders and in our church, we are absolutely desperate for a Brownie leader.”

Mrs Withington got involved with the Guides in 1971, after chatting to a Brownie leader who visited the post office she ran in Stand Lane, Radcliffe.

She was the Guider until her 65th birthday in October and now continues as assistant leader of the group, which meets at Stand United Reformed Church.

Mrs Withington has seen many changes over the years, from the activities done by the Guides to the style of their uniforms.

Her highlights include helping to organise a centenary celebration at Heaton Park in Prestwich, in 2009, which was attended by 8,000 Guides, Brownies and Rainbows.

Anyone wishing to become a leader or find out more can call Mrs Withington on 0161 766 6727 or visit girlguiding.org.uk/interested.