To ask if you were a brownie or a guide?

I was a Guide briefly- first as a Canary and then I joined the school group as a Blue Tit. I was looking forward to the guide camp we were promised and my DM had got as far as buying me an enamel mug for the great event. However, just before camp, the Guide Leader, (our very eccentric Biology teacher), couldn’t go, so that was that!

I had enough of Guides after the same teacher insisted that one of us went to the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday to represent the group and I was the one who cracked first. She also insisted that I went without a hat, coat, scarf or gloves, so I did, (although no one would have known if I had gone in a coat as she didn’t bother going herself!)

It was a bitterly cold day, freakishly so even for where I lived, and I fainted with the cold during the Two Minutes Silence, (something I didn’t actually know was possible!) I came to in an ambulance whilst being shouted at by a paramedic and a police officer for being a ‘stupid little girl to come out without your coat!’ It was in vain that I tearfully said my teacher had told me not to wear one.

That was it for me - I left!

I was a Brownie and loved it. I remember I had the brown dress uniform and just a few months before I was leaving the new yellow jumper and brown culottes uniform came in and I really wanted it! Mum said no as I was leaving soon and had no younger sister to pass it on to. I was only one of two girls who still had to wear the brown dress by the end of my time there and I was mortified!

I went to Guides for a bit but not long enough for my mum to invest in the uniform. Aside from my ongoing uniform woes, my residing memory is watching a really scary video warning us not to drink too much alcohol and being terrified of hangovers for a very very long time.

I was a Brownie, a Guide, a Young Leader and a Ranger. My sister pipped me to the post being a Queen's Guide. I used to do all of the random badges in Guides like Back Woodsman which challenged my leader quite a lot to find someone to test me. My camp name was Kookaburra because apparently I laughed a lot. I have an amazing memory for campfire songs (but little else) and my sister will phone and ask me about songs which I then relay over the phone with actions included, even though she cannot see me (Bumblebee, Aunty Monica etc etc). I loved camp, making "gadgets" from wood and string, the huge belltents, sitting in a ring and peeling potatoes, hanging Lietenants bra from the colours on the flag pole.

I was in the opposition....the Girls brigade 😅 i liked it till I was about 12, then had massive arguments with my mum cos I didnt want to go anymore. She finally relented when I was 13.
Once my 2 much younger sisters came along I think my mother (and father) seemed to stop bothering to actively parent, so they didn't have to do anything they didnt want to 😡

I loved Brownies. Defining time of my childhood.

Yes. Leprechaun at Brownies and a Snowdrop at Guides. There was no getting away from it in my family- my Dad was a Scout leader and my mum was Tawny Owl at Brownies, and later a Guide Leader and a District Commissioner 😂 I loved it all- especially the camps. Such happy times and wonderful friendships. The campfires and the songs.

I went for selection to attend an international camp and was selected to go to a Jamboree in New Zealand aged 14. Amazing experience! But I loved the UK International camps too- we had one in our county and it had Guides and Scouts from all over the world. I met a gorgeous Irish Scout at one ☺️

Very briefly but the sixers were horrible bullies so l didn’t last long

Well... ☺️

Went to brownies once and never ever again. Once was more than enough.

Brownie Promise: I promise to do my best, to do my duty, to God, my Queen and my country; To help other people every day, especially those at home.

Motto: Lend a hand.

I was an Elf: This is what we do as elves, think of others, not ourselves.

And a Gnome: This is what we do as gnomes, helping mother in our homes.

And then, T'wit, T'wit, t'woo! (But can't remember what that was for) 🤔

And I have my teeny uniform packed away still!

I was a Rainbow, a Brownie, a Guide and later a DofE volunteer. I enjoyed Brownies the most, I only did Guides for a year or so. I was a seconder and a sixer but I don’t remember which six I was. I did loads of badges! I still remember the BSL alphabet which I learned for my deaf awareness badge, 30 years on!

Yes I did both, so did my daughter. I enjoyed it, didn’t LOVE it.

I was also a gnome. I never wanted to be one as I felt they were the boring ones. I wanted to be an elf or a pixie!

And dance around the papier mache toadstall.

Loved Brownies and still have my sash (is that the right word?) of badges and pin showing I was a member of the Imps!

I loved Brownies, only went to Guides once as I was intimidated by the older girls.

Oh yes! I promise that I will do my best, to do my duty to God, to serve the Queen and help other people and to keep the Brownie Guide Law!

I got thrown out of the brownies for answering back to that ole foul frustrated bitch who was head of it.

1970's. I was 12.

My first forage into woman power I guess.... 😂

Thank you Universe!

I was a Brownie (seconder for the Gnomes) and a Guide (Bluebell patrol).

I was unable to be a Rainbow, because I became a brownie in 1987, and as I tell our rainbows now, that was the year Rainbow’s started.

I’m currently a Brownie leader, having been a Rainbow leader in the past. DD’s are currently a Brownie and a Guide having started in Rainbows and worked their way up.

DD1 managed to best me and become Sixer of the Gnomes before she moved up. We have lots of Rainbows moving up after Christmas and DD2 will be one of the oldest at 8, and will get to be Sixer of our brand new Six - chosen by our Brown Owl, despite my misgivings before anyone accuses me of nepotism!

“We're Brownie Guides, we’re Brownie Guides, we're here to lend a hand, To love our God and serve our Queen, and help our homes and lands".

Senior Sixer of the Gnomes here. I just had to Google to check I haven’t misremembered- the badge had three stripes. Anyone else?

i reached the deputy managerial position of being Seconder in the Imps. I didn’t stay in Guides long enough to get promoted but I was a Brown Owl
as an adult.

We're brownie guides, we're brownie guides, we are here to lend a hand...

I was in the brownies didn’t bother with girl guides .I can still remember that song we use to sing every week .

Brownie here - in the early/mid 60s. I was bored stiff. Freezing cold hall “heated” by an ancient tortoise stove and Brown Owl chain smoked. Utterly dreadful. Freezing cold long walk home in winter. Tawny owl was a kindly lady who organised games for us. Otherwise utterly unimaginative.

My DD1 one loved Brownies in the late 90s. Loads more to do and exceptional leaders. DD2 enjoyed it too. I think packs are only as good as the leaders.

So many of my adult life skills are thanks to those badges

@Pavementworrier same here. I was a brownie, guide and sea ranger.