IT is now exactly one hundred years since the first Guide company was formed in the Tavistock area.

While guiding started in London in 1910, it took until 1918 for the first groups to open in West Devon.

On January 16, 1918, the 1st Tavistock Guide Company held a meeting in St Michael-in-the-Moor School, Bridge House, Lydford — with the first Promise ceremony, for eight Guides, being conducted there on February 21 by Lady Albertha Lopes, division commissioner for the area.

In the early days of Guiding, groups were often opened in schools, with some of the teachers — all maiden ladies in those days — acting as leaders and commissioners were usually local dignitaries or ladies of standing in the area. The first district commissioner for Tavistock from 1918 to 1920 was Mrs Dorothy Chilcott.

The first group within the town, the 2nd Tavistock Dolvin Road School Guide Company, was opened in February 1918, catering for girls at the school; however, the popularity of Guiding soon spread with other companies opening in Whitchurch (April 1918), Lamerton (April 1918), and another 2nd Tavistock (Town) Company in July 1918 presumably for girls who did not attend Dolvin Road School.

Attached to these companies, groups soon sprung up for the younger girls too, so that by the end of 1918 they all had Brownie packs, often meeting in the same place at the same time.

Former Tavistock Guide leader Kate Harding said: ‘After this initial enthusiasm, at the end of the First World War, there was a gradual growth out into local villages, with new Guide, Brownie and often Cadet groups operating in Brentor, Lydford, Mary Tavy and Peter Tavy. Some of these groups remained open throughout World War Two and there is some interesting archive material showing how they contributed to the war effort on the home front.

‘In the following 20 years, however, many of the small village groups closed and development centred on Tavistock itself, with more Guide and Brownie groups, and eventually, from 1990, Rainbow units. Today the administrative area is called Tavy Division and as well as groups in the town, it also covers Yelverton and Bere Alston.’

Over the 100 years there have been many changes — in geographical distribution, meeting halls, uniform, programme and of course leaders. Mrs Harding is gathering information and archive material with a view to creating a full picture of the history of this great local movement, which has helped provide so many opportunities for thousands of girls in and around Tavistock over the 100 years. If anyone has any old photos, diaries or other material relating specifically to Guiding in Tavistock contact Mrs Harding on 01822 481924. Or to become involved with Guiding, contact commissioner Rica Olver on 01822 612743.