COMPETITION: Girlguiding celebrated on new Royal Mail stamps (From Tewkesbury Admag)

COMPETITION: Girlguiding celebrated on new Royal Mail stamps

10:27am Wednesday 3rd February 2010

• Print
• Email
• Share

THEY’VE swimmed the English Channel in record time, been wartime messengers and even had a cup of coffee up Everest - now Royal Mail marks the centenary of the Girlguiding movement on a four-stamp miniature sheet.

Girlguiding UK, issued on February 2, highlights the four age groups of the organisation and some of the exciting activities they undertake.

For stamp designers Together Design, the emphasis for the miniature sheet was firmly on fun, with each of the stamps designed to bring out the sheer enjoyment of being part of Girlguiding UK, which with 550,000 members, is the largest youth organisation in the UK.

As part of the research process, Royal Mail’s design team worked closely with Girlguiding UK, meeting with girls from all four sections of the organisation, from rainbows through to the senior section.

But what’s the history behind this worldwide movement? It all started at a boy scouts rally at Crystal Palace in 1909 when a group of girls turned up demanding something for them.

Fortunately the boy scouts’ founder, Robert Baden-Powell, already had something similar in mind for girls, and a year later their wish was granted when he formed the girl guides.

Now a century on, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts have 10 million members in more than 140 countries around the world.

To be in with a chance of winning one of 15 sets of these special stamps, just answer the following question: Who was responsible for starting the girl guide movement in 1910?

Closing date is Wednesday, February 17 at noon. Usual rules apply and the editor’s decision is final.

• Print
• Email
• Share