The Story

On February 22, 1857, Robert Baden-Powell was born in England. This man was later to become famous under the name of B.P. as the founder of Scouts and Guides. He spent a number of years in a boarding school and when he was 18 he joined the Army. As a soldier, BP travelled to many countries in the world including Africa and India. He became famous during the Boer War as a colonel in the Army. After the Boer War, BP returned to England where he found that many of the books he had written for the Army were being used by teachers and other youth leaders to help them in their work with boys. He decided to try out his own ideas and held a camp on Brownsea Island with a group of London Boys. These boys were later to become the first Scouts. The girls of that day, seeing what fun their brothers were having, decided they would like to become Scouts. Soon patrols of girls called themselves such things as Lions, Tigers and Vultures and they sprang up all over England.

In 1909, BP invited all the Scouts of England to a parade at the Crystal Palace in London. This huge building was actually made of glass. BP stood at the front of the building and saluted all the Scouts as they marched in. Imagine his great surprise when he saw a group of girls coming along at the end of the groups of Scouts. He was not very pleased but did allow them to enter the building. When he was later inspecting the Scouts he also inspected the girls. He asked them what they wanted and they answered that they too would like to join his organization. BP said his game was for boys only, but he would see what could be done. Once at home, he thought about the girls and talked about them with his sister Agnes Baden-Powell. The result was not girl SCOUTS but Girl Guides.

Present at the Crystal Palace rally was a lady from Canada, Mrs. Malcolmson. She was most interested in the first Guides and when she returned to Canada in 1910, she started the first Canadian Company of Girl Guides. This was in St. Catharines. Guides and Scouts quickly spread throughout the World and soon there were Guides and Scouts not only in England and Canada, but also in Africa, India and many other countries.

BP left the army and devoted all his time to Scouting and Guiding. He travelled constantly and on one of his voyages he met Miss Olave St. Clair Soames. He fell in love with her and she became his wife. Olave Baden-Powell later became the World Chief Guide. She is affectionately known to Guides all over the world as Lady BP.

Lord BP and Lady BP were both born on February 22. A Belgian Guider suggested that we make this a special day and it became THINKING DAY. On Thinking Day we remember the Guides all over the world. BP died in 1941 in Africa. On his tombstone is the tracking sign for "I have Gone Home".

The World Chief Guide, Lady BP carried on the work of the Founder, travelling all over the world, inspiring groups of Scouts and Guides wherever she went.

Lady BP died on 25^th July, 1977.