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History of Guiding
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Guiding and Scouting began with a man with a vision, who had great personal gifts and who was concerned for the future of the young people of England.
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He was Robert Baden-Powell, born in England in 1857, a younger member of a large
family. He developed a love of the out-of-doors and with his brothers spent many holidays
in the country, boating, fishing and exploring. He was trained for the army and saw
service in India and Africa, gaining the respect of his men and fellow officers. In 1899
he became the hero of the siege of Mafeking during the Boer War. These adventures are all
stories in themselves, which make exciting reading and are told in several books. Some of
his ideas and experiences changed the direction of his life, causing him to begin
scouting, which spontaneously grew into a world-wide youth movement.
He was known to the men in the army as B.-P. and this name continued into scouting.
In 1912, B.P. married Olave St. Clair Soames, whose birthday happened to be on the same
day as his - 22nd February - although she was 32 years younger. The whole story of their
courtship and marriage is an exciting one They were married on 30th October 1912 and
100,000 scouts gave one penny each to give their Founder and his bride a magnificient 20
h.p. Standard motor car as a wedding present. Their family life was one of close
happy relationships and they had three children, Peter, Heather and Betty.
By 1915, brownie, guide and ranger groups were developing rapidly. Groups of 'Lones'
for girls who were working by correspondence and 'Extensions' for handicapped girls were
soon formed. During the war years guide people assisted in many ways and became recognised
throughout the community.
In 1920 the first Guide International Conference was held at Oxford (UK). This was a
tremendous joy and great inspiration as for the first time personal contact was made with
guide people in other countries. Seventeen countries were represented and they continued
to meet each two years and grow in numbers. This was the foundation on which the
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) was laid.
Another good link For Olave
Baden-Powell that is here
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