Leaders: Helen Waterton (Guider) & Fern France (Assistant Guider)

The 2nd Chester (St Michael’s) Guides meet on Thursday evenings between 6.00pm and 8.00pm in St Michael’s Church Centre and has an average 20 - 25 girls in the unit. We have two Guiding Leaders: Helen & Fern, an Assistant Guider in training: Louise Webb, and two Young Leaders: Rebecca Clements & Nicola Love.

We are the longest running Guide Company in Chester, having been started in 1912, only 2 years after the Girl Guide movement began, by a Miss Lilias Napier and her sister, Mrs Johnson, in the hall of All Saints Church, Hoole. In September 1966 the Company moved to Newton Church Hall and soon after became known as 2nd Chester (St Michael’s). The Company was officially registered at Guiding Headquarters in 1915, so 2005 saw us celebrate our 90th anniversary!

All the guiding activities are based on the eight point programme which is flexible and allows the girls to pursue their own interests. Guides are encouraged to choose and organise activities in their patrols (small groups), and can gain a variety of ‘Go For It’ certificates. There are also interest badges that can be gained and our Guides have passed a wide range of these from confectionery and computing to deaf awareness and first aid, just to name a few. Guides also gain points during meetings (for attendance, appearance, helpfulness, achievements, etc) and each term there is a prize for the girl with the highest number.

We hold an annual summer camp, and our activities include such things as bowling and ice skating. We have also enjoyed a trip to the 'Big Gig', an annual pop concert exclusively for members of Girl Guiding UK. The Guides also take part in many outdoor activities such as tent pitching, fire lighting and cooking, scavenger hunts and wide games. We also take part in varied sporting activities and undertake occasional fund-raising for local charities.
Every year we buy and wrap parcels for Santa’s grotto at the Church Christmas Fair. The grotto is arranged and dressed by the Guides on the Friday evening before the Fair and they then help to staff the grotto with Father Christmas on the Saturday.

Guiding has modernised over the years to meet the needs of today’s girls and young women. However, we still follow some of the traditions of guiding, such as ending our meetings by singing 'taps'.

We are always happy to welcome any girls aged 10-14 years who would like to join us. Contact Helen Waterton on 01244 371498.