Laurie Pearson
Guiding isn’t just for girls! There’s a group of adventurous Dartmouth ladies who meet every month to go on boat trips, learn balloon modeling, plant trees, hold garden parties and look around local prisons!
The Trefoil Guild is ‘guides for seniors’ available to anyone who’s over 18 and still has that courageous spirit to try something new - even at the age of 90! Laurie Pearson helps run the local unit, she told our reporter Steph Woolvin it’s all about food, fun and friendship!
Looking at 80-year-old Laurie sitting in her tidy home above South Ford Pre School with her homemade cards around her, you wouldn’t think she has a double life! The truth is when she isn’t here Laurie likes to be out of doors, travelling and ten pin bowling! Laurie is part of the Trefoil Guild which is a sister organisation to Girlguiding. Back in the 1920s ex-guides with a longing to still be part of the association began to form unofficial groups. A few years later an organisation called the 'Old Guides' was formed and was re-named the ‘Trefoil Guild’ in 1943. Now there are over a thousand branches across the UK.
Anyone can join – male or female. (Men were first allowed access in 1984). You don’t have to have been in the Guides as a child; the only condition is that you make the ‘promise’…
- I promise that I will do my best:
- To be true to myself and develop my beliefs,
- To serve the Queen and my community,
- To help other people
- To keep the (Brownie) Guide Law.
Each group plans its own programme of activities tailored to its members. That could be walking, singing, baking, kite flying, dancing or day tripping. There are also the holidays, which could include getting to grips with locks on canal barges or helping in African orphanages. They also do their bit in the community supporting carol services, charities, making aid boxes for children overseas and helping out in local Brownie and Guide units. Laurie says they don’t work on traditional badges like the younger contingent:
“We have a Voyage Award which was established in 2013. It’s like the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme but for older people! You have to do various jobs, activities and services in your community to achieve a bronze, silver or gold certificate and badge. It can include trying something new like yoga, helping Brownies bake cakes or making creative things to sell for your local church.” Some of these things come easily to Laurie who is a dab hand at crafts and makes her own quilts and cards.
London born Laurie has been involved almost from the start. She is a Guiding stalwart being part of the movement since she was a schoolgirl. “I began with the Brownies then Guides, and became a Sea Ranger in my teens, that’s the oldest section and is basically Guides on the water.” Like so many others she found it hard to give up and soon started volunteering as a helper whilst working as a bank clerk for Lloyds here in Dartmouth (she transferred from a branch in London).
She then decided to take a break from Guiding…well, that was the idea! “There was a Sea Ranger training ship on the River Dart back then and the leaders would come into the bank every now and again,” Laurie explains with a smile. “One day I mentioned that I recognised the name of my old Sea Ranger skipper on a cheque. That was a mistake! They then pestered me to come and volunteer with the group and after the third time of asking I finally gave in!” Laurie was soon heavily involved with the movement once more and spent most of her spare time volunteering with the Sea Rangers and 1st Dartmouth Guides (this was how she met her late husband Clive).
Since being a Trefoil Guild member she has held positions at County and Regional level including organising activities and International events which she really enjoyed. “I went on trips to Norway, Poland, Switzerland, Austria and India. I really enjoyed India – Trefoil members spent time helping abused mothers seeking refuge and we worked with children suffering from leprosy. It was a big eye-opener.” Laurie says she didn’t mind the spicy food as she enjoys Indian cooking. She hopes she can convince the Dartmouth Trefoil ladies to travel a little more but some members, being over 75 years, worry about their health when going abroad so for now they will enjoy trips in and around Devon. “I still hope for a few more adventures!”
Laurie reveals. “I’m heading to Switzerland next year with the Guides. There is a World Association of Girl Guides house based in the mountains. I’ve been a few times. There are winter sports like skiing in the colder months and hiking and flower trials in the summer. There’s an outdoor pool but it’s not for the faint hearted as it’s mountain water and very cold! I enjoy spending time with the young people even if I don’t understand everything they’re talking about! I remember when I first got my new mobile, I didn’t understand how it worked. They were so kind and helped me work it all out even if they did laugh a little!!”
Laurie says the Girl Guiding organisation in all its forms keeps her young at heart and she wouldn’t change it for the world. “It’s been such a big part of my life for so long now. There’s always something new to learn.” She says the Dartmouth branch, which was formed in 1957, is mainly about the three f’s – food, fun and friendship. They meet every third Tuesday in St Clement’s Church Hall and whether it’s a talk, demonstration or day trip there’s always a lot of laughing and snacking involved. “We even have biscuits at the committee meetings - chocolate are the favourite!”
Even though the Guild is open to men, none have been brave enough to join the ladies here in Dartmouth. They are hopeful one will be tempted at some point and that other men will follow suit. “We don’t bite! I could never encourage my husband to join; no matter how hard I tried! We are a great group of ladies and have a lot of fun.” If you’d like to join (male or female) ring Laurie Pearson on 01803 832955 .
First published in By The Dart magazine July 2019