NEATH GIRLS BRING THE BROWNIES’ 100TH BIRTHDAY TO DOWNING STREET
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Girls represented the thousands of Brownies of Wales at once-in-a-lifetime party to
mark The Big Brownie Birthday.
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Brownies joined 100 girls from all over the UK to deliver their 100th birthday
wishes to Downing Street – and take over the famous Number 10 garden.
A group of Brownies from Neath were part of a 100-strong group of girls from all over the
UK who passed through the famous front door of Number 10 on Thursday 31 July to
celebrate the 100th birthday Brownies.
The Brownies from 3rd Neath Brownies gave Mr Cameron a tiny taste of the range of
activities Brownies get up to in 2014 – with adventurous activities such as archery as well
as giant games, plate spinning and armpit fudge.
The Prime Minister David Cameron thanked the Brownies and Girlguiding’s 100,000
volunteers for their dedication to giving girls all over the UK a head start in life, whatever
their background and circumstances.
He said: “I’m delighted to be celebrating the Brownies’ 100th birthday in Downing Street.
“Being a Brownie is about having fun, being adventurous and learning a huge number of
skills from watersports and cycling, to science experiments and crime prevention.
“But at the heart of what it is to be a Brownie, is the promise to give back and serve
others. In this centenary year Brownies have been volunteering across the UK as part of
the Big Brownie Birthday Badge Community Challenge.
“Happy 100th birthday and here’s to another great 100 years ahead.”
During the party, each of the Neath Brownies wrote down her hopes for how girls’ lives
will change in the next 100 years. These were: Brownies can do the same jobs as boys;
that there is no more fighting in the world; for a world where everyone helps each other;
and that every girl should be able to do the Race for Life!
The birthday wishes were gathered in a special book to be kept by Downing Street so that
visitors, dignitaries and decision-makers can view the girls’ wishes for years to come.
Brownie Mea Verallo, 8, said: “Everything about Brownies is amazing! The party was really
fun today, we threw waterbombs and made armpit fudge!”
Brownie Mali Loader, 8, said: “I’ve never even seen David Cameron before, it was really
good to meet him.”
Leader Lesley Mathews said: “This has been the opportunity of a lifetime for the
Brownies. We’ve had the most amazing Big Brownie Birthday year, with sleepovers and so
many events and opportunities – and this has been an amazing end to it.”
Chief Guide Gill Slocombe added: “Brownies is all about fun, adventure and showing just
how big a difference girls can make – and they definitely succeeded in bringing a bit of
that spirit to Downing Street today. It’s important that girls know they can make their
voices heard, and it’s great that today their wishes are being heard at Number 10 – though
I’m not sure even the Prime Minister could arrange for the Brownies to have their weekly
meetings on Mars.”
Brownies started in 1914 when younger girls – seeing the fun Guides were having – called
for something for them too.
Brownies today tackle adrenaline-fuelled activities like climbing, abseiling and zip wiring
at Girlguiding centres around the UK, debunk body image myths through resources like
Free Being Me and can earn more than 50 badges, covering everything from World Issues
and Communicator to Wildlife Explorer and Science Investigator.
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