Biographies of historic figures in our history
Nancie Bradshaw
Miss Nancie Bradshaw came to Gloucestershire to take up her appointment as Principal of the Gloucestershire College of Education, moving from Dorset where she had been a Senior Youth Officer. She retired in the early 1970’s. She led the college through many changes – from a Domestic Science College to General Teacher training, and from all women to a mixed college.
That she had an interest in Guiding was never apparent, so it was a very pleasant surprise when her Will revealed that she had left a generous legacy to us. This was several years ago and was wisely invested by our County Association. It had accrued good interest thus enabling us to make the purchase.
Information provided by Margaret Dale – ex-County President
That she had an interest in Guiding was never apparent, so it was a very pleasant surprise when her Will revealed that she had left a generous legacy to us. This was several years ago and was wisely invested by our County Association. It had accrued good interest thus enabling us to make the purchase.
Information provided by Margaret Dale – ex-County President
Vera Armstrong (nee Marshall)
Vera was born in 1904 and became a Guide in Cheltenham in the 1920s. She went to work at Girlguiding's head office in 1928 in London and became the editor of ‘The Guide’ magazine until her marriage to Richard Pain in 1934. During this time she organised a rally for 27,000 Guides and Rangers in London and travelled around the UK in the guide car ‘Gulliver’.
After her marriage she lived in India and was of course involved in Guiding there. Back in England during the second world war she did secretive work for Guiding. She married her second husband in 1955 and she joined WAGGGS in 1954. During this time she founded the Guide Friendship Fund in 1964 and administered it until 1977. She returned to Gloucestershire in 1966 and became county Commonwealth adviser and was Mid Gloucestershire division president. She also began the 'League of Friends of Deer Park'.
She was awarded the silver fish by The Guide Association in 1970, MBE in 1975 and Gloucestershire county award in 1982.
After her marriage she lived in India and was of course involved in Guiding there. Back in England during the second world war she did secretive work for Guiding. She married her second husband in 1955 and she joined WAGGGS in 1954. During this time she founded the Guide Friendship Fund in 1964 and administered it until 1977. She returned to Gloucestershire in 1966 and became county Commonwealth adviser and was Mid Gloucestershire division president. She also began the 'League of Friends of Deer Park'.
She was awarded the silver fish by The Guide Association in 1970, MBE in 1975 and Gloucestershire county award in 1982.
Mildred Humpidge
Mildred started the 1st Rodborough Guides in 1914 with her sister as captain and the group had a visit from Lord and Lady Baden-Powell in 1916. Mildred took over from her sister as captain and continued running the company until 1936 when she moved to Amberley. She was county secretary from 1941 to 1961, and in 1951 was presented with beaver award. After Mildred died in 1964, it was decided to obtain a county headquarters and after lots of searching Deer Park was built in her memory.
Millicent Olivia Burgess
Having volunteered for Scouts in France during the first world war, Millicent returned to England in 1916. She was persuaded to join Guiding by Lady BP herself and became the first county commissioner from 1916-1922. In 1922 she resigned to become deputy chief commissioner for SW Midlands and was awarded silver fish in 1924.
Pauline Bewsher
Born in 1921, Pauline was a Guide and Ranger in Seven Oaks, Kent with her two older sisters in the 1930s. At the beginning of the war the family moved to Oxfordshire and the sisters started the 1st Cinnor Guides. Pauline moved to Cheltenham around 1943 to teach music at the Cheltenham Ladies College. She became a lieutenant at St James Guides, and in 1945 moved to become the main leader of 11th Cheltenham (Highbury) Guides where she stayed until she retired in 1973. She obtained her Guide training diploma in 1954 with a music specialism and ran many campfires and trainings nationally, as well as music camps within the county.
Pauline was awarded the medal of merit in 1963. She produced the Brownie pageant ‘The Tailor of Gloucester’ which was part of the county rally in 1964, being presented to Lady Olave Baden-Powell, which she was very proud of. She was also very involved in the 'Guides Alive' pageant held in 1985. She was awarded the Gloucestershire county award in 1986.
Pauline was awarded the medal of merit in 1963. She produced the Brownie pageant ‘The Tailor of Gloucester’ which was part of the county rally in 1964, being presented to Lady Olave Baden-Powell, which she was very proud of. She was also very involved in the 'Guides Alive' pageant held in 1985. She was awarded the Gloucestershire county award in 1986.
Sybil Canadine
Sybil was one of the girls who attended the Scouts rally in London in 1909 and asked Lord Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Scout Movement, for 'something for the girls'. The Guide Movement was formed in 1910 and Sybil became a Guide in the 1st London company. She held various appointments in many different counties, as well as in Malta where she became island commissioner. In 1961 she came to Gloucestershire and became county commissioner until 1967. She moved away again and returned to the county in 1979 joining the Trefoil Guild. She was awarded the silver fish award in 1967 and the county award in 1987.
Eileen Ivelaw-Chapman
Eileen was a Guide at 2nd Cheltenham Guides in 1910 and later became the Brown Owl of the 17th Cheltenham (Bethesda) Brownie pack from 1926. She became a Brownie trainer in 1949 and was awarded the medal of merit in 1952. She was the first Brownie adviser in the county in the 1940s and received a Gloucestershire county award in 1975.
