Day town's guides met the great Baden-Powell himself

Guiding was also expanding in Seaford. The girls met in a room in Brooklyn Road but they soon outgrew this venue and in 1920 they joined forces with the boy scouts to purchase an old Army hut which was re-erected nearby in Chichester Road.

In 1921 there was a rally for Sussex scouts and guides held in the Dripping Pan at Lewes. The photograph shows the great Baden-Powell himself meeting the Seaford guides.

The two Seaford guide groups were part of the Lewes division and the first commissioner was Lady Ruth Monk Bretton. In 1925 she was succeeded by Lady Elsie Shiffner. It is interesting to note that, as well as their work with the guides, both women were responsible for introducing the Women's Institute to East Sussex.

1925 also saw the foundation of the first Ranger company in the area which was established in Blatchington. By now there were five guiding, three brownie and two ranger companies in Seaford. Of the guiding groups, four were school groups from, The Downs, Southlands, Mickelfield and Seaford Ladies' College.

It was time for a rally and Miss Martley, the captain of the 1st Blatchington Guides, took on the task of organising it. The rally was held at the Salts Recreation Ground and the guest of honour was county commissioner, Dame Alice Godman, who was also heavily involved in the Sussex Red Cross. More than 230 girls attended the event which must have represented virtually every girl in the town!

The 1st Blatchington Guides had created a special banner for the event and the photo shows Dame Alice (on the left) with Lady Shiffner and Miss Martley on the right. The corrugated buildings in the background were in Richmond Road, near where the Salts car park now stands. After this photo was taken there was a march past with Lady Shiffner and Dame Alice taking the salute. The brownies formed a circle and gave a 'grand howl' and there were plenty of competitions, including a 'tea race' where the girls had to make a cup of tea by kindling a fire and bringing a kettle to boil on it. There were displays of country dancing and signalling, followed by a rousing speech by the county commissioner who told the girls that she was due to travel to Canada to take part in the first Dominion Guiding Rally. The event closed with three cheers for the commissioners.

(By the way the Canadians were rather bemused when Dame Alice attended their event. She offered to do something practical to help and was later seen in the kitchens shelling peas; however she kept her hat and gloves on throughout!).

The stalwart ladies who were so important in establishing the Seaford guides all lived to a ripe old age. Miss Martley died in 1961 aged 94, Dame Alice Godman died in 1969, and Lady Shiffner died in 1972 aged 100.

KEVIN GORDON