The Trefoil Extra!

Some of our guild participated in the Women’s World Day of Prayer (WWDP) service, which was written by Christian women in the Cook Islands.  We used the WWDP resources, along with information about Guiding in the Cook Islands, at our World Thinking Day meeting, a fortnight before the service.  One of our members used the resources at a brownie meeting, too.

Chelmsford South Trefoil Guild enjoyed a weekend glamping at Blackland Farm Outdoor Centre, East Grinstead. We stayed in the tented village and had a mix of adventure and relaxation. Starting with learning how to use a stand up paddleboard, we challenged ourselves to stand up and paddle around the lake. After a fish & chip takeaway (no cooking required!) we roasted marshmallows over the gas fire as we decided that was quicker than making a fire! On the Sunday, we successfully took on the orienteering course. 

Jean and Margaret have been visiting each other every Thursday for many weeks to work on the  ‘Motivate at home’ challenge,  and have completed a jigsaw for one of their activities.
As the whole Motivate project is supporting the RNLI,  their choice of jigsaw seemed particularly appropriate.   And it includes land, sea and air!

Taste of Adventure weekend at Hautbois in April
Approximately 40 -50 took part in tota lincluding various activities: physical out doors, and craft sessions indoors

Katharine came and gave a talk to our members about her small business based in Marden, which is in our guiding county. It was good to hear about a unique business based so close to home.
The sloes that she uses to make the sloe gin come from the Kent countryside. Once the sloes have been picked, they are soaked in gin, the gin slowly infuses the sloes – after which its added to a ganache and piped into chocolate shells, creating gorgeous treats for her customer, we sampled some at our meeting, pure heaven!

Members enjoying a delicious BBQ lunch in perfect weather.

Is there any better way to spend an afternoon than with great company and tasty food, today’s ‘International’ lunch was hosted at our lovely Stevie’s (Sue Stevenson) home.
The plan for today’s get together was to provide a meal that was fully inclusive for our members that are vegetarian or follow a plant based lifestyle. I’m a vegetarian and not the best of cooks, so variety for me can be a little limiting.  Not today though, Allsorts Guild put on a truly delicious and successful spread, it was literally a three course meal. 

As part of our Thinking Day celebration members shared anecdotes of their lives in guiding. Several members recounted travelling to guide camp in the back of a lorry, cooking on open fires and meeting Lady Baden Powell at Girlguiding events. The evening finished with the lighting of candles by each member who dedicated their candle to a country where there are guides. There was also the enrolment of a new member, the renewal of the Promise and singing of taps.

The event was held in May 2025 at Codnor Methodist Church when Derbyshire Trefoil Guild members gathered to hear a speaker and listen to a summary of the Derbyshire guilds’ activities of the previous year. 70 members attended. 
The chair of the Derbyshire County team, Alison Plunkett introduced the event before giving her report. This was followed by reports from each member of the county team. Particular reference was mentioned about the very successful Midlands region International Day held in Derbyshire in October 2024. 

March 2025. Girlguiding Activity Day at Woodlands School, Allestree. Trefoil members served tea and coffee throughout the day. 
Hundreds of Guide leaders and helpers descended on the school for the day. The leaders and helpers attended various workshops and fun activities. Trefoil Guild members assisted all day, from 8am until 4pm, manning stalls, raffle, information hubs and the tea/coffee refreshment station.
Everyone enjoyed the convivial atmosphere. Trefoil Guild members shared their enthusiasm for their own guild and county activities and encouraged Guide leaders to consider joining a Trefoil Guild

20th anniversary of the setting up of Sheffield Trefoil Walking Group. 10 members and a visiting ex-member. Hope Valley, Derbyshire
The Sheffield Trefoil walking group was blessed with a beautiful sunny day when they celebrated 20 years since their first walk in 2005. After a lovely walk in the Peak District, they finished of course with tea and cake in a cafe in Hope village. 
Members have come and gone over the years, but a few were still there from that first walk and could remember all about where they went and who was involved. It was especially good to welcome a visit from Ransy, the original leader, who no longer lives in Sheffield.

11 members went on the York Chocolate Experience.
The tour was just over an our and we had an explanation from bean to chocolate. We were given samples on the way round which were very bitter, rough chocolate to what it is today.

Members went to visit a Gin Distillery with a tour round with tastings.

Jarrow Trefoil Guild were the hosts this year of North Durham's friendship day.
As a little gift for everyone to take home we made some guiding lights. The fun part was drinking the wine and then saving the bottles. Threading the fairy lights into the bottles was fiddly but worth the effort.

Ten members of Bebington Trefoil Guild, plus two friends, visited Hoylake Lifeboat station on the Wirral on Friday 2nd May.
We were given a very interesting and informative tour of the Lifeboat station and the crew-room from Brian Jordan, the visitor co-ordinator, including some of the history of the local RNLI and amazing statistics about the boat and the hovercraft.

Based in St Peter Port. We explored Guernsey and Herm Island with the local Guernsey guild members, visiting museums, gardens, enjoying coastal walks, historic houses, WW2 occupation sites and churches.

Joyce Douglas celebrated her 100th Birthday in May. A member of the Guide movement since joining the Brownies at All Hallows, Allerton, Liverpool in 1933 Joyce (also known as Joyce Culshaw and Wainwright) was Captain of 220th Liverpool Oakvale company for many years as well as holding many other positions including being a Camp Adviser and Vice President of Merseyside South. She is pictured here with her cousin Barbara and one time Lieutenant as well as some new members of the movement. Now living in Haslemere near her son Andrew, she attributes her longevity in part to keeping the company of younger people!

Dibbinsbrook Trefoil Guild thoroughly enjoyed their trip to Belfast for the AGM and enjoyed their visits to the Titanic exhibition, City Hall and the  ‘Blue Fish’.

Scottish Trefoil Ramble, 24 March 2025, Dalry and Blair Estate, Scotland, 16 members on the walk.
We had a good Trefoil Ramble from Dalry to Blair Estate, and a walk round. There were still a lot of snowdrops. 

Eileen Palmer, joint chair of the county Trefoil Guild Team in Cornwall, presented Heather Marriott with her gold award for the Voyager challenge, and Heather and Valerie Ruse with Thank you badges for long service to guiding.

Members of Trefoil Guilds from all over Cornwall met at the County Annual Review Meeting (CARM) where the morning was spent looking at displays of camping photos and camp blankets, and everyone enjoyed quizzing, chatting and catching up with friends in a lovely, relaxed atmosphere. Once the formal business matters were discussed in the afternoon, Margaret Phillips from Liskeard Guild was presented with a County Thanks Badge and Barbara Nicolaou was resented with a Thanks & Recognition badge for all her hard work as county chair.

Eileen Palmer, joint Chair of Cornwall Trefoil Guild, presented Sue Norfolk, President of Cornwall Trefoil, with her bronze Voyage award at Truro Spires New Year Meal on January 7th 2025 at Truro Golf Club.

At the recent Cornwall Annual Review Meeting, where guilds displayed camp blankets from across the county, Jane Bennett from Falmouth guild proudly showed her personalised camp blanket badge, which was designed for her by 10th Falmouth Guides.

Members of St Austell & Gribbin guilds made kites out of plastic carrier bags as part of their Motivate challenge badge.

Members of St Austell guild made bowls out of old LP records. The records were put on baking trays at 200 degrees for a couple of minutes, then shaped over or in a glass bowl.

We had an excellent speaker from FreeWheelers  (a motorcycle charity who transport blood from hospital to hospital) and Tigi Higgins, our chair, got to sit on the bike.

On Thursday 19th June over 100 Trefoilers from all over the South West gathered at Cotehele (National Trust) in Cornwall for a wonderful day of exploration and Trefoil activities. The sun shone all day, it was hot, but there were many trees in the beautiful grounds offering cool shade. Eight members of Ivybridge Trefoil went along to join the fun. I should say nine members, because of course we took Maggie June with us. She  is our mascot,  never misses a Trefoil outing and records them all, with photos, in her diary which she carries in a rucksack on her back. She was knitted by June Thompson, a member of many years ago. On June's death she was passed on to Maggie James, then on to Mavis Sturman who is her current guardian. We don't really know how old she is, but she has certainly outlived many members of today's Trefoil Guild. 

Visit to Giant’s Causeway on June 10th while on a 6 day Holiday in Belfast covering Annual Meeting.

Undertaking an element for Motivate at the annual meeting in Belfast.
Making a paper boat, floating it in the 'pond' then using a straw to blow it to see who could get to the end first – Susan won.

Ingleburn Trefoil Guild June meeting.

Guild visit to Thatcher’s Cider at Myrtle Farm, Sandford, North Somerset on 17 April 2025. 9 members and family members.
A very interesting and informative visit to the farm to hear about how the famous Thatcher’s Cider is made and distributed across the country.

We met to remember the Second World War by sharing memories with fellow members who were children during the 1940's. There were five of us telling the younger members about food rationing, clothing coupons, and sampling wartime recipes; Sausage rolls without sausages, 'apricot' jam made with carrots, and honey fritters. Some of the recipes were made to try! Research had been found in a book entitled  'Well Eat Again', and caused much amusement. One elderly Member had been an evacuee, one had been bombed out of her house, and the youngest octogenarian told us about the Air Raid Warnings, and the  'All Clear'. The Anderson shelter in the garden, and the Morrison Shelter (a metal bunk bed) were explained. 

Our meeting was joined by Ros McLaughlin, a representative for Shelter Box, which is celebrating its 25th year of supporting and providing shelter in times of disaster, this year.
Ros spoke of the work that Shelter Box does around the world, providing emergency shelter and equipment following natural disasters and conflict. Recently, Shelter Box has been involved in Gaza, Myanmar and Sudan, to name a few examples.