Guides will be lost without new leader

3:34pm Friday 27th June 2008

THE clock is ticking for the 1st Lyme Regis Guides, who will be forced to close unless they find a new leader by July.

The unit has been active in Lyme Regis for 90 years, but has until July 10 to find someone to take over leadership when the guides resume after the summer holidays in September.

After 14 years with the Lyme Guides, current leader Sharon Ward will leave to take up a job with the Great Western Ambulance Service in Wiltshire.

She took over as leader last year from her mother Jeanette, who at the age of 65 is not allowed to lead the unit.

Ms Ward said: "If we don't get anyone by July 10, the Guides will have to fold. It is do or die now and it would be a shame when the Guide Association is soon to celebrate 100 years of guiding and the Lyme Guides has been around for 90 years."

Guides are aged between 10 and 14 years and enjoy working towards badges, doing crafts, camps and fun games.

The 18-strong unit say they want someone who is fun, has a good sense of humour and is patient, they must be imaginative and willing to participate in activities and most importantly, be available on Thursdays between 7pm and 8.45pm.

The leader must be over the age of 18 and under 65 years, and no previous experience is needed as training will be given by the Guide Association. The role could also be shared by two people.

Ms Ward said: "In the short term all they need is to be free on Thursdays. We can give them as much information and help as possible and they are not going to be there on their own - we do have a couple of adult leaders."

There are also two 14-year-old leaders, guiding girls from Lyme Regis, Uplyme and other Devon schools.

Ms Ward said the girls would be devastated to see their unit fold. "The girls love it," she said. "It keeps them occupied and of course if they're happy, we're happy.

"As times have changed we have changed with them but we still keep as much tradition as we can.

"It is fun - you get a sense of achievement when the girls finish badges."

The community will also lose out according to Ms Ward, as the Guides take part in many local events, including carnival, fetes and parades, and delivering Christmas hampers to residential homes.

For more information contact Sharon Ward on 01297 34780 (after midday) or 07738 383844. Email sharontkdis@hotmail.co.uk