An Altrincham Girl Guide leader is to retire after almost 30 years of volunteering.
Carol Sills will be a familiar face to hundreds of girls who have passed through 3rd Altrincham Guides.
During her 29 years at the helm, Carol has also taken on the roles of District Commissioner, Pack Holiday Advisor and Division Camp Coordinator.
Along with her sister Gillian Davies (who has herself clocked up 40 years as a volunteer Guider), her mum Joyce Hill and her daughter Becky Sills, they have made the local guide group and Woodlands Park Church a fun place and a safe haven for over a quarter of a century.
Speaking about her contribution over the years, Jenny Farragher said: “Carol has taken the girls on camping holidays and taught them everything form pitching tents to campfire cookery, they have had sleepovers in the church and wonderful venues like the sea life centre, they’ve been on pack holidays to Rostherne, Waddow and Ashley.
“Closer to home the girls have learnt skills and crafts and earned a wide variety of badges; although the charity chill out evenings in PJs have always been one of the firm favourites.”
She has helped several girls to the Baden Powell award, the highest award for a girl guide.
The legacy of 3rd Altrincham guides is now being handed over to Vicky Reeves, Katie Thomson and Charlotte Spratt, three of Carol’s protégés who all joined Rainbows at the age of five and have progressed through Brownies, Guides and the young leaders programme.
Charlotte said: “There are so many pressures on teenage girls these days it was so important for me to have Guides as a place to go where I could make new friends and learn new skills and without being judged or graded.
“I can’t thank Carol enough for all she has done for me and my sister. Now I just want to offer the same to other girls and I’m so glad to be doing this with Vicky, Katie and Diane; we have such a good laugh together.”
