Brownie leader handed prestigious award

A brownie leader has been awarded with a prestigious accolade for her service to guiding.

Claire Howells was given the Royal Berkshire County Standard Brooch at a ceremony in Garth Hill College in Bracknell.

The Broad Hinton resident first became involved with the 1st Charvil Brownies 11 years ago.

When the pack's future looked to be in trouble about eight years ago, the 48-year-old was one of a small team of helpers who stepped in to save it.

Claire, a former brownie herself, spoke of what working with the children means to her.

"It is fantastic. People say 'you give so much to the girls' but actually as a leader, you get an awful lot back," she said.

"I still get 'Tawny Owl!' yelled across Waitrose at me."

Her daughters, Katherine, 20, Rebecca, 18, and Bethan, 13, were all brownies and Bethan is now a guide in Hurst.

At her first session leading the group she went along with, Rebecca, who was seven at the time, and Bethan, who became an 'honorary brownie' as she was still in her carry-cot.

One moment that Claire said stands out for her was when she took the pack away on their own camp for the first time.

Another event the brownie leader is excited about is the 'interest badge' the girls are working towards.

The brownies have been learning about a school in Nepal and, on hearing about how the children there were suffering from head lice, sent some treatments out to help.

The girls will be designing the badge themselves.

There are more than 100 girls on the waiting list for rainbows, brownies and guides in the Loddon district.

"There is a huge demand in this area, we just do not have enough leaders to satisfy that demand," said Claire.

"I would dearly love to wave my magic wand and get everyone in."

Claire, who also owns and runs Sew Sew in Twyford, was one of five people in the county to receive the award on March 1.