PAGE 8
GGEW NEWS SUMMER 2015
s many of you will know
by now, Chris Skinner
has been appointed as
County Commissioner Designate
following an overwhelming number
of nominations.
Chris has been Jan’s Assistant
County Commissioner for the past
five years so is best prepared for all
that the role requires
As most of the County Team
appointments end with Jan’s
appointment in October Chris is
busy building her new team to
ensure a smooth handover.
In the meantime, we add our
congratulations to those Chris has
already received and wish her all the
very best as she takes up her new
Essex West challenge
A
COUNTY
CONTACTS
COUNTY PRESIDENT
Avril Brampton
PERIODIC NEWSLETTER FOR
GIRLGUIDING ESSEX WEST
COUNTY
COMMISSIONER
Jan Knight
SUMMER 2015
e-mail: [email protected] 01375 376460
It was real ‘Gotcha’ moment- well, two in fact, when both Jan Knight,
County Commissioner, and Assistant County Commissioner Ann
Matthews were each stunned to be presented with Laurel Awards within
days of each other.
Both knew the other was going to be presented with one of the
highest awards that Girlguiding can make, but neither knew they were
themselves going to be ‘victims’.
Ann was the first and thought she was going out for a nice afternoon
tea with her family and was stunned when she arrived at Mulberry
House, Ongar, to find members of the County Team, plus Region Chief
Commissioner Mary Putt waiting for her. Of course, her family was in on
the roose too and had spent weeks plotting with Jan to get her there
without arousing any suspicions.
All went to plan and Ann was visibly shaken when she realised how
many of her friends and family had been conspiring to make the
presentation a surprise. Region Chief Commissioner Mary Putt presented
the certificate and brooch to Ann to the delight of everyone and once she had recovered from the surprise, Ann too was
delighted and thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the afternoon tea.
What Jan did not know was that Ann was to gain her revenge
just a few days later at the County Social evening at Barnards
Farm, Bulphan.
The evening began as normal, but then Assistant County
Commissioner Chris Skinner took on the role as MC for the
evening. Chris began by welcoming some surprise VIP guests
for the evening, Mary Putt, Chief Commissioner, Jenny Allen,
Deputy Chief Commissioner, Sue Bisson, Assistant Chief
Commissioner, Rosie Spencer, Mary’s predecessor and current
Region International Adviser. Two other special guests were
Jan’s daughter
Terri and fiance
Nathan. Jan’s
husband Terry
was already
there. It soon
became clear
that Chris, along
with Ann and Avril,
had been plotting the surprise for a long time
while at the same time Jan had been working
with the same team working on Ann’s award.
The two presentations were so special as
the last Laurel Award in Essex West was
made almost 25 years ago so it is particularly
noteable that two have been made in the
same year.
The glamour of the
event at Barnards Farm was continued when some of the members of
the Thurrock Gang Show cast made a special appearance to perform
a scene from Les Miserable which they staged during the Gang Show
earlier in the year.
The evening was finished off with lots of chat between old friends
while enjoying a splendid buffet prepared by Gill Chapman and her
team.
and printed in-house by Girlguiding Essex West, Suite S1, Bates Business Centre
Church Road, Harold Wood, Romford, RM3 0JF
Website: www.girlguidingessexwest.org.uk
ASSISTANT
COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
Chris Skinner
Ann Matthews
COUNTY TREASURER
David Brampton
WELL
DONE
PENNY!!
PUBLIC RELATIONS
and
NEWSLETTER
David Henderson
davidh@26kingedward
.freeserve.co.uk
Following on from
her success at
Gardener’s World
in Birmingham
last year, where
she was awarded
a bronze medal,
Penny Walker,
from Brentwood,
has been award a
Silver Gilt medal
at this year’s
Hampton Court
Flower Show.
This is a fantastic
achievement, as
this is considered to
be the most prestigious and possibly the
largest flower show in the world. Her
design was accepted for the new category
of ‘Flower Box’ and was placed in the
central area just outside the Floral
Marquee. Needless to say, she is delighted
with this result!
COUNTY OFFICE
ADDRESS
Girlguiding Essex West
Suite S1
Bates Business Centre
Church Road
Harold Wood
Romford, RM3 0JF
Sylvia and Norma
Monday-Friday
9am to1pm
office@
girlguidingessexwest.
org.uk
01708
373746
THE GIRLGUIDING ESSEX WEST NEWSLETTER is published three times a year
for Leaders, Advisers, Members and supporters of Girlguiding in Essex West.
Editor:- David Henderson,