Tessa Walton’s amazing Girlguiding career was celebrated at Bridstow Village Hall on Saturday June 9th, when she was awarded a special badge to acknowledge her 40 years as a leader in guiding.

Tessa’s career began as soon as she turned seven years old, when she joined the 1st Bridstow Brownies in September 1964.

The 1st Bridstow Guides soon followed, until it was closed due to a lack of leaders, so Tessa moved to the Aston Crewes Rangers, whilst still helping with the Bridstow Brownies.

Having been approached by Jean Brown, almost 40 years to the date, Tessa reopened the Bridstow Guides. She became a fully fledged leader on March 26th, 1979, and from 1994 to 2002 she became Archenfield’s District Commissioner, and District Treasurer from 2003 to 2010.

From 2009 until 2014 Tessa became the Assistant County Commissioner, and on relinquishing this post, became the County International Adviser, which she holds to this day.

She still holds the post of Leadership Mentor, which she has held for seven years.

As well as the enormous effort Tessa gives to guiding, she also runs around 20 bingo sessions a year, aiding numerous charities, some of which include Ross Preschool Playgroup, Ross Hockey Club, Bridstow Village Hall, and all sections of Girlguiding at Bridstow.

She also runs the pop-up charity shop in Ross, in order to top up the Guides funds, especially for the girls chosen to go abroad. This year to do so, Tessa had to change jobs and take a week of unpaid leave!

Last year she also joined the Trefoil Guild.

Tessa was presented the award by District Commissioner Barbara Waters and County Commissioner Pam Hill. They had nothing but high praise for Tessa, saying she is an example to all of them at guiding.

Barbara said: “Tessa participates to the utmost in as many guiding events as possible, whether it be district, county, region or national, having just returned from Northern Ireland where she shared a few days with Guiders from Gibraltar.

“If humanly possible, Tessa will always say yes, very rarely a no!”

Pam Hill added: “She says yes too often really! But she is always there to support everybody, whether it is looking after the girls, the other staff, or even their husbands! She is a great cook and has even made food for mine!

“I’ve known Tessa for 15 years and she is a great role model. She makes the Archenfield District a great district to be in, and every district needs their own Tessa.”

The Guiders would like to congratulate Tessa on achieving 40 years as a leader in Guiding, and wish her every success in the years to come.

Girlguiding is the leading charity for girls and young women in the UK. They give girls opportunities to have fun and adventure, gain life skills and make friends.