FRIENDS and leaders from the 1st Galashiels Guides gathered together to celebrate a guider's 34 years of dedication recently.

Over the years Alison Henry has been the Borders Region representative on the Guiding Junior Council (Scotland), Galashiels District Commissioner & Tweed Valley County Outdoor Adviser. She was also one of the team of County Leaders, who took Guides away to Switzerland in 2009 & 2012. With her own Unit, she has taken them camping, Tartan Gig pop concerts & many other various activities.

The principles of Guiding over these years have not changed, only the styles of uniform and uses of modern technology. Girls are still as keen now, as they were when Alison starting Guiding. She feels this is because it is an organisation for Girls and that they can be just themselves without any pressure.

In October 2010, when Guiding celebrated their Centenary, along came Emma Rae(ex Caddonfoot Guide). She wanted to give back something to Guiding, as she had enjoyed her time when she was a youngster. Over these past five years she has developed her skills, gaining her Adult Leadership and Camp Licence.

Alison felt that the 1st Galashiels Guide Unit would be in safe hands for the future, so this enabled her to finally hang up her Guiders uniform, after all this time.

Her celebration evening was an emotional rollercoaster, as she had loved working with the 300 plus girls that she had nurtured over these years, but also knew it was the right time to handover to someone else.