Air museum backdrop as Guides celebrate 100 years

To celebrate its centenary yesterday evening, all 550,000 members of the Girl Guides around the country renewed their Guide promise with Chief Guide Liz Burnley, via hundreds of satellite links.

There were 10 local events in Yorkshire and more than 18 across north-east England and the Yorkshire Air Museum in Elvington, near York, played host to members from York, Selby and Tadcaster. The finale event at Elvington, called Flying to the Future, featured more than 2,500 girls and leaders gathering in the main hangar to renew their Guide promise and receive a special promise badge.

Movement leaders say members in York, Selby and Tadcaster have had a fantastic centenary year. Rainbows have celebrated a princess party at Bishopthorpe Palace, while the Brownies have been to the Eureka science museum.

Guides went to the Clothes Show and camped at Alton Towers. The Senior Section has been to Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Copenhagen, Munich, Saltzberg, Switzerland, Chile and South Africa.

Also, many girls and leaders attended the Centenary Camp at Harewood House. Yesterday's operation involved 52 coaches arriving at the air museum between 5.30pm and 6.30pm.

A museum spokesman said: "The event provided a unique opportunity to witness the immense growth and success girl guiding has experienced in its 100 years in existence, and the impact the organisation has had, and continues to have, on the lives of those involved.

"What better way to celebrate Girl Guiding, 100 years on?"