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Lutton mum and daughter have given 90 years to girl guiding




A mother and daughter have given a total of 90 years to girl guiding - and have helped countless youngsters to discover new things and learn vital skills.

Pat Saxton formed the 1st Long Sutton Rainbows, Brownies and Guides in 1971 and has been honoured for 60 years of service to the movement with a badge.

Her daughter Claire Oldfield has followed in Pat’s footsteps by giving 30 years of service and works alongside her mum at the troop.

Pat Saxton has been awarded 60 years of service to girl guiding. PHOTOS: JENNY BEAKE
Pat Saxton has been awarded 60 years of service to girl guiding. PHOTOS: JENNY BEAKE

Pat, 78, of Lutton, said: “I enjoyed my time as a girl guide and have never left.

“It is important to do your best for the community and the more you put into it the more you get out.

“I get a lot of engagement from it.”

Mother and daughter team Pat Saxton and Claire Oldfield
Mother and daughter team Pat Saxton and Claire Oldfield

Pat officially joined the girl guides in 1964 when she became a member of the 1st Boston Company - and she has kept the original certificate in her maiden name of Shores.

Several years later, she moved to Long Sutton with husband Eric, who was a policeman in the town, and decided to give something back to the community by starting up a girl guiding unit.

Now she is seeing the grandchildren of girl guides she taught coming up through the ranks.

She said: “Girl guiding has changed over the years and it is lovely watching them grow up.

Rainbows with their leaders, L-R, Vicky Borham, Kirsty Ward, Claire Oldfield, Pat Saxton and Emma Green
Rainbows with their leaders, L-R, Vicky Borham, Kirsty Ward, Claire Oldfield, Pat Saxton and Emma Green

“Our aim is to help youngsters on the right path.

“It is about making a change to people’s lives.”

Claire, 52, who also lives in Lutton, followed the family tradition of serving the girl guides and launched a unit in Gedney.

She later went on to volunteer at a group in Bradford before returning home to Long Sutton to work alongside her mum.

She said: “For me, it is about being involved with the children and helping them.

“You see them grow in confidence and learn life skills.”

It is about teamwork, learning new skills and making friends.”

The Long Sutton group meets on Thursday nights in the Scout and Guide hut from 4.30pm - and is always looking for volunteers to spread the load and keep it going.

Kirsty Ward has volunteered for five years and helps with sessions such as learning to pot plants at their recent session.

She said: “I enjoy it.

“It is nice to help the community and do things for other people.”

Visit go.girlguiding.org.uk for further information and if interested in volunteering.

Got a story? Email news@fenlandcitizen.co.uk



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