Is this the UK’s longest serving Brownie?

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May 24, 2021

A resident at a Worcester care home has renewed her Brownie promise 88 years after first reciting her pledge.

Joan Ford, a 96-year-old resident and Brownie Leader at Care UK’s Perry Manor, on Charles Hastings Way, renewed her Brownie promise, becoming one of the oldest people to do.

Joan became a Brownie in 1933 in Kent, joining the same pack as Audrey Hepburn. During WWII, she became a Voluntary Aid Detachment Nurse, later working for the Red Cross and running a cadet unit. She returned to the Brownies as a First Aid Instructor, and took part in many camps, including an international camp in Malvern in 1967.

In the late 1960s, she joined 7^th Worcester Guides as a Guide Leader, then went on to become the District Commissioner. Throughout her years as a leader, she took her unit on a host of camps, both in UK and abroad, including Wales, Scotland and also Switzerland.

After Joan retired, she joined the Trefoil Guild, another branch of Girlguiding, working with groups across Worcestershire and raising funds for local causes.

When Joan renewed her promise with a Perry Manor team member, who runs a local Brownie group, she received a new shirt and badge, and took part in a craft session with fellow residents.

Katherine Matthews, Home Manager at Perry Manor, said: “From the moment she joined her local Brownies group as a child, Girlguiding has been an integral part of Joan’s life – and I know the team enjoys hearing her stories of the camps she’s organised throughout the decades.

“Knowing how important this was to her, one of our team members, who runs her own Brownie group locally, offered to help her renew her promise. This was a very emotional moment and a great opportunity for Joan to reminisce and look back on those happy years.

“We were delighted to be there for Joan on this special day – we think she may be one of the oldest Brownies in the country! We hope her lifelong dedication to Girlguiding will inspire many others to join and do some good in their community, just like Joan did for so many years.”

Perry Manor is a state-of-the-art Care UK home, which provides full time residential, nursing and dementia care, as well as short term respite care. Rated ‘Outstanding’ by the CQC, the home is designed to enable residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the care home has its very own cinema, cafe and hair salon, with plenty of space both indoors and out for relaxation and recreation.

To find out more about Perry Manor care home, email Jimi Wright, Customer Relations Manager, at james.wright@careuk.com  or call 01905 886 715.

For more general information visit: careuk.com/perry-manor