Guide Club

The idea of a club for Girl Guiding's adult members was initiated by Lady Clarendon and Rosa Ward, the Guide International Service (GIS) chair.{{cite magazine |date=May 1954 |author= |title=The Guide Club Annual General Meeting |magazine=The Guider |location=London, UK |edition=Vol. XLI No. 5 |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=92}} In March 1947 a venue was chosen, and 46 Belgrave Square{{cite news |date=1972-09-15 |work=Westminster and Pimlico News |author= |title=Closing |url= https://www.newspapers.com/image/816873321/?match=1&terms=%22The%20Guide%20Club%22 |page=8 |location=London, UK }} – only "seven minutes' walk from Guide headquarters" on Buckingham Palace Road{{cite news |date=1950-12-21 |work=Maitland Mercury |author= |title=Maitlander returns from overseas trip |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/280641860?searchTerm=%22Guide%20Club%22 |page=6 |location=Maitland, NSW, Australia }} – was leased for the purpose, using a £9,000 loan from GIS funds.{{cite magazine |date=May 1946 |author= |title=The Guide Club |magazine=The Guider |location=London, UK |edition=Vol. XXXIV No. 5 |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=65}}

The building had been badly damaged during the war.{{cite news |date=1949-03-11 |work=Torbay Express |author= |title=Queen Visits new Girl Guide club |url= https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001329/19490311/048/0004 |page=4 |location=Torbay, UK }}{{cite news |date=1949-02-26 |work=Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer |author= |title=The Queen and the Guides |url= https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000687/19490226/041/0002 |page=2 |location=Torbay, UK }} Seven members of the GIS, who had returned from service in continental Europe, lodged "in great discomfort" in the building's stable{{cite magazine |date=July 1947 |author=Dell Hayman |title=They felt like Father Christmas |magazine=Matilda |location=Melbourne, Australia |edition=Vol. XXIII No. 12A |publisher=Girl Guides Association, Victoria |page=8}} while they worked to "bring it up to Grosvenor Estate post-war standards".{{cite magazine |date=February 1978 |author= Anstice Gibbs |title=The Guide Club |magazine=The Guider |location=London, UK |edition=Vol. 65 No. 2 |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=71}}

GIS volunteer Mollie Walters became the club's first housekeeper.{{cite news |date=1954-04-09 |work=Worthing Herald |author= |title=Trek cart commemorates a 'true Guide' |url= https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001920/19540409/063/0006 |page=6 |location=Worthing, UK}} By November 1947, the building was converted into accommodation for up to 30 people in single, double and shared rooms covering around 10,000 sq ft.{{cite news |date=1974-04-05 |work=The Daily Telegraph |author=Norman Hare |title=SAle of Club lease |url= https://www.newspapers.com/image/831431996/?match=1&terms=%22The%20Guide%20Club%22%20London |page=2 |location=London, UK }} The building included "intercommunicating mews and a four-car garage".{{cite news |date=1974-04-04 |work=Evening Standard |author=Robert Langton |title=Guides in market for £500,000 deal |url= https://www.newspapers.com/image/721757941/?match=1&terms=%22The%20Guide%20Club%22 |page=13 |location=London, UK }}

In the run-up to the opening, there was a big push among the Guiding community to collect donated and loaned furniture and decorations. HRH Princess Elizabeth donated money which was used to purchase a chandelier.{{cite news |date=1949-03-11 |work=Herald Express |author= |title=Queen visits new Girl Guides club |url= https://www.newspapers.com/image/811927632/?match=1&terms=%22Guide%20Club%22%20Belgrave |page=4 |location=London, UK }} £10,000 was allocated from the Chief's Memorial Fund to go towards furniture and equipment.{{cite magazine |date=February 1978 |author= Anstice Gibbs |title=The Guide Club |magazine=The Guider |location=London, UK |edition=Vol. 65 No. 2 |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=71}} The Guide Club opened on 2 November 1948, with the first reviews published in the January 1949 edition of The Guider magazine.{{cite magazine |date=January 1949 |author= |title=The Guide Club |magazine=The Guider |location=London, UK |edition=Vol. XXXVI No. 1 |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=8}} {{cite news |date=1974-04-04 |work=Evening Standard |author=Robert Langton |title=Guides in market for £500,000 deal |url= https://www.newspapers.com/image/721757941/?match=1&terms=%22The%20Guide%20Club%22 |page=13 |location=London, UK }}

The club's facilities included "all the amenities of a West End club"{{cite news |date=1949-02-26 |work=Western Morning News |author= |title=The Queen's visit |url= https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000329/19490226/030/0002 |page=2 |location=London, UK }} including reception rooms, a writing room, an information bureau, a dining room, a snack bar and a bar. In 1956 the club added televisions{{cite magazine |date=March 1956 |author= |title=The Guide Club |magazine=The Guider |location=London, UK |edition=Vol. XLIII No. 3 |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=70}} and in 1960 hot and cold running water was installed in some bedrooms.{{cite magazine |date=February 1960 |author= |title=The Guide Club |magazine=The Guider |location=London, UK |edition=Vol. XLVII No. 2 |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=57}} A lift was installed in 1961.{{cite magazine |date=May 1962 |author= |title=The Guide Club AGM |magazine=The Guider |location=London, UK |edition=Vol. XLIX No. 5 |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=136}} Membership included access to Belgrave Square's garden and tennis court.{{cite magazine |date=September 1948 |author= |title=The Guide Club |magazine=The Guider |location=London, UK |edition=Vol. XXXV No. 9 |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=188}}

Initially the following people were eligible to join The Guide Club:{{cite news |date=1974-04-04 |work=Hull Daily Mail |author= |title=Guide Club price soars |url= https://www.newspapers.com/image/879906821/?match=1&terms=%22The%20Guide%20Club%22 |page=18 |location=Hull, England }}

• Active commissioners and Guiders throughout the Empire
• Ex-Guider members of the Trefoil Guild{{cite news |date=1968-02-23 |work=Westminster and Pimlico News |author= |title=Roundabout |url= https://www.newspapers.com/image/816905660/?match=1&terms=%22Guide%20Club%22%20Belgrave |page=6 |location=London, UK }}
• GGA council members
• GGA executive committee and sub-committee members

The initial joining fee was £3 3s and the annual subscription was £2 2s (£3 3s for those living within 50 miles of the club). Members were allowed to stay for a maximum of seven consecutive nights for a total maximum of 28 nights per year.{{cite magazine |date=September 1948 |author= |title=The Guide Club |magazine=The Guider |location=London, UK |edition=Vol. XXXV No. 9 |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=188}} In an effort to attract more members, the joining fee was suspended between June and October 1949.{{cite magazine |date=June 1949 |author= |title=The Guide Club |magazine=The Guider |location=London, UK |edition=Vol. XXXVI No. 6 |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=123}} In 1950 the joining fee was reduced to £2 2s, and the distance from the club recalibrated to 25 miles.{{cite magazine |date=May 1950 |author= |title=The Guide Club |magazine=The Guider |location=London, UK |edition=Vol. XXXVII No. 5 |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=103}}

The initial goal was 1,000 members. This was achieved in 1950, including 64 overseas members. The goal was then increased to 1,500.{{cite magazine |date=May 1950 |author= |title=The Guide Club |magazine=The Guider |location=London, UK |edition=Vol. XXXVII No. 5 |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=103}} In 1952 membership was extended to all members of the movement over the age of 18, including Cadets, Rangers and Guides,{{cite magazine |date=August 1952 |author= |title=The Guide Club |magazine=The Guider |location=London, UK |edition=Vol. XXXIX No. 8 |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=163}} which became a Junior Membership in the following year, available for a reduced price.{{cite magazine |date=August 1953 |author= |title=The Guide Club |magazine=The Guider |location=London, UK |edition=Vol. XL No. 8 |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=174}} By 1954, membership was extended to anyone with a present or past connection to the movement.{{cite news |date=1954-09-18 |work=The Daily Telegraph |author= |title=Personal |url= https://www.newspapers.com/image/828239940/?match=1&terms=%22Guide%20Club%22%20Belgrave |page=10 |location=London, UK }} In 1958 membership stood at 1,100{{cite magazine |date=November 1958 |author= |title=The Guide Club's president |magazine=The Guider |location=London, UK |edition=Vol. XLV No. 11 |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=323}} and by 1961 it was 1,417{{cite magazine |date=May 1961 |author= |title=The Guide Club |magazine=The Guider |location=London, UK |edition=Vol. XLVIII No. 5 |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=151}} with 30 countries represented in overseas memberships.{{cite magazine |date=May 1962 |author= |title=The Guide Club AGM |magazine=The Guider |location=London, UK |edition=Vol. XLIX No. 5 |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=136}} By the time the club closed membership stood at around 1,200.{{cite news |date=1972-08-31 |work=The Guardian Journal |author= |title=Leaving Gold Mine |url= https://www.newspapers.com/image/881870690/?match=1&terms=%22The%20Guide%20Club%22 |page=8 |location=Nottingham, UK }}

The club's first committee comprised Lady Oaksey (chair), Lady Clarendon (vice-chair), Dame Joan Marsham (hon. treasurer){{cite news |date=1972-03-16 |work=The Daily Telegraph |author= |title=Dame Joan Marsham |url= https://www.newspapers.com/image/829649971/?match=1&terms=%22The%20Guide%20Club%22 |page=14 |location=London, UK }} and G E Maynard (resident secretary).{{cite magazine |date=November 1948 |author= |title=The Guide Club |magazine=The Guider |location=London, UK |edition=Vol. XXXV No. 11 |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=248}} The club's first AGM was held on 31 March 1954 with Marsham as chair and Lady Cochrane present as her successor. It was reported that 1953 was the club's first financially successful year.{{cite magazine |date=May 1954 |author= |title=The Guide Club Annual General Meeting |magazine=The Guider |location=London, UK |edition=Vol. XLI No. 5 |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=92}}

Queen Elizabeth paid an "informal visit" to the club on 1 March 1949.{{cite news |date=1949-03-11 |work=Herald Express |author= |title=Queen visits new Girl Guides club |url= https://www.newspapers.com/image/811927632/?match=1&terms=%22Guide%20Club%22%20Belgrave |page=4 |location=London, UK }} She was received by the committee together with Lady Baden-Powell and chief commissioner, Lady Finola Somers.{{cite news |date=1949-12-03 |work=Illustrated London News |author= |title=A Royal Visitor |url= https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0001578/19490312/038/0012?browse=true |page=12 |location=London, UK }} At the time of her visit the club was hosting members from Tristan da Cunha, Barbados, India, Pakistan, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ceylon, Hong Kong, Sierra Leone and Norway.{{cite magazine |date=April 1949 |author= |title=The Queen at the Guide Club |magazine=The Guider |location=London, UK |edition=Vol. XXXVI No. 4 |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=1}}

Mary, Princess Royal visited on "several occasions" in the club's early years{{cite magazine |date=May 1950 |author= |title=The Guide Club |magazine=The Guider |location=London, UK |edition=Vol. XXXVII No. 5 |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=103}} {{cite news |date=1954-12-04 |work=Bradford Observer |author= |title=Court and Personal |url= https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003150/19541214/171/0004 |page=4 |location=Bradford, UK }}{{cite news |date=1958-11-26 |work=The Daily Telegraph |author= |title=Court and social |url= https://www.newspapers.com/image/832200033/?match=1&terms=%22Guide%20Club%22%20Belgrave |page=10 |location=London, UK }} In 1958, on the club's tenth anniversary, the Princess Royal became its president{{cite news |date=1963-03-20 |work=The Daily Telegraph |author= |title=St James's Palace |url= https://www.newspapers.com/image/825587490/?match=1&terms=%22Guide%20Club%22%20Belgrave |page=16 |location=London, UK }} would attend the club's AGM.{{cite news |date=1965-03-15 |work=The Scotsman |author= |title=The Court |url= https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000540/19650316/240/0008 |page=8 |location=Edinburgh, UK }}

In the early months of the club's opening, before all the beds were needed for bookings, several beds were let as "permanent accommodation" for members wishing to live in London at a cost of £3 / £2 10s per week.{{cite magazine |date=May 1949 |author= |title=The Guide Club |magazine=The Guider |location=London, UK |edition=Vol. XXXVI No. 5 |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=90}}

The club would host "Musical Evenings" and "Bring and Buy" sales to raise money for its Amenities Fund.{{cite magazine |date=March 1955 |author= |title=A musical evening at the Guide Club |magazine=The Guider |location=London, UK |edition=Vol. XLII No. 3 |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=89}} {{cite magazine |date=January 1958 |author= |title=The Guide Club sale Club |magazine=The Guider |location=London, UK |edition=Vol. XLV No. 1 |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=11}} The club would also host talks by experts including Mary Cuningham Chater.{{cite magazine |date=November 1955 |author= |title=The Guide Club |magazine=The Guider |location=London, UK |edition=Vol. XLII No. 11I |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=351}} Some club members, such as Mollie Walter, had memorial funds donated to the club in their name.{{cite magazine |date=February 1953 |author= |title=Mollie Walter memorial |magazine=The Guider |location=London, UK |edition=Vol. XL No. 2 |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=31}} Function rooms were also rented out to third parties, including the British Red Cross, the YMCA, St John Ambulance{{cite news |date=1973-02-27 |work=The Daily Telegraph |author= |title=Personal |url= https://www.newspapers.com/image/829653363/?match=1&terms=%22Guide%20Club%22%20Belgrave |page=16 |location=London, UK }}{{cite news |date=1966-09-23 |work=Sevenoaks Chronicle |author= |title=Wedding |url= https://www.newspapers.com/image/808435008/?match=1&terms=%22Guide%20Club%22%20Belgrave |page=8 |location=Birmingham, UK }} the Clan Donnichaidh Society{{cite news |date=1958-02-22 |work=Oban Times and Argyllshire Advertiser |author= |title=Clan Robertson Society |url= https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005085/19580222/031/0003 |page=3 |location=Oban, UK }} and the Black Welsh Mountain Sheep Breeders Association.{{cite news |date=1953-12-21 |work=Western Mail |author= |title=Welshmen honoured |url= https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000104/19531221/107/0005 |page=5 |location=Cardiff, UK }} Guide groups from across the UK would also donate money to the club, including Burnley Trefoil Guild donating two guineas in 1954.{{cite news |date=1954-02-27 |work=Burnley Express |author= |title=New members wanted |url= https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000672/19540227/207/0008 |page=8 |location=Burnley, UK }}

A 21st Birthday appeal in 1970 raised £3,345 from over 800 members.{{cite magazine |date=July 1970 |author= |title=The Guide Club |magazine=The Guider |location=London, UK |edition=Vol. 57 No. 7 |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=274}}

At the 1963 AGM the club's president, The Princess Royal, voiced her concern about the club's future saying, "Will you make more and more people realize what a lovely Club we have here; what a welcome it gives to those who enter its hospitable doors, and what a bargain they get for such a small subscription?"{{cite magazine |date=June 1963 |author= |title=The Guide Club |magazine=The Guider |location=London, UK |edition=Vol. 50 No. 6 |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=185}}

Lady Baden-Powell held her 78th birthday at the Club in 1967 with a sit-down lunch for 82 members of her family.{{cite news |date=1967-02-22 |work=Evening News |author= |title=Lady B-P invites all the family |url= https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005764/19670222/084/0004 |page=4 |location=London, UK }}

The Trefoil Guild was based at the club from 1971.{{cite book |date=1971 |last=Division |first=Reference |title=Women in Britain |publisher=Central Office of Information, HMSO |location=London, England |page=43}}

Plans were made public about selling the property and moving to a new location in 1972.{{cite news |date=1972-08-31 |work=Daily Post |author= |title=Guide Club move |url= https://www.newspapers.com/image/909491275/?match=1&terms=%22The%20Guide%20Club%22 |page=11 |location=Liverpool, England }} About the proposed sale, the club secretary Beryl Gibson said "We are very fond of Belgrave Square, but we realise we are sitting on a very expensive property and think we could get something else which would not cost as much."{{cite news |date=1972-08-31 |work=The Guardian Journal |author= |title=Leaving Gold Mine |url= https://www.newspapers.com/image/881870690/?match=1&terms=%22The%20Guide%20Club%22 |page=8 |location=Nottingham, UK }}

The club closed permanently in December 1974,{{cite news |date=1974-04-04 |work=Hull Daily Mail |author= |title=Leaving "gold mine" |url= https://www.newspapers.com/image/879906821/?match=1&terms=%22The%20Guide%20Club%22 |page=18 |location=Hull, England }} citing general "rising costs" and the "costs of living in Belgrave Square." The balance of the club's finances was put towards "exceptional non-recurring projects of a capital nature."{{cite magazine |date=February 1978 |author= Anstice Gibbs |title=The Guide Club |magazine=The Guider |location=London, UK |edition=Vol. 65 No. 2 |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=71}} In her final article about the club, in the February 1978 issue of The Guider, Anstice Gibbs, the club's final chair, referred to the "rather difficult last few years."{{cite magazine |date=February 1978 |author= Anstice Gibbs |title=The Guide Club |magazine=The Guider |location=London, UK |edition=Vol. 65 No. 2 |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=71}} The sale raised £500,000{{cite news |date=1974-04-05 |work=The Daily Telegraph |author=Norman Hare |title=Sale of Club lease |url= https://www.newspapers.com/image/831431996/?match=1&terms=%22The%20Guide%20Club%22%20London |page=2 |location=London, UK }} which covered the remaining 69 years on the lease.{{cite news |date=1974-04-05 |work=South Wales Argus|author= |title=Guide club's price rockets|url= https://www.newspapers.com/image/1057143668/?match=1&terms=%22The%20Guide%20Club%22 |page=6 |location=Gwent, UK }}

After the club closed some members continued to meet at the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) Ladies' Club,{{cite magazine |date=February 1978 |author= Anstice Gibbs |title=The Guide Club |magazine=The Guider |location=London, UK |edition=Vol. 65 No. 2 |publisher=Girl Guides Association |page=71}} their members having been associate members of the Guide Club since the early 1950s.{{cite news |date=1951-04-17 |work=Maitland Mercury |author= |title=VAD work in England |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/280700244?searchTerm=%22Guide%20Club%22 |page=2 |location=Maitland, NSW, Australia }}

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Category: Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting

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Category: Organizations established in 1948