Visit by Girl Guides brings back special memories for residents at Downham Grange

Memories of happy times as Brownies and Guides came flooding back to residents of Downham Grange Nursing Home during a special event building up to Remembrance Day.

The Kingsley Healthcare home, in Clackclose Road, Downham Market, has a wishing tree and two residents, Esther Yabbercome and Lizzy Sampson, pinned a request on it asking for a visit by local Guides.

Regional activities coordinator Marcia Hughes made their wish come true when she arranged a visit by local Rainbows, Brownies and Guides.

The girls, aged five to 14, came from the 1st Watlington Runcton Holne Brownies and Guides, 1st Downham Brownies and Guides, 2nd Downham Brownies and Guides and 1st Downham Rainbows.

They made Remembrance Day crafts with residents and were fascinated to hear about their memories of Guiding in years past.

The girls were excited to talk to Esther Yabbercome whose varied life has included working as a teacher, retail manager in Harrods and supporting her late husband David’s ministry as a vicar.

She recounted how she achieved the Queens Guide Award, the greatest honour that can be bestowed on Guides, when she was a Girl Guide in the 1970s.

Fellow resident Lizzy Sampson, a retired primary school teacher, was proud to show them a photograph showing her in her Brownie uniform outside her home in Lowestoft around 1965.

During the craft session, everyone enjoyed delicious home-made cakes decorated with Guiding Promise Badge decorations; cards made by the Rainbows were given to residents.