A happy home for hundreds of Guide members
The current Guide Hut in Blairgowrie has a long history.
Giving an insight into its fascinating past, the spokesperson for the local fundraising committee said:“Over 100 years ago, a well-attended public meeting was held in the High School on September 7, 1920, arranged by Mrs Clerk Rattray, where it was agreed to form an association of Girl Guides in the town.
“Provosts of both Blairgowrie and Rattray, still separate burghs, both attended, and Mrs Clerk Rattray, Miss Isla Macpherson, school teachers and homeowners made up the committee elected to bring this into fruition.
“The first Captain appointed was Miss Margaret MacIntosh, with Miss Margaret Low being her lieutenant.
“Within a week there were 45 names on the list to join Guides and a second company was formed, with Miss Easson of the High School becoming Captain.
“Less than a week later the decision was taken to start a Brownies Company, with Miss Isla Macpherson as Brown Owl and Miss Jean Macpherson as Tawny Owl.
“The formal warrant to open units was registered on October 2, 1920, signed by Olave Baden-Powell, wife of founder Robert Baden-Powell.
“The original Guide Hut was opened in 1924 and the final meeting of the Hut Committee was held in the new building on November 5, 1924, when, after agreeing to go ahead with installing heating in the hut, the premises was handed over to the District Commissioner.
“The committee, having done its work, was disbanded.”
The spokesperson continued:“The building was a happy home to hundreds of Rangers, Guides, Brownies, Rainbows and Scouts over the years but, unfortunately, 90 years of wear, tear, weather and old building techniques took a toll on our much-loved home and the long process began to plan for a replacement hut. Our Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers units have had no permanent place to call home for a number of years now, and no place to store the vast amount of equipment used by the groups – Leaders’attics, sheds, garages and spare rooms have taken on a whole new use!
“This isn’t the first time that local Guiding has found itself homeless. During the Second World War the Guide Hut was requisitioned by the army and rumour has it that the first the Guiders knew of this in Blairgowrie was when they saw a tank parked outside!”