SENIOR Girl Guides in North Wiltshire will be donning their party dresses later this month to mark the centenary of their section.

The movement was born in 1909 but it wasn’t until 1916 that a branch for older girls was formed – later called Rangers.

On October 14 dozens of them will be at the Marsh Farm Hotel in Royal Wootton Bassett for a masquerade ball.

“It is still thriving,” said county advisor Marybeth Masters.

“They can do anything these days – crafts, cooking, yoga, Zumba. They go out to the cinema and have day trips, they can go on camps together, they can even go on international trips.”

“It gives you skills. If you’re going on holiday yourself or applying for a job, you’ve got the skills.”

North Wiltshire currently has 12 active senior section units, with 75 members aged between 14 and 26. There are also many adult leaders in the age bracket.

In recent years their adventures have taken them all over the country and further afield. They have been to jamborees and camps in places like Iceland, Denmark and Belgium as well as acting as crew for an international camp in the grounds of Chatsworth House in Derbyshire.

Rangers from Swindon were at the centenary year opening celebrations at Alexandra Palace in February where they tried self defence classes, bungee trampolining, tyre changing and a silent disco.

The anniversary kicked off in North Wiltshire earlier this year with a sleep-over at a soft play centre where girls spent the night making forts and fighting like gladiators.

Royal Wootton Bassett Rangers hosted a tea party to mark the occasion and invited former members to take part. They also dug up a time capsule buried in 2006 and added new items before burying it again.

Rangers, who were given their name back in 1918, served as messengers for the Marconi telegraph system during the First World War, while in the 1939-45 conflict they helped with the evacuation of children, volunteered in hospitals, fire watching and raising more for war funds.

These days, Rangers and Young Leaders work towards a Look Wider scheme that encourages qualities like personal values, leadership and community and gives them challenges.

They can also earn camping permits, leaders’ qualifications and can earn their Queen’s Guide and Commonwealth awards.

Anyone interested in joining can email seniorsection@wncounty.org.uk