Volunteer honoured for outstanding service to guiding

Lynne Scales, County Commissioner for Lancashire South East; Sarah Barnes, the leader of Wardle Guides & Senior Section Unit and Sue Lomas, North West England Region Commissioner

A Rochdale woman has been honoured for her dedication to girlguiding over the last 20 years with a prestigious Laurel Award.

Sarah Barnes, the leader of Wardle Guides and Senior Section Unit was presented with a specially-designed brooch in honour of her years of service by the Commissioner of North West England at a ceremony at Watergrove Reservoir.

Sarah first became involved in guiding when she joined 32nd Rochdale Guides as a leader in 1988 and has been a dedicated volunteer ever since.

She has also been involved in guiding at a district, division, county and region level holding most recently the position of County Commissioner for Lancashire South East.

Sarah said: “I have gotten so much out of guiding through the years and I would like to dedicate this award to all of the girls I have had the pleasure of knowing over the last 20 years, because watching them take up new opportunities and achieve has been an incredibly rewarding experience.”

The Laurel Award is given to adult volunteers in recognition of outstanding service to guiding.

County Commissioner, Lynne Scales, said: “Sarah thoroughly deserves this Award, she is  an inspiration to us all. I'd like to thank her for all her hard work and dedication to girlguiding.”