Memorial services for Lady Baden-Powell

Press, 4 August 1977, Page 12

Memorial services for Lady Baden-Powell

1 Memorial services for the late Lady Baden-Powell, who was the World Chief Guide, and wife of the founder of the Girl Guide movement, will be held throughout New Zealand on Sunday, August 7.

Two combined guide and scout services will be held in Christchurch. Guides and scouts of all ages will attend a service at Christchurch Cathedra] on Sunday morning. “Representatives from | all over Canterbury will be : there, together with those | who have loved and served both movements,” said the . provincial commissioner of I the Giri Guides (Mrs Judith Hay) yesterday. “Seats will be kept specially for those old friends too numerous to send individual invitations to. All

will be welcome to join us,” she said. A mass youth service will be held in the afternoon at Addington Raceway. Lady Baden-Powell had specially requested that there be “no mourning as such — all rejoicing and happy remembrances, and delight at my having completed my life — my prayer has been answered.” Both services will parade the colours which are a significant part of all ceremonial occasions for the movements. Those attending are asked to wear any badges or awards they have received.

They will be asked, as a special tribute to Lady Baden-Powell, to renew their promise and rededicate themselves to the ideals of both movements. “By this action both will continue to grow and meet a very real need of our country’s youth for an organisation dedicated to building sturdy, independent characters who are resourceful leaders — the backbone of every community," said Mrs Hay.

“Because New Zealand is s close to the International Date Line that every day begins here,” she said, “it is a thrill for us to be first to see the new day, and to start a wonderful series of thanksgiving services.” The New Zealand services will be followed by similar memorial functions around the world.