As 50 balloons were released into the Woodville Halls
to mark 100 years of girl guiding cheers shot up from 630 Gravesham
youngsters.

The 32 rainbow, brownies and guide units from across the
borough, who have visited Buckingham Palace, London Zoo and taken
on numerous adventure camps since the start of the centenary year,
were at the Windmill Street theatre to recite their promises across
the UK via video link.

The event took place with half a million girls nationwide
involved.

Among them were 10 rainbows (for girls aged five to seven), 19
brownies (for girls seven to 10), seven guides (for girls aged
10-14), one girl from Senior Section (for girls aged 14-25) from
across Gravesham made their guiding promises for the first
time.

Alice Hallet, 10, attends 1st Northfleet Guides.

She said: "It was such a fun evening, and I think it highlighed
how important guiding is. It's so great that people could join in
across the country and that it has been going for so long."

Twins Abby and Bethany Williams, 14, were awarded the Baden
Powell Challenge award at the Vision 2010 event - the highest award
a guide can receive.

The girls had to complete 10 different activities including
climbing and abseiling while also volunteering at 1st Gravesend
Brownies. Bethany said: "Guiding is such a great activity. You make
so many friends and it's so much fun. I think we have been away for
40 days on different guide and scout camps over the last year."

Thames Divison Commissioner, Sylvia Angel, 64, led the girls in
their promises.

She said: "It is really important to remember the centenary of
guiding because girls need something to do together, to make
friends and develop their self-esteem."