At the start of this year, the RSN Embroidery Studio had the great pleasure of conserving the Girl Guiding County Standard for Sussex Central District.

With a number of our Studio team having been either a Rainbow, Brownie or Guide themselves, we were all fascinated to learn of the symbolism attached to this particular Standard.

In 1918, Lady Olave Baden Powell was appointed Chief Guide. She was previously the first County Commissioner for all of Sussex, and was succeeded by her friend, Dame Alice Godman of South Lodge, Lower Beeding. Dame Alice in turn was succeeded by her two daughters Eva and Edith who held the position jointly from 1945–1960. It was Dame Alice and her daughters who were responsible for this particular Standard having worked it together.

Measuring 94” long and 30” wide at the hoist, tapering to 10” the standard is very impressive indeed. The “field” or background fabric is blue brocade and was originally Dame Alice’s wedding dress dyed blue. The Standard is edged with a blue and gold braid and with a blue fringe.

As in all Guide Standards, the trefoil comes in the place of honour nearest the hoist. Next to the trefoil is the county badge of Sussex, six gold martlets, placed not on a shield but in a blue lozenge outlined in gold, because to be heraldically correct women must not bear arms on a shield, but they may do so in a lozenge.

Then come seven green trees in foliage, designed after the one on the front of South Lodge, they represent the seven inland divisions, originally only six, but one was added when new division was formed. The dolphins represent the seaside divisions. Since the Standard was dedicated in 1932 there have been alterations in the numbers of the divisions. Between the trees and the dolphins are two diagonal bands of gold with red lettering on them.

One side of the Standard has the Girlguiding motto “Be Prepared”, the other side has the Godman family motto: “Coelum quid quaerimus ultra” (What do we desire beyond heaven”). Running the length of the fly above and below the trees and dolphins, is a wavy bordure of gold, which, with the blue of the field, represents the waves along the sands of the seashore.

The trefoil, martlets and bordure are made of gold kid from a pair of Dame Alice’s own gloves (which does not tarnish); Miss Godman had said that the Standard was the first of its kind to make use of gold kid. The dolphins are of silver metal brocade, and the trees are embroidered in various shades of green floss silk.

In 1997, the Standard was “preserved” by members of the Royal School of Needlework (not repaired as it was too fragile). 27 years later the Standard returned to us here at the RSN this time with attention given to the silver dolphins who were in need of a little TLC.

Our expert team began by part disassembling the banner so that we could encase each of the silver dolphins with a fine conservation net and surface couch where needed.  On completion of the work we were able to reassemble the Standard in time for World Thinking Day on 22 February.

World Thinking Day is celebrated each year by the Girl Guides and Girl Scouts across the world on the 22 February. Thinking Day originated from a desire by the Girl Guides and Girl Scouts to dedicate a day to thinking about and appreciating the global spread of important worldwide movements.

Learn more about the RSN Embroidery Studio

See the RSN Embroidery Studio website for past commissions and learn about what we can do to restore or conserve a family heirloom or create a new piece for the next generation.

Website https://rsnstudio.co.uk/

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