Royal honour for Guides

Rebecca Harnett (left) and Katie Robinson at the award ceremony at the House of Lords.

TWO Oldham Guides have earned the organisation’s highest accolade.

Katie Robinson (20) and Rebecca Harnett (21) have been awarded the Queen’s Guide Award after completing a series of demanding tasks - including an ambitious, four-day outdoor adventure to oversee a pair of ground-breaking community action projects and spending a year cultivating a new skill.

Katie, from Royton, did 12 months of dance teaching, undertook a research project looking at the portrayal of physical education in school curriculums and helped to organise an Olympic event at a local primary school.

She said: “I had to overcome my fear of standing in front of a group and speak confidently.”

Katie’s success made it a family double: her mother Nicola earned the accolade more than 20 years ago.

The University of Central Lancashire dance, performance and teaching student said it was great to share the award with her mum.

Rebecca, also from Royton, was given her award for planning an historical research project in North Wales, dedicating 60 hours to guiding and helping plan events for a brownie group holiday.

The Lancaster University psychology student said: “I’ve had to push myself into doing things and organising things. It has definitely improved my self-confidence.”

The two Fourth Oldham St Paul’s Brownie leaders received their awards from Baroness Hilary Armstrong and Chief Guide Gill Slocombe at the House of Lords.