New Year accolade ‘humbles’ Littlehampton Guide leader

Margaret Baker, who has spent almost 80 years serving with Girlguiding groups across the area, in one form or another, is now set to receive an MBE for her years of hard work.

The modest 86-year-old, of St Catherine’s Road, said she was proud to be receiving the award but added that she was still shocked she had been nominated.

Widow Margaret, who first joined the movement as a Brownie in Barnham, at the tender age of seven, said: “I think there are a lot more people more who deserve this award more than me.

“But it is nice to see that a normal person could get it, and I’m ever so proud to receive it.”

During Margaret’s time with the Girl Guides, now known at Girlguiding, she has been instrumental in setting up the Brownies unit at St James’ Church, in East Ham Road, Littlehampton, as well as the former Guides group in the church.

She also played a vital role in raising more than £10,000, single-handedly, for the recently-built Littlehampton Girlguiding Centre, in Duke Street.

Grandmother-of-three, Margaret said: “I raised about £700 during my 80th birthday, asking people to donate to the centre, instead of buying me presents.”

Speaking about her MBE, Margaret said that it was a tricky task to keep the award a secret.

“I got a letter from the Cabinet Office, on November 17, telling me that I could be receiving the award, as long as the Queen approved it,” she said. “It’s been very difficult to keep secret for this past six weeks, or so.

“But I feel very humbled by the whole experience. I have done volunteer work for so many years, I just never expected to be rewarded like this.”

Margaret said her most treasured moments with the Guides was during the Queen’s Silver Jubilee celebrations, in 1977.

“I think what stuck out in my mind was travelling up to Withdean Stadium,” she said. “It was a sea of Guides.

“Every train there was just a mass of blue. It was a brilliant moment that I know I will never forget.”

Margaret has also been the county chairman for the Trefoil Guild, an organisation of more than 20,000 former Guides and Scouts, as well as serving as the group’s president, for five years.

Margaret is still in contact with some of her past Guides, adding that the friendships she has built are life-long ones.