A stalwart of the Guide movement

Lily Dane • Published 15 Jul 2010 16:00 0 Comments

Share this

Barbara Chapman pictured with her parents Frank and Dorothy Chapman at a visitors' day at a Guide camp at Tynan Abbey, Armagh in 1959.

As Fermanagh Girlguiding continues to mark the movement's centenary year, one of its stalwarts and best known faces, Miss Barbara Chapman can celebrate her own long association with the global organisation.

One of a number of long time members in the county, she continues her membership through the Trefoil Guild, being a founder member,

Barbara is regarded as a legendary Guider, having enthusiastically promoted camping throughout the county, both as a Guider with 2nd Enniskillen Guides, as the County Camp Adviser and as a District Commissioner for Enniskillen.

A retired Enniskillen teacher, who lives in Newtownbutler, Barbara was born in Derbyshire, near Chatsworth, and came to Fermanagh from the village of Rowsley as a three-month-old baby. Her father took up a Customs and Excise post and they originally lived outside Lisnaskea, before settling in Newtownbutler 80 years ago.

Barbara attended the Collegiate Prep. School and then the Collegiate Grammar School, where she did her Senior Certificate.

She trained as a Froebel teacher in Dublin and began her teaching career outside Manchester, where she remained for two years, before taking a position in the Collegiate Prep. school in 1947. Following its closure in 1972, she moved to the Model School, Enniskillen, where she taught P1 until her retirement.

Over the years, she has been a stalwart in the Guide movement - her association now spanning 63 years.

"I went back to the Collegiate in January 1947 to teach in the Prep. and became the Captain of the 2nd Enniskillen Girl Guides," explains Barbara. She had never been a Guide and recollects being enrolled by Mrs. Graham of Portora, who was County Commissioner.

During weekends, she went to Lorne, the Guide Training Centre at Craigavad and did a Campers' Licence and eventually did a Guide Training Certificate.

She recalls that they had weekly meetings and went to camp and Guide holidays in Switzerland, France, Belgium and different parts of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, while some members, including Barbara went to the Guide Chalet in Switzerland.

Her very first camp in Fermanagh - The camp at Florencecourt in 1947 - was undertaken with Jean Agnew and Maude Nawn.

"The youth committee had ex-army bell tents, which were hired; we had to put mugs at the top of the poles to stop them going through the top," remembers Barbara, adding: "It rained so much we moved into the rectory outhouses, which had to be cleared having had turf stored in them - no-one complained and the spirit of Guiding prevailed for the week".

The second camp in 1948 was at Crom Castle and annual camps followed. Travelling near and far, the guides stayed closer to home at a number of sites, including Castle Archdale and Ely Lodge.

The late Viola, Duchess of Westminster, County President 1963 to 1978, had been most generous to the county in so many ways and numerous camps were held at Ely Lodge and camp equipment was stored for many years at Ely boathouse. (She occasionally lent them their boat, Trasna and it was used in 1985 when the celebratory flame arrived in Fermanagh by boat as part of the 75th anniversary of the association and was received by Sue Hogg, then County Commissioner.)

In the early days at Lorne, Barbara met Doreen Creighton from Beragh Guides and they joined for many camps abroad.

For all their camping holidays, the Guides wrote up daily reports in log books which are now kept at Lorne - in the Ulster archives - and are very much part of the history of Guiding.

Barbara remembers there were weekend hikes to Derrygore (opposite Portora) by kind permission of Mrs. Montgomery Irwin (who played a significant role in the development of Guiding in Fermanagh and served as County Treasurer) and she also recalls taking part in the Guide and Scout Service each year in St. Macartin's Cathedral.

A number of guiding awards are also highlighted by Barbara, including the launch of the Harkness Cup - given by Dr Harkness (Sides) of Derrygonnelly and awarded annually. The Dorothy Anderson Plate for meritorious service to Fermanagh Guides was first awarded to Barbara Chapman. She had also been awarded the Award of Merit in 1962 for outstanding service to Guiding.

In 1969, she attended a Buckingham Palace garden party, where she met the Queen Mother.

Other more recent milestones for Barbara was the launch of the book, 'A History of Guiding in Fermanagh', which she compiled, and which gives her fond memories.

She has really enjoyed her life as a Guide and looks back on it a lot. For her, there are lots of happy recollections and she is grateful for the opportunities she has had through the voluntary organisation - launched in 1910 by Robert Baden-Powell. Barbara is pictured with his wife, Lady Baden-Powell (Chief Guide) at a Commissioners' Conference in 1963. The 1st Enniskillen Guide Company was formed in 1925 and registered on May 28, 1926; Vera Jenkins and Nellie Inglis were the Guiders.

Barbara loves hearing about former Guides and is delighted to hear about those who become Guiders. Over the years, a number of local people have gone on to hold important offices, such as Lynn Joynt who became Director of the World Bureau of the WAGGGS and paid a visit to Fermanagh Guiding in 1979. Barbara greatly enjoys meeting up with her guiding associates, which is afforded through her current involvement in The Trefoil Guild, which started in 1987. The members recently held a very pleasant get-together at Ely Lodge - as part of the centenary celebrations.

"It was a lovely party," said Barbara, who spoke of the beautiful tea at the boat shed.

Among those in attendance was Anne Loane, former Co. Commissioner (1967 to 1978) and former Co. President (1978 to 2001) - a long time friend of Barbara's - who is acknowledged for initiating her into guiding all those years ago. It is this particular aspect of Fermanagh Girlguiding which is most important to Barbara - "all the lifelong friends we have made".

This letter appeared in Impartial Reporter 15 Jul 10

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.