Numbers had increased considerably by 1948 so the area was divided into two and the four Leeds Divisions, together with Airedale, Harrogate & Ripon, Tadcaster & Wetherby and Wharfedale Divisions, became known as Yorkshire West Riding North East.
In 1952 the name was simplified to Yorkshire Central and then lost some of the outlying areas to become Leeds County at the time of local Government reorganisation in 1974. It was at this time that Leeds County adopted the Yorkshire Central Standard. Our County Badge shows the White Rose of Yorkshire.
Below you will find a timeline of our key events from our history, with details of County Commissioners and County Presidents.
County Standard
The County Standard was made in 1952 by the Sisters of Horbury Convent and paid for with money subscribed by the Brownies, Guides, Rangers, Leaders and members of the Trefoil Guilds and Local Associations of Yorkshire Central. It was dedicated and presented to Miss Anne Shepherd at a service in Ripon Cathedral.
The Standard is carried on formal occasions attended by the County Commissioner.
The colours and heraldic devices (from right to left) are:
The Guide Trefoil on a blue hoist.
The fly divided into three bands of green, red and green.
The White Rose of York, the County Badge of Yorkshire Central and of Leeds County.
The Guide motto ‘Be Prepared’.
An owl from the supporters of the coat of arms of the City of Leeds.
A cross from the arms of Bolton Abbey representing Wharfedale.
The crown and hand of St Oswald, the patron saint of Guiseley, representing Airedale.
A bugle horn representing Ripon.
A Roman warrior representing Tadcaster and Wetherby.
A tree, two serpents and a cock’s head from the civic arms of Harrogate.
On Monday 16th March 2020 Girlguiding issued an announcement that all face to face guiding activities had to stop with immediate effect due to the global pandemic COVID 19. Our membership soon adapted to providing activities via virtual means, with activity packs delivered to homes to allow guiding to continue.
The Division boundaries were reviewed and the present 12 Divisions of Abbeywood, Aire Valley, Crown Park, Elmwood, Greenvale, Parkwood, Seven Hills, Tarnheights, Templefields, The Leys, Wattlesyke and Wharfe Ridge were created.
2019 - Mrs Lynne Reid - Girlguiding Leeds County President
2019 - Mrs Louise Flynn - County Commissioner Leeds County
2015 - Mrs Mavis Davison - Girlguiding Leeds County President
2015 - Mrs Jan Ali - County Commissioner Leeds County
2014 - Mrs Eileen Barrett agreed to become Life President - Girlguiding Leeds County President
2014 - Dorothy Lazarus appointed working County President
2011 - Mrs Glennis Allan - Girlguiding Leeds County President
2010 - Mrs Audrey Morrall - County Commissioner Leeds County
2005 - Mrs Gillian Ainsley - County Commissioner Leeds County
Miss Marjorie Emsley - County Commissioner Leeds County
A National Lottery Grant, together with the money from the sale of Birk Crag, enabled us to replace the wooden hut at Robin Hole with a stone building. A generous legacy from the estate of Miss Phyllis Holmes provided funds for us to add a shelter to the campsite and have money for maintenance and development.
Mrs Ruth Spencer - County Commissioner Leeds County
After much fundraising and searching, a suitable property was found and our present HQ, the Trefoil Centre, was opened at 16a, Morris Lane, Kirkstall.
1989 - Mrs Judith Johns - County Commissioner Leeds County
We could not continue to have our HQ at Cookridge Street as Leeds City Council had other plans for the building. Although the Council offered to relocate us, the decision was made to look for premises which we could own ourselves. We rented rooms at Wrangthorn Church at Hyde Park for the next 6 years as a temporary HQ.
Mrs Dorothy Lazarus - County Commissioner Leeds County
Mrs Eileen Barrett - Girlguiding Leeds County President
Miss Mary Robinson - County Commissioner Leeds County
Local Government reorganisation resulted in many changes to Guide boundaries. Our new County became much smaller and what was left was aligned to the Leeds Metropolitan District boundary, with the new name of Leeds County. Leeds County had 12 Divisions – Airedale, Athill, Billing, Bramham Moor, Chevin, Elmet, Leeds N, Leeds NE, Leeds SE, Leeds SW, Leeds West and Skyrac.
Mrs Eileen Barrett - County Commissioner Leeds County
Miss Dorothy Harrison - Girlguiding Leeds County President
Mrs Eileen Barrett - County Commissioner Yorkshire Central
The new building at Birk Crag was opened as a County Training Centre and Pack Holiday House. Birk Crag was later sold to North Yorkshire South County.
The Greenwoods decided to sell their land at Robin Hole. It was purchased by the Coulthurst Trust and presented to Yorkshire Central by Mrs Coulthurst of Gargrave.
Miss Anne Shepherd OBE - Girlguiding Leeds County President
The death of HRH Princess Royal who, as far as we know, had been President of all the Guide Counties of which we have been part.
The wooden annexe at Birk Crag was burnt down – a suspected arson attack.
Miss Norah Dawson OBE - County Commissioner Yorkshire Central
Leeds & Harrogate Rotary Club presented a site and building at Birk Crag in Harrogate for development as a Brownie Pack Holiday House.
WRNE County became Yorkshire Central with 8 Divisions – Airedale, Harrogate & Ripon, Leeds NE, Leeds NW, Leeds SE, Leeds SW, Tadcaster & Wetherby and Wharfedale. The new Headquarters at 15, Cookridge Street was opened and became the County HQ.
The present County Standard was dedicated in Ripon Cathedral on Sunday 11th October. The lease of the Leeds Divisions’ HQ in The Headrow ran out.
Miss Anne Shepherd OBE - County Commissioner Yorkshire West Riding North East
West Riding North was split into West Riding NE (us) and West Riding NW.
The new HQ of the Leeds Divisions was opened at 57 The Headrow, by HRH Princess Royal.
Miss Anne Shepherd OBE - County Commissioner Yorkshire Central
The Hon. Lady Ingilby ¬ County Commissioner Yorkshire West Riding
The camp hut was transferred from a garden in Burley-in-Wharfedale to Robin Hole, rented from Greenwoods (the owners) as our County Campsite.
HRH Princess Royal - Girlguiding Leeds County President
Mrs H. Grotrian - County Commissioner Yorkshire West Riding
A County Standard was presented to Mrs Dunlop, the County Commissioner, by our President, HRH Princess Royal.
Yorkshire West Riding was divided into West Riding North (which included us) and West Riding South. West Riding North had 5 Divisions – Airedale, Harrogate, Leeds NE, Leeds NW, Leeds SE and Leeds SW.
Mrs Dunlop - County Commissioner Yorkshire West Riding
