RAINBOWS, Brownies, Guides and Rangers from Burley-in-Wharfedale are raising money to help save an activity centre where they have enjoyed many adventures and with which they have close historical links.

Waddow Hall, just outside Clitheroe, is owned by the national Girlguiding association but is one of five being sold off by the organisation and will close at the end of the year. The proposal has caused a storm of protest and now a special Waddow Hall Trust has been set up as a charitable company with the aim of raising around £5 million to buy the centre.

Wharfedale Observer: Burley guides who were camping at Waddow this summerBurley guides who were camping at Waddow this summer (Image: submitted)

To help raise funds rainbows, brownies, guides and rangers from Burley-in-Wharfedale are holding a Bonfire Coffee Morning on Saturday, November 4th from 9.30am to 12.30pm at Burley Scout & Guide Headquarters in Burley, LS29 7JS. Admission is £1. All are most welcome.

There will be cakes, craft and plant stalls plus a vintage guiding badges stall. There will be lots of bonfire related activities for young people to take part in (for a small donation) including making edible bonfires, making smores and fairies. There will be a competition for the best dressed fairy - young visitors can come dressed up as fairies and enter the competition to win a prize.

Wharfedale Observer: Hilda Sykes at the opening of Waddow Hall in 1927Hilda Sykes at the opening of Waddow Hall in 1927 (Image: submitted)

Leader of 1st Burley-in-Wharfedale Guides Sue Vint said: "The coffee morning is to raise funds so young people can continue to have amazing adventures at Waddow Hall.

"Waddow Hall in Clitheroe, currently belongs to Girlguiding but they are selling this superb activity centre at the end of the year. A Trust has been formed to buy Waddow Hall. Burley guiding use Waddow Hall for camping and residentials and have done for many years, which is why we want to support this new Trust.

"Burley guiding have strong historical links with Waddow Hall. It was bought by the Girl Guide Association in 1927 and the leader of Burley Guides, Anne Shepherd, wrote the opening ceremony for Waddow. Burley Brownies, Guides and Rangers presented the opening in front of Princess Mary, the President of Girl Guides. It was a big event, with almost 2000 guiding commissioners attending. Our Brownies and Guides have spent many happy times at Waddow Hall over the last almost 100 years."

Wharfedale Observer: A special badge which has been created to raise funsA special badge which has been created to raise funs (Image: submitted)

Burley guiding have also created a special badge to also raise money for Waddow Hall. If readers want to buy a badge please contact secondburleybrownies@gmail.com