Girls in Scouting
The Island's first Girl Cub Scout
Godshill Scouts were the first on the Island to take in girls amongst great secrecy as most leaders on the Island opposed it, but soon the girls were hiking and camping along with the boys.
Godshill Cub Pack also took in the first girls on the Island, Fern Westmore making the front page of the IW County Press {August 6th 1993} and subsequently page 3 of the Sun and Daily Mirror. The Group was also one of the first to have female Beaver Scouts.
The original picture from the Isle of Wight County Press printed on August 6th 1993.
Eight year old Fern Westmore became the first girl Cub Scout on the Island last week when she was invested into the 1st Rookley and Godshill pack. After her official enrollment, Fern, of West Street. Wroxall, spoke of her delight at the prospect of going away on cub camps and playing a lot more games. "I'm really looking forward to it," said Fern. a pupil at St Wilfrid's R.C. Primary School, Ventnor. Also invested into the pack were eight year olds Ben Grandis, Philip Adkins and Jamie Cherryman.
The story did not stop there and neither did Fern. Here she is eight years later abseiling at Corf. This picture being printed in the County Press March 9th 2001.
