A GIRL GUIDE leader is to retire from her post after 25 years of service.

Sally Battersby, of Hampton Street, Tetbury, is to pass on her leadership to the next generation after a quarter of a century as a leader for 1st Tetbury Guides.

A guide as a young woman, Sally returned to force after a 20 year absence when her daughter joined the Rainbows.

Over the 25 years she has gone on camps as far as Sheffield and the Brecon Beacons, helped young women achieve awards and seen these young women grow into adults.

She said: “These girls can come to guides where there is no outside influence and they can just be girls - for a couple of hours a week they can be themselves.

“What they pick and learn in guiding will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

“The opportunities in Guides are amazing, there is so much you can do. We’ve had one girl go to India and one go to Mexico.”

Sally, 63, still keeps in contact with many of the girls that she has led over the years, even though some have moved away to start lives elsewhere.

“I’ve been lucky to know some really great women and some really great guides,” she said.

For Sally, the best part of Guides has been seeing the girls grow and mature.

“We had a young guide who wouldn’t come on any camping or overnight trips and whatever we did we couldn’t get her to.

“But she conquered that anxiety and now she is a Brownie leader.

“In my 25 years, that is my greatest achievement.”

Although she is sad to be leaving Guides after such a successful run, she said that it is the right time to go.

“I’m over 60 and now it is time to go, although I’m happy to still help there is a time to step back.

“It’s when you get guides whose mothers you have led, then you know it’s time to go.”