A fond farewell was bid to old friends and companions by a Rochester woman who has dedicated almost 80 years of her life to Guiding.

Cath Scott, who first joined the Girl Guides at the age of 13, lived in Borstal Road, Rochester, for more than 50 years.

She recently move to Hampshire to live nearer her daughter.

Mrs Scott, 92, wound back the years on Saturday at Hope Hill Campsite in Meopham.

Her most enjoyable memories were those camping with the girls in England and abroad.

She said: “You could learn so much more about a girl while camping than you could in a one or two hour meeting.

“I always found that fun and teaching the girls how to behave.

“I started with it at about 13 and left when I was 16, that set me off for the rest of my life, it was so much fun.”

Mrs Scott was a Chatham Guide before moving to Germany after being married to her husband, who was in the forces.

There she became involved with the Brownies.

In 1956 she moved to her

long term home in Borstal Road.

After joining Rochester Guides she then became a Brownie Guider, Guide Guider, District Commissioner and Division Commissioner, where she was responsible for companies in Rochester and Chatham.

She also helped companies across north Kent.

On retiring from active Guiding she became chairman of Kent West Trefoil Guild and received two awards, a Guiding the Laurel Award for her work in Guiding, and The Service Award for her dedication to the Trefoil Guild.

Friend and fellow Trefoil member Deirdre Munn , from Snodhurst Avenue, Chatham, said: “She has basically given her life to the Guides, everyone admires her greatly.”

Mrs Scott added: “Guiding gives people a purpose in life, it gives them companionship and friendship, it doesn’t get enough publicity for the good work it does.

“The day was a bit sad but it was also nice to say farewell to people.”