TWO Guiders who have each devoted 40 years to the movement, have received long service awards.

Gill Feeley, 70 and Anne Sellick, 73, were presented with badges for work in Padiham and Nelson.

They said they were overjoyed and would never give up being involved after helping hundreds of girls gain badges and skills.

Gill, a Brown Owl leader at Seventh Nelson Independent Methodists Brownies and an administrator with Trefoil also used to work full-time and co-own Jacks Chippy on Clay Street with her husband Paul for 34 years. She retired in 2002.

She joined Guiding after her daughter, Vanessa, 45, joined when she was in primary school.

Gill, who also has a son, Paul, 43, said: “I was overjoyed to receive the badge. It’s been great to watch girls grow up and help them gain skills.

“I got to do things I would never have done, had I not been a leader, like representing our branch at a ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral, in London.

“I’m glad Girl Guiding is adapting to modern society so that it remains relevant.”

Anne joined as a Girl Guide at the 5th Shipley group in Yorkshire in the 1950s. She became a leader at St Leonard's Brownies in Padiham when her daughter Sharon joined the group.She held various positions and was in charge of all 14 units in the area when she was Padiham and Gawthorpe district commissioner.

She was selected as an international interpreter at the Guide Association world conference in the 1970s and met Princess Margaret.

Now an adviser and archivist for East Lancashire Girl Guiding, she said: “It’s very rewarding.

“It has enabled me to give something back to the community. It’s great to be able to offer opportunities to girls, regardless of their background.

“It’s also helped me make friends for life and I would never not want to be involved.”