Local Face: Kathy Scott

When one of the Guiders in the Wendover District moved out of the area, a general shuffle of posts took place and ready waiting in the wings were local girl Kathy Scott and her friend Jo Bartlett. In November 1998 they joined Katie Long who was already helping at 2nd Wendover Guides. They were thrilled to be given the opportunity to take over a thriving unit which had been so popular under Liz Terry and Linda Chamlet that 151 Wendover Guides had to re-open in response to demand. Well done, Liz, many thanks and Good Luck with your new challenge – 151 Aston Clinton Guides! Wendover District was also thrilled to be able to give this opportunity to three such young leaders. Linda will continue to support and advise the trio until July 1999.

Student nurse Kathy Scott had thought nothing of it when a whole group of nurses and friends got together for some fun one evening back in 1996. Talk often turns to childhood and Kathy was interested to find another woman in the party with close Guiding connections. It turned out that Jo Bartlett was the first Guide in her Alton, Hampshire District to earn the Baden Powell Trefoil. She had passed through the Movement from Brownies to Guides then Rangers. She was keen to become a leader as soon as she had finished training. Kathy’s own mother, Irene, was a Brownie Guider so she immediately introduced Jo to Wendover and District Guides. Jo is now a qualified nurse and can devote some time to being the Unit Guider with Kathy and Kate as Assistants. Kathy’s sister Ruth has also moved from Guides to Rangers as had their older sister Helen.

Kathy Scott is Wendover and Halton born and bred. Her maternal great grandfather, Henry Lea, and grandfather, Hugh Boyd came to Halton with the RAF. Hugh married Henry’s daughter, Irene in 1938. Their daughter, Irene, was also born in Wendover. She married Tony Scott from Cheshire and Kathy was born on St George’s Day in Princess Mary Hospital, Halton, in Royal Jubilee Year, 1977. Kathy went through all the Wendover Schools and although she currently lives with her partner, Nic Harrison (also from Wendover), in Stoke Mandeville, when she qualifies they hope to move back to “the only place that feels like home”.

Kathy was introduced to the Guiding movement at the tender age of 3 when her mother became an assistant leader with 3rd Wendover Brownies. In 1986 Kathy transferred from 4th Wendover Brownies to 1st Wendover Brownies when her mother and Mrs Sylvia Cobley re-opened the Pack. Kathy then flew up to 2nd Wendover Guides. She also had a spell in 1st Halton Guides.

At 10 Kathy joined the 14th Vale of Aylesbury Sea Scouts because at Wendover Middle School she had started to learn to play the trumpet. She continued with comet at John Colet School and at 14 joined the junior section of Ellesborough Silver Band. Soon after she was tempted over to Tring Silver Band where she took up tenor horn. Apart from some time off during “A”-levels she has remained loyal to them.

Tring Silver Band has become something of a family interest. Kathy’s father, Tony, does not play but he is the chairman and Kathy’s chauffeur. Tring Silver Band practices in the Baptist Church and plays at many village fetes in Spring, Summer and Autumn. During Winter, their highlight is playing in Dolphin Square, Tring and on Christmas Eve playing Christmas Carols in Tring Cattle Market. Tring Silver Band is a rather small group at present so new brass players are very welcome. If you would like to play (help is given) please contact Mrs Nellie Goodman on 01442381620.

When Kathy was at school she was torn between teaching and nursing as a career. After “A”-levels she tried nursing by working at Nash Lee Nursing Home and found that this caring profession was for her. She was delighted to be given a training place at Stoke Mandeville Hospital and hopes to find a position there in the Care of the Elderly Department when she qualifies in 2000. She feels so lucky that there is such a wonderful training hospital so near to home, her friends had to move a long way for such a training.

We are also lucky that there are so many young people ready to take up the baton of community service and take it forward into the twenty fIrst century. This will be their century and it will be safe in their hands.