Hi Bernard,

As you can see, I am contacting you about River View and the Girl Guide Site that was in the woods behind the house where you lived as a child.

I am doing some research into the history of Guideacres and have tried unsuccessfully to find any photos of the house, Riverview.

I remember so clearly as a 10 year old Guide (in 1955) walking up the path by the “big white house” into the magic place that is Guideacres and I was sad when the house was sold and Cherrymeade was built BUT WE STILL USE THE SITE !, I have just spent the week at Guideacres with fellow leaders, Guides and Brownies having a wonderful time in the “forest” (as the Guides call it), sleeping in tents, (a bit more modern now !), cooking on open fires, and singing round the camp fire. The site has changed very little, although we now have a beautiful bell tent shaped activity building in the main field, funded partly with lottery funding and the previous building is fitted out as a dormitory for 24, for the younger girls. The site is used almost every weekend throughout the year and many evenings. It is still loved and appreciated.

and just another quick note, I think you knew my best friend back in the 60s, Valerie Oates !!!!

I hope you don’t mind me contacting you.

many thanks

Jacky Goddard from Westcliff