Posted by Dawn Davies
Photos by Dawn Davies
Seaside Sparkle, Girlguiding Norfolk’s Main Centenary event, celebrating 100 years of GirlguidingUK finally arrived, after 18 months of planning ,on 18th September 2010. Hunstanton and Heacham Brownies and Hunstanton Rainbows joined forces to spend the day together. The brownies wore tie dyed scarves with a centenary badge sewed on that we made during brownies.
We went to Hunstanton Bus Station to catch the bus. As the girls got on the bus I handed out a goodie bag to them all – the goodie bag was a yellow drawstring bag, with seaside sparkle logo on containing sparkly bucket and spade, folding Seaside Sparkle frisbee in its own bag, Seaside Sparkle notebook, pen, emergency rain poncho, Seaside Sparkle woven badge and purse. There also was a stick of Seaside Sparkle rock which will be handed out on the way back to avoid being sticky all day. When on the coach they were all issued with a Seaside Sparkle lanyard, and ID badge.
Heacham & Hunstanton Brownies enjoy Yarmouth Beach
When we arrived about 10.30am we visited the Atlantis Centre which had been booked for the day by Girlguiding Norfolk, so we had a base in case of inclement weather and so we could leave our bags etc. This is where we left our bags.
We then headed to Harry Ramsden, to see if we could have an earlier lunch than planned, that would leave the rest of the day for us. We had a wonderful lunch at Harry Ramsden, it was beautifully cooked and served. To make things even better, as members of Girlguiding Norfolk we got 20% off.
Following lunch, we hit the beach to use our bucket and spades where we were filling the number 100 marked out in flags with Sandcastles.
We then headed to Yesterdays World http://www.yesterdaysworld.co.uk/ We looked round saw a presentation of Queen Victoria’s life and times, looked at some oldy worldy shops and railway station, then we visited a oldy worldy sweet shop and bought some sweets (they had even produced a Seaside Sparkle fudge for us). Then we had a ride on a carousel, where a brownie didn’t put her goodie bag with the rest and temporarily lost it.
Heacham & Hunstanton Brownies enjoy the carousel at Yarmouth
We then visited the gift shop and spent some more money. On leaving Yesterdays World, the Mayor of Great Yarmouth was passing and we met him. We then went on an open topped bus to have a quick tour of Great Yarmouth seen from above, which was free as we were Members of Girlguiding Norfolk.
We then returned to the Atlantis Centre and gathered our belongings, and headed to the green near the beach and enjoyed our packed tea, then we treated the girls to a Calippo Shots each.
We did intend going to the Model Village for a look round and to eat our packed tea, but certain people spent so long shopping in Yesterdays World, and it was a long walk there and we would have to get back, we decided against it.
We then listened to an outdoor concert. The compere was Kaz Carter from Kiss FM, the first local boyband was Walkaway (from Diss). The other boy band was KHY finishing with a mixed band Underline the Sky.
The County Commissioner, Helen Green, and the County President, Carol Bundock, both got up and made a speech and we finished with a firework display.
Finally, we got called for our buses. There were 40 coaches and, as we had the furthest to travel, we were called first. We arrived back at the coach at about 7.45pm and had an easy journey home and we arrived in Hunstanton about 9.30pm, ahead of schedule.
Altogether a very satisfactory but tiring day, a lot of good organisation and planning went into the day.
