Frances lands top job

A Black Country woman who fell in love with the Girl Guides as a youngster has been handed the job of leading the traditional movement for generations to come.

Frances Burton from Dudley turned up to her first Willenhall 4th Brownies meeting in 1968. And ever since she has been dedicated to the movement, going on to become a Girl Guide, starting her own Willenhall 5th Brownie group at 18 and becoming a divisional young leader.

Now, 39 years after joining as a Brownie she has been appointed Girl Guiding County Commissioner for West Mercia for the next five years.

Her new post gives her responsibility for 7,500 girls and leaders in the region as well as the task of attracting new members.

She also faces the challenge of planning the 2010 centenary celebrations.

Miss Burton, aged 46, said: "I remember my first Brownie meeting and thinking I wanted to be a leader. I have been involved ever since."

Her time with the organisation has taken Miss Burton to countries including Mexico, Germany, Switzerland and the Cayman Islands on various service projects.

She added: "It has changed quite a bit since I first joined. They have badges for things like IT skills and fashion design now.

"It is a movement so we like to move forward with things. But at the same time we also keep a sense of tradition."

Miss Burton said she aimed to help raise the profile of the movement and encourage more parents and adults to become leaders.

She said: "The more leaders we have the more girls we can take on as Guides so it is important."

Dudley mayor Councillor David Stanley invited Miss Burton to a civic seal of approval in Dudley yesterday.

He said: "This is an amazing achievement. Frances, like many other leaders, carries out her work voluntarily and helps keep this very important movement thriving."