Highest adult award in Guiding
The Silver Fish Award is the highest adult award in Girlguiding . It is awarded for outstanding service to Girlguiding combined with service to world Guiding . The award has changed greatly since it first appeared in 1911, initially being awarded to girls on completion of a number of badges, then via numerous stages to the highest award in the Guiding movement worldwide, and then on to its position as a Girlguiding award.
Award criteria
The Silver Fish is not earned, but given to those who are nominated and are considered worthy of the award. Recipients must be members of Girlguiding, have done outstanding service to Guiding in more than one capacity and made a contribution to world Guiding.[1] Ideally candidates should be at least 18 months from retirement and have held an appointment within 6 months of the nomination.[1]
History
The award of Silver Fish existed from the beginning of the Guiding movement. The choice of the silver fish was as a result of Lord Baden-Powell visiting Japan, where he learnt that when a son was born, parents would hang a small silver fish on their door, signifying the boy would be able to successfully 'swim upstream' through life's challenges. If a daughter was born, a tiny doll was used. This indicated a girl's sole aim was to raise a family. Lord Baden-Powell decided to make a Guide's highest honour a silver fish, to show that girls are just as capable of battling against the odds as boys.[2]
Award for Girl Guides
The award is mentioned in the November 1909 edition of the Boy Scout Headquarters Gazette in "The Scheme for 'Girl Guides'". Here a girl must pass seventeen specified efficiency badges.[3] However, in Pamphlet A: Baden-Powell Girl Guides, a Suggestion for Character Training for Girls , also published in 1909, twenty efficiency badges were needed to obtain the Silver Fish.[4] This was later reduced to fifteen and, additionally, good all round work was required.[3]
Award for Girl Scouts of USA
Around the time of the foundation of the Girl Scouts of the USA in 1912, their handbook listed the Silver Fish as the highest honour in Girl Scouting. However, before anyone could earn it, the Golden Eaglet was introduced.[5]
Five American women were awarded the Silver Fish:
Award for adults
In October 1917, the award changed to being given for outstanding service to the movement. At this time, the design also changed from a whiting with its tail in its mouth worn on a silver chain, to a swimming fish worn on a dark and light blue striped ribbon. Olave Baden-Powell was presented with a gold Silver Fish in 1918, then the only one of its kind.[6] In 1995, her daughter Betty Clay was presented with a gold Silver Fish in the form of a brooch. It continues to be awarded within UK GirlGuiding to this day.
Recipients
1911–1919
1920–1929
1930–1939
1940–1949
1950–1959
Recipient
Year
Notes
H. S. Gresham [55]
1950
State Commissioner for Queensland, Australia
Olive Hillbrook [56]
1950
Rangers Commissioner, England
Mrs Douglas [57]
1950
Begum G. A. Khan [58]
1951
Chief Commissioner of the Pakistan Girl Guides Association.
Enid, Lady Burnham CBE (1894–1979)[59]
1952
Girl Guide Chief Commissioner for England
J. W. Haughton OBE[60]
1952
Ulster Guides Chief Commissioner
Jessie Kerridge [61]
1952
Commissioner for training, Jamaica
Gwen Hesketh MBE[62]
1953
Guide International Service Commissioner, Tasmania State Commissioner (1956–1962)
Helen McSwiney OBE[63]
1953
Florence Mitchell [64]
1953
Assistant State Commissioner, Victoria, Australia. President, Victoria Guide International Service
Eleanor Manning OBE (1906–1986)[65]
1954
Chief Commissioner of Guides Australia, World Committee of WAGGGS (1955–1962)
Miss Tuckwell [66]
1954
Treasurer of WAGGGS
Mrs Barnham [67]
1957
Post Box Secretary for CHQ and England
E. M. Beveridge [68]
1957
Commonwealth Camp Advisor
Mrs Durrant [69]
1957
Commissioner for Kenya
Beryl Gibson [70]
1957
Commissioner for Training, Cyprus
Senator W. E. Greeves MBE[71]
1957
Ulster Guides Chief Commissioner
Mrs Nesbitt [72]
1957
Commissioner for Canada
Anne Shepherd [73]
1957
County Commissioner, Yorkshire Central
Iona M Taylor [74]
1957
For international service, and untiring work in Hampshire
W Rankine Nesbitt [75]
1957
Chief Commissioner of Canada
Mollie Walker MBE[76]
1957
Lady Elizabeth Pleydell-Bouverie (1897–1982)[77]
1958
1960–1969
1970–1979
1980–1989
1990–1999
2000 onwards
Date of award unknown
See also
References
^ a b "Awards Procedure" . Girlguiding South West England. Archived from the original on 20 August 2007. Retrieved 2 May 2007 .
^ "Worth reporting" . The Australian Women's Weekly . Sydney, Australia. 13 February 1963. p. 2.
^ a b c d Kerr, Rose (1976). Story of the Girl Guides 1908–1938 . London: Girl Guides Association.
^ "Fact Sheet- The Three Baden-Powells:Robert, Agnes and Olave" (PDF) . Girl Guides of Canada Guides du Canada. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 October 2006. Retrieved 28 September 2006 .
^ Girl Scout Gold Award Planning Book . Girl Scouts of River Bluffs Council.
^ "Dynamic Personality" . Falkirk Herald . Falkirk, Edinburgh. 13 October 1948. p. 4.
^ a b District History: Pre-1950 Archived 7 July 2013 at archive.today , Liphook District Guides
^ Nesta G. Ashworth: http://www.bc-girlguides.org/welcometoguiding/history/history.html
^ Lone Guides: "The First Brownies" (PDF) . Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 April 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2009 .
^ "Manitou Girl Scouts recall Founder's philosophy" . Manitowoc-Herald Times . Manitowoc, Wisconsin. 3 November 1982. p. 19.
^ "Rally in the rain" . Portsmouth Evening News . Portsmouth, England. 12 June 1920. p. 6.
^ "Silver Fish presentation" . Warwick and Warwickshire Advertisor . Warwick, England. 9 July 1921. p. 6.
^ "Legacy Giving" . Guides of Canada – Guides du Canada. Retrieved 25 September 2005 .
^ "The founders" . RSCDS. Retrieved 27 June 2022 .
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^ "Somebody told me" . Weekly Dispatch . London, England. 7 February 1926. p. 2.
^ "In Memoriam". Guider (Vol. 65 No. 12 ed.). London, UK: Girl Guides Association. December 1978. p. 559.
^ "For Guide and Guider" . Bexhill-On-Sea Chronicle . Bexhill-On-Sea, England. 28 July 1928. p. 5.
^ "Visit of Acting State Commissioner" . Daily Examiner . Grafton, New South Wales, Australia. 27 September 1932. p. 4.
^ "Somers, Lady Finola (1896–1981)" . Australian Women's Archives Program. Retrieved 25 April 2022 .
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^ " "Silver Fish Award" " . Bexhill on Sea Observer . Bexhill-On-Sea, Sussex. 7 May 1932. p. 3.
^ "Guide Movement's "Best Friend" " . Bedfordshire Times and Independent . Bedford, England. 8 August 1941. p. 3.
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^ "Long Association" . Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette . Sunderland, England. 13 August 1936. p. 6.
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^ "In Memoriam". Guider (Vol. 68 No. 8 ed.). London, UK: Girl Guides Association. August 1981. p. 49.
^ "Fashionable and Personal" . Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser . Sevenoaks, England. 4 March 1938. p. 10.
^ "Edinburgh Recipient of Girl Guides' Highest Award" . The Scotsman . Edinburgh, Scotland. 12 March 1938. p. 13.
^ "In Memoriam". Guider (Vol. 67 No. 2 ed.). London, UK: Girl Guides Association. February 1980. p. 451.
^ "Deputy Commissioner" . Montrose, Arbroath and Brechin review; and Forfar and Kincardineshire advertiser . Montrose, Scotland. 28 January 1938. p. 2.
^ "Allison Cargill House" . girlguidingeastlothian.org . Retrieved 3 March 2022 .
^ "In Memoriam". Guider (Vol. 66 No. 10 ed.). London, UK: Girl Guides Association. October 1979. p. 451.
^ "Personalia" . Ottawa Citizen . Ottawa, Canada. 7 October 1939. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Chief Guide getting very busy" . Market Harborough Advertiser and Midland Mail . Market Harborough, Leicestershire. 30 October 1942. p. 11.
^ "Headquarters Notices". Guider (Vol. 44 No. 2 ed.). London, UK: Girl Guides Association. February 1957. p. 61.
^ "Guides Highest Award" . Belfast Telegraph . Belfast, Northern Ireland. 16 September 1944. p. 4.
^ "Highest Guide Award" . Dundee Courier . Dundee, Scotland. 9 June 1944. p. 2.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Liddell, Alix (1976). Story of the Girl Guides 1938–1975 . London: Girl Guides Association.
^ Bright, Judith. "Burgin, Annie Mona 1903 1985" . Dictionary of New Zealand Biography . Ministry for Culture and Heritage . Retrieved 4 April 2011 .
^ "Officers" . Western Mail . Cardiff, Wales. 1 January 1954. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
^ " "Silver Fish" to be awarded to Lady Julius" . The Sydney Morning Herald . Sydney, Australia. 27 August 1946. p. 6.
^ Dorothy Rosemann. "McIntyre, Margaret (1886–1948)" . utas.edu.au . Retrieved 3 March 2022 .
^ "LEE STEERE, Bridget Yelverton" (PDF) . slwa.wa.gov.au . Retrieved 3 March 2022 .
^ Maunders, David. "Fairbairn, Irene Florence (1899–1974)" . Australian Dictionary of Biography . Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University . ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7 . ISSN 1833-7538 . OCLC 70677943 . Retrieved 25 September 2006 .
^ " "Silver Fish" award" . The Age . Melbourne, Australia. 9 November 1948. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Gibbard, Joyce. "Rymill, Shylie Katharine (1882–1959)" . Australian Dictionary of Biography . Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University . ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7 . ISSN 1833-7538 . OCLC 70677943 . Retrieved 2 May 2007 .
^ Bright, Judith (7 April 2006). "Herrick, Hermione Ruth 1889 – 1983" . Dictionary of New Zealand Biography . Retrieved 7 May 2007 .
^ "Awards to Scots Guide Commissioner" . Dundee Courier . Dundee, Scotland. 31 October 1949. p. 3.
^ "Silver Fish Award for Begum K. A. Khan" . The Courier Mail . Brisbane, Queensland. 1 April 1950. p. 8.
^ "Army of Guides" . Belfast Telegraph . Belfast, Northern Ireland. 22 October 1951. p. 4.
^ "Jubilee Service for Guides and Scouts" . Milngavie and Bearsden Herald . Glasgow, Scotland. 19 February 1957. p. 2.
^ "Silver Fish Award for Begum K. A. Khan" . Civil and Military Gazette . Lahore, Pakistan. 25 May 1951. p. 5 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^ "Girl Guide International Camp" . Kirkintilloch Herald . Kirkintilloch, Scotland. 24 September 1952. p. 3.
^ "H.R.H. Princess Royal pays memorable visit to maiden city" . Londonderry Sentinel . Derry, Northern Ireland. 26 June 1952. p. 3.
^ "Americans Join" . Saffron Walden Weekly News . Saffron Waldon, England. 14 November 1952. p. 16.
^ "Admiring Award" . The Mercury . Hobart, Tasmania. 2 May 1953. p. 3.
^ "In Memoriam". Guider (Vol. 65 No. 12 ed.). London, UK: Girl Guides Association. December 1978. p. 559.
^ "The Silver Fish" . The Age . Melbourne, Australia. 13 March 1953. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
^ a b "History" . Guides Australia. Retrieved 25 September 2006 .
^ "Girl Guide Honour" . Surrey Advertiser County Times . Surrey, UK. 4 January 1964. p. 10.
^ "Headquarters Notices". Guider (Vol. 44 No. 1 ed.). London, UK: Girl Guides Association. January 1957. p. 29.
^ "Highest Guide Honour for Kirkaldy Lady" . Leven Mail . Fife, Scotland. 11 December 1957. p. 5.
^ "Headquarters Notices". Guider (Vol. 44 No. 12 ed.). London, UK: Girl Guides Association. December 1957. p. 379.
^ "Headquarters Notices". Guider (Vol. 44 No. 9 ed.). London, UK: Girl Guides Association. September 1957. p. 285.
^ "Silver Fish for our Guide Chief" . Northern Whig . Portadown, Northern Ireland. 4 March 1957. p. 2.
^ "Headquarters Notices". Guider (Vol. 44 No. 12 ed.). London, UK: Girl Guides Association. December 1957. p. 379.
^ "Headquarters Notices". Guider (Vol. 44 No. 12 ed.). London, UK: Girl Guides Association. December 1957. p. 379.
^ "Personalia" . New Milton Advertiser . New Milton, Hampshire. 19 October 1957. p. 6 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^ "Top Guide Award for Canadian" . Vancouver Sun . Vancouver, Canada. 28 November 1957. p. 62.
^ "Edna Mary Banham". Guider (Vol. 66 No. 7 ed.). London, UK: Girl Guides Association. July 1979. p. 309.
^ "In Memoriam". Guider (Vol. 69 No. 10 ed.). London, UK: Girl Guides Association. October 1982. p. 45.
^ "Girl Guide Building is Opened" . The Montreal Star . Montreal, Quebec. 2 June 1962. p. 56 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Briggs, Nancy (25 December 2011). "Beryl Cozens-Hardy obituary" . The Guardian . Retrieved 13 February 2022 .
^ "Worth Reporting" . The Australian Women's Weekly . Sydney, Australia. 13 February 1963. p. 14.
^ Mazhar, Inas (15–21 April 2004). "Alternate Ideas" . Al-Ahram Weekly. Archived from the original on 30 September 2006. Retrieved 25 September 2006 .
^ "Big day for the Guides" . The Tewkesbury Register and Agricultural Express . Tewkesbury, England. 19 June 1967. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Price, Joyce Ethel" . Bright Sparcs . Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre. Retrieved 25 September 2006 .
^ "Princess Margaret receives Silver Fish Award from the Girl Guides Association" . upi.com . Retrieved 3 March 2022 .
^ "In Memoriam". Guider (Vol. 64 No. 2 ed.). London, UK: Girl Guides Association. February 1977. p. 47.
^ "Margaret Turnbull receiving Girl Guide Movement award" . canterburystories.nz . 29 November 1971. Retrieved 3 March 2022 .
^ "HQ Notices". Guider (Vol. 63 No. 7 ed.). London, UK: Girl Guides Association. July 1976. p. 303.
^ "Guider earns New Year OBE" . Harrow Observer . Harrow, England. 8 January 1982. p. 9.
^ "Mrs Owen Walker, JP". Guider (Vol. 66 No. 8 ed.). London, UK: Girl Guides Association. August 1979. p. 343.
^ "Dr Kathryn Benson-Evans, Silver Fish". Guider (Vol. 67 No. 4 ed.). London, UK: Girl Guides Association. April 1980. p. 6.
^ "Mrs Rosemary Cadbury Dickson" . Belfast Telegraph . Belfast, Northern Ireland. 11 September 1980. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^ "Dr Helen Laird, Silver Fish". Guider (Vol. 67 No. 4 ed.). London, UK: Girl Guides Association. April 1980. p. 6.
^ "Edna Mary Banham". Guider (Vol. 68 No. 1 ed.). London, UK: Girl Guides Association. January 1980. p. 43.
^ "Silver Fish to Miss Margaret Coleman". Guider (Vol. 68 No. 8 ed.). London, UK: Girl Guides Association. August 1981. p. 12.
^ "Silver Fish Award – Mrs Owen John". Guider (Vol. 68 No. 6 ed.). London, UK: Girl Guides Association. June 1981. p. 6.
^ "Miss Stell Cunlifee – Silver Fish". Guider (Vol. 69 No. 4 ed.). London, UK: Girl Guides Association. April 1982. p. 6.
^ UK Guiding Magazine November 1985
^ "Mary Hill OAM" . communities.tas.gov.au . Retrieved 3 March 2022 .
^ "Annual Report" (PDF) . girlguidingwestyorkshiresouth.org.uk . Retrieved 3 March 2022 .
^ "Honours for Old Girls" . boltonschool.org . Retrieved 3 March 2022 .
^ "Top Girlguiding award presented to county commissioner" . herefordtimes.com . Retrieved 3 March 2022 .
^ "Sophie and daughter Louise open Girlguiding headquarters" . thecrownchronicles.co.uk . 19 April 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2022 .
^ "Leslie Knighton MBE". Guiding (Summer 2018 ed.). London: Girlguiding. 2020. p. 10.
^ "Diane's New Year Blog" . british-girlguiding-overseas.org.uk . Retrieved 3 March 2022 .
^ "Standard left to Guides" . Torbay Express and South Devon Echo . Tobay, Devon. 26 October 1953. p. 3.
^ "Compliment on large scale: wedding dress by airmail" . The Daily Telegraph . Sydney, Australia. 25 June 1944. p. 22.
^ "Diane's New Year Blog" . gawthorpetextiles.org.uk . Retrieved 3 March 2022 .
^ Zada Hawley (3 November 1953). "Sarnia Social Notes" . The Windsor Star . Windsor, Ontario. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Awarded Guide Honour" . Buckingham Advertiser and Free Press . Buckhingham, England. 27 August 1955. p. 1.
^ "Colwyn Bay" . The North Wales Weekly News . Colwyn Bay, Wales. 14 January 1988. p. 77 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "HQ Notices". Guider (Vol. 64 No. 5 ed.). London, UK: Girl Guides Association. July 1976. p. 201.
^ "Guiding in India" . Thanet Advertisor . Thanet, Norfolk. 25 June 1946. p. 5.
^ "O.B.E. Awards" . Cheshire Observer . Chester, England. 19 June 1964. p. 22.
^ "High Award for Guide" . The Age . Melbourne, Australia. 13 March 1953. p. 5.
^ "Guides' Silver Jubilee" . Newcastle Journal . Newcastle, England. 22 September 1936. p. 3.
^ "What Women Are Doing" . The Australian Women's Weekly . Sydney, Australia. 19 January 1935. p. 23.
^ "Mid Sussex Girl Guides" . Mid Sussex Times . Sussex, England. 31 May 1927. p. 5.
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