History
Guiding in Antigua began 21 years after the organization had been founded, in England, by Lord and Lady Baden-Powell. The first chapter was officially launched in 1931 on the grounds of the Antigua Girls’ High School. “One by one, we made our solemn Guide Promise before a distinguished audience,” said founding member Helen Burton in the Guides’ Golden Jubilee magazine. 
While this is the official beginning, however, Guiding in Antigua pre-dates 1931, with two groups – one affiliated with the Wesleyans and another at the south easterly Falmouth seaside community – active but not registered.
Guiding in Antigua took time to develop its own personality. Kathleen Flax was quoted in the 75th anniversary magazine as saying, “at that time, we were known as a branch association; so we did everything, more or less, that the English people did.”
The number of companies grew, with its membership of young girls attracted to the diversion it offered from the banality of school life. “It seemed quite interesting,” Flax recalled. Activities included hiking, outdoor weekend patrols, cookouts, sea bathing excursions – on one of Antigua ’s 365 beaches - concerts, get togethers, fundraisers, camping, and marching in the Empire Day Parade – these days in the Independence Day parade. A coming together of sisters, it was also reportedly instrumental in breaking down barriers of class, creed, and nationalities.
It was all new and, as such, richly exciting, reportedly from the novelty of the belted uniforms, to learning codes and knots, to community service activities.
A highlight of the early years was the first Leeward Islands Guiders Camp held in Antigua in 1937 at Nelson’s Dockyard. Other highlights are the 1946 visit of Iris Morrison, the first trainer to come to the island from headquarters, and also between the ‘40’s and ‘50’s, the first Leeward Islands Training Camp, and the visit of Chief Guide Olave Baden-Powell, wife of Robert Baden-Powell. 
There was, as well, the 1977 visit of Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Philip when the Guides formed the Guard of Honour at the Pier and lined various parts of the route.
None of these can compare, however, with the Antigua Guides finally coming into their own in 2002 when they were accepted as full members into the world body.
Flax’s daughter Carolyn McCoy is the first Antiguan-born Chief Commissioner. In the 75th anniversary magazine, she added to the history with her reflection of highlights of her tenure, including the re-branding of the local body and the work done towards revival of a unit in Barbuda .
Guiding stars over the years have included Irene ‘Aunt Tip’ Joshua and Lila Simon, both of whom became poster children for Guiding when their images graced anniversary stamps – for the 50th and 75th anniversary, respectively; and Ivy ‘Peggy’ Rogers, a patron even in the afterlife and during her life convener in 1975 of the building committee that would finally yield a home for Guiding in Antigua. Recent history salutes Madlin Potter - past President, and Marjorie Swift - past Chief Commissioner.
Guiding in Antigua remains a relevant part of society, training young girls and ladies for leadership in all areas of life while shining a light on sensitive issues such as it did with adolescent sexual activity via its ‘Let’s Talk about…’ research and subsequent TV docu-chat-show.