TEN Tidenham Rainbows, Brownies and Guides took a trip to London recently after winning a district ballot to represent Girlguiding South West England.

They left the parish at 9am and travelled to The Mall, close to Buckingham Palace and to Girlguiding headquarters.

Rainbow leader, Liz McBride, said: “It poured with rain but the downpour didn’t dampen our spirits as we tucked into our Patron’s lunch hampers and then lined the barrier to watch the first of two processions.

“Between the two parades we saw members of the royal family, a very exciting time for all but especially our youngest members. We exchanged a few words with Prince Andrew and were delighted by a smile from Prince Harry.

“Four of our girls made their girlguiding promise in The Mall to our new Chief Guide Valerie le Vaillant who sat at the next table, something they will never forget.

“Another twenty girlguide members from Tidenham spent the day in St James’ Park where they saw the events in the Mall on the big screen along with the arrivals and departures of all the special guests at the BBC studio in the park.”