Warm welcome for girl guides (From Wiltshire Times)

Warm welcome for girl guides

7:43am Wednesday 13th February 2008 in Melksham By Charley Morgan

GIRL Guides in Melksham will no longer be shivering in the cold when they meet each week after a new central heating system was installed.

After four years of fundraising the Melksham and District Guides have put in a gas boiler and 18 radiators at their headquarters in Bath Road at a cost of almost £11,000.

But the fundraising effort is not complete and the Guides are still trying to raise the last £2,000 to pay their plumber.

The Guides held a tabletop sale at the weekend but only managed to raise £87.

District president Susan Foreman said: "We were very disappointed with the lack of support last weekend.

"We are hoping to get some grants from Melksham Town Council and Melksham Without Parish Council this year as we still need to pay the plumber the outstanding amount.

"But the heating is fabulous, everybody is so happy with it."

The group spent a long time trying to find a plumber who would carry out the work and eventually settled on Colin Cox, of CAC Plumbing and Heating in Chippenham.

Despite them not having the full amount, Mr Cox kindly said he would carry out the work and they could pay him the balance once they had raised it.

Mrs Foreman said: "We were originally quoted £6,400 by another plumber but on the day he was meant to start he said he could not do it for that price anymore.

"That was two years ago and we were devastated. It's taken us another two years to raise enough money and we haven't even done it yet."

The Girl Guides took over the whole building six years ago after the Scouts moved out of their half of the building to new headquarters.

They spent about £7,000 putting in a new roof, new kitchen and toilets and re-decorating it.

The 80 Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers that use the headquarters raised the money for the heating system through various events and sponsored activities and were even bequeathed £4,500 in an elderly lady's will.

Mrs Foreman added: "We will be doing another sponsored walk in April and we are hoping every parent and child will take part in it to help raise the final amount."

The club is also appealing for adult volunteers to help out as leaders, call Mrs Foreman on (01380) 816919 for more information.