Brown Owl is keeping it in the family

Girls at Second Whitnash Methodist Brownies said goodbye to the long-serving leader last month, handing over to ‘loud owl’ Claire Mawby.

Mrs Catterall has been a leader at the Brownie pack since she first put Claire’s name down in 1985. She became Brown Owl in 1995, while Claire went on to become a guide and later a leader herself.

A staff nurse at Myton Hamlet Hospice, said she had worked with hundreds of girls and watched them become more confident and independent.

She said: “It’s been really good to be able to help develop the children as they come through.

“It was a very difficult decision to make but I feel the time was right because we have a really good group of leaders and it is time for them to take over and bring new qualities and skills.”