A cafe has helped the Guides start off the festive season.

The 1st Dartmouth Girl Guides Unit got the Christmas celebrations off to a cracking start with the thanks to Café Alf Resco’s in Dartmouth last week. 

After normal service hours, the group were invited down to the café to prepare, bake and decorate shortbread Christmas trees. 

The girls competed in their patrols for the coveted Stork Shield, which is hotly contended for each year. Its been a tradition in the Dartmouth area to compete for the Stork Shield and this particular trophy has been handed out to generations of guides since 1960.

The event was organised by Guide leader, Jo Callan and Kate Ryder from Café Alf Resco and the Guides were led in the fine art of baking by Leanne. 

Parrot Patrol were announced as the winners. The girls were able to take their creations home with them afterwards after thoroughly enjoying the evening.

They would like to thank all at Alf Resco for taking the time to work with them.

Also, the 1st Dartmouth Guide unit will be celebrating its 100th birthday in 2020.

To celebrate the great achievement, the unit is hoping to have a birthday party for all past and present members, an exhibition showing how Guiding has changed over the years plus the Guide leaders have said if enough money can be raised they will take the guides to the Girl Guide World Centre in Switzerland.

This trip would be a once in a lifetime opportunity for the Guides aged between 10 and 18-years-old.

The group of over 20 guides meets every Wednesday to work towards challenge badges and to do activities together, plus the group attends and represents the unit at various events in the town.

To start off the fundraising campaign, the group will be holding a ‘Welcome in the New Year Bingo’ on Friday, January 4, at Stoke Fleming Village Halls. Eyes down will be at 7.30pm.

The group is asking if anyone has any donations they would like to contribute to the Bingo. If anyone does please can they be dropped to Gillian’s Hairdressers in Broadstone, Café Alf Resco in Lower Street or Holliss Garage in Townstal Road.

A spokesman from 1st Dartmouth Guides said: “We hope the residents and businesses of Dartmouth will get behind us and support us and maybe even come and have a fun night out playing bingo.”