GUIDE Caroline Dean is the proud owner of the movement's highest award for young members.

The 20-year-old student is the first Darwen recipient of the Queen's Guide Award badge which was presented during a special service at St Cuthbert's Church, Darwen.

It takes three years to complete seven main tasks which include service overseas and enterprise.

Caroline started as a Brownie in 1985 with the 7th Darwen St Cuthbert's pack and four years later became a Guide.

At the age of 15, Caroline, of Earnsdale Avenue, Darwen, gained the prestigious Baden Powell trefoil and also became a young leader.

On her 18th birthday she was made a Brownie Guider and joined the Darwen based Cellar Dwellers before going to St Andrew's University, Scotland.

Her work has continued in Fife with the 6th St Andrew's Brownie Unit and she is hoping to find a German unit when she works in the country for a year.

She has also been selected to perform in a clarinet quartet during a Scout and Guide show at the Royal Albert Hall in October.

Darwen Guide commissioner Olive Bolton said: "The standards required to complete the award are very high and Caroline is the first young woman from Darwen to achieve it.

"Later in the year she will be join other award winners to meet our president, Princess Margaret, at Kensington Palace.

"Everybody is very pleased her hard work is being recognised."

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