A 94-YEAR-old Musselburgh woman “got the biggest surprise of her life” when she received a top accolade to mark 86 years’ service to Girlguiding.

Rita Macdonald went to a meeting of Musselburgh Trefoil Guild to discover she was being presented with a Trefoil Thanks Badge by Liz Nicol, president of Girlguiding East Lothian, at a ceremony at the Fisherrow Centre last week.

Mrs Macdonald has not been attending meetings of the guild as she is now reluctant to drive home in the dark.

She said: “It was the biggest surprise of my life. I never expected it or thought it would happen to me. It was a very happy event and it was so nice to see all the members again.”

Mrs Macdonald has been a member of the Trefoil Guild, a branch of Girlguiding for adults, since 1964.

Initially, she was a member at Penicuik and when she moved to Musselburgh she joined the Musselburgh Trefoil Guild, which celebrates its 70th anniversary next year.

Prior to that, Mrs Macdonald was a Brownie, Guide and Guide Captain in Musselburgh.

She explained that one of her aunts, who was a ranger, took her to a meeting of the Brownies in the former Drill Hall on New Street, Musselburgh, as her friend was the Tawny Owl.

Mrs Macdonald said: “You make a lot of friends through Guiding. It has changed so much over the years. I used to sit badges for first aid and needlework but now they sit badges I have not heard of. They do wonderful things now, including more travelling.”

She recalled that one of her first camps as a Guide Captain was at Whittingehame, which is also home to Allison Cargill House, a Girlguiding facility.

A celebration cake was cut at her award presentation and shared with all her Trefoil colleagues.

Mrs Macdonald highlighted some of her Girlguiding experiences over the years.

The president said Mrs Macdonald has been in the Trefoil Guild since before she herself was born.

Helen Greig, on behalf of the Trefoil Guild, said: “Everyone had a lovely evening celebrating with Rita.”

The Trefoil Guild meets every two weeks in Musselburgh from September to April on Wednesdays from 7pm to 9pm in the annexe lounge at the Fisherrow Centre. New members, who are ex-guides or leaders, or leaders from Scouting, are welcome to attend.

The Trefoil Guild, which is open to women and men above the age of 18, offers social opportunities while supporting Guiding and Scouting.

Members get the chance to meet with friends, develop interests, tackle new challenges, enjoy outings and holidays together. They help Girlguiding at district, division, county, region, UK and international level.

Full membership is open to anyone who has been a member of the Guide or Scout Association or who makes the Guide or Scout Promise.

Musselburgh Trefoil has had a full programme of speakers this past year and will soon be meeting to prepare activities for September.