Joan Downing B.E.M. known in Girlguiding circles as ‘Blackie’ has ‘Gone Home’
‘Blackie’ passed away recently aged 102 just two days short of her 103rd Birthday.
A True Girlguiding Stalwart Joan held various roles including County QM, Chair of Picketts Wood, Camp advisor for Hastings & St Leonards Division.
Amongst Joan’s Girlguiding achievements was reinstating Guiding into Westfield where Joan lived for most of her life and catering for leaders at Sussextraveganza for the County’s celebration of the 75th anniversary of Girlguiding and taking the lead for joint local Guide & Scout weekends.
Outside of Girlguiding Joan was a very active Councillor for the Westfield Parish and Joan was an active member of the steering committee for the Parish Action Plan (published in 2006) achieving a new children’s playground, the establishment of a community drop-in centre, and a youth club, verge bulb planting and the now well established twice-yearly community litter picks.
In 2015 Joan was awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queens Birthday Honours list for recognition of her dedication to her local community.