Riddlesden woman Kathryn Smith has received a top Guiding award, by royal appointment.

She is pictured above, on the right, being presented with the Queen's Guide Award by the movement's president Princess Margaret. In the centre is Chief Guide Bridget Towle.

The ceremony took place at Kensington Palace.

Kathryn, of Scott Lane West, completed the requirements for the award - the top honour attainable by a young person in Guiding - in less than half the time allowed. It took her just under 18 months.

She tackled various challenges covering eight different categories including service in Guiding, overseas, the community and enterprise. Achieve-ments ranged from gaining a camper's licence to learning car maintenance. Also, she raised funds to support the work of a school for the deaf in India and while studying at Glamorgan University she helped create a sensory garden.

Kathryn was a Brownie and then a Guide with the 1st Riddlesden group, before becoming a Young Leader with the Rainbows section.

She continued her Guiding while at university and then became an assistant leader in York, where she is studying at law school.

Kathryn is a talented cellist, and has toured with the National Scout and Guide Youth Orchestra.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.