Helen Whitaker

Whitaker was Hampshire's county commissioner from 1917 to 1924.^[7] In 1918 she was deputy chief commissioner for the south of England,^[8] assuming the role of chief commissioner for the south of England a year later.^[9]

She was recipient of Silver Fish Award, Girl Guiding's highest adult honour, in 1920.^[10] At this time she held several roles within Girl Guiding: Captain of Lymington Guides,^[11] Deputy Chief Commissioner of the Western Counties^[12] and headquarters secretary of the Catholic Women's League (CWL) Kindred Societies.^[13] CWL Kindred Societies were Catholic Guide units that were attached to the formal Guiding movement, but with their own standing committee, and with the approval of the Archbishop of Westminster. Being unable to attend some of the most significant Guiding church services, which were Anglican (non-Catholic), these kindred societies would organise their own. Whitaker attended the first such rally at the London Scottish House's Drill Hall in November 1920.^[14]

In 1923, together with Ann Kindersley, a district commissioner and executive within the Girl Guides’ Association's HQ,^[15] she wrote The Guiding Book: Dedicated to the Girlhood of Many Countries and to all those with a Heart Still Young.^[16] with a foreword written by HRH Princess Mary.^[17]

Guides and Guiding were her “pet subjects”,^[18] she would give regular talks on Girl Guiding's history, structure, aims and training.^[19]

By 1924 she was head of the publication department at the Girl Guides’ Association HQ in London.^[20] In the same year she attended an international camp at Foxlease attended by 1,100 Guides. As part of the programme she presented a Pageant of Womanhood, highlighting the contributions to history that a procession of remarkable women have made through the ages, beginning with Boadicea.^[21]

After moving to York in 1926, Whitaker became district commissioner for Bedale and Wensleydale Guides^[22] and a commissioner for British Guides Abroad, in which latter capacity she visited the British Rhine Garrison Guides in 1928, which was run for children of the Army of Occupation.^[23]

After her death, the publications department of the Girl Guides’ Association's HQ was named in her memory and the colours of the Rhine Garrison Guides were displayed there.^[24]

Whitaker was painted by society portrait artist, Ambrose McEvoy, in 1919.^[25]

She was on the committee of the Women Voters’ League for Licensing Reform in 1922. Its objectives included meeting the demands of women voters for information regarding the sale and supply of alcohol, and considering this from the point of view of women and children.^[26] In 1923, she was president of the Women's Total Abstinence Union.^[27]