Foxlease 18
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. . . Guiders from overseas or foreign countries and that seemed wrong. The trainings were very short as Guiders could only spare a brief time to be away and so they came when they could. At times, rather strange things happened to sessions. A handicraft session started outside on a sunny afternoon and the trainer explained that space and lights were essential; no Guider must dream of introducing handicraft to her company unless all had elbow room and the light was good. At about that moment the sirens went and the Guiders adjourned to "Scotland" where, with shutters up and lights on, the session continued. Then the lights went out; candles solved that problem. The last of the desirable conditions, however, had to be relinquished when the proximity of noise indicated that the cellars would be the best place the complete the session!
In 1941, a New York Community Trust Fund administered by the W.V.S. offered a holiday at Foxlease to Rangers and Guides suffering from the results of bombing. These Rangers and Guides used "Hampshire" as their sitting room and "Cheshire" and "Devon" as their bedrooms and a Commissioner with some Guides to help her, came to look after them. The scheme was a success. These Rangers and Guides came from 15 different counties of England and Wales and took home news of Foxlease in wartime.
During those years Foxlease met the British Army for the first time. Commandoes were billeted for a night in the Barn and gave a demonstration to the Guiders; this included climbing the white and gold doors of "Scotland"! an experience the room had not had before. There were moments of anxiety as to whether the house would be commandeered, but it was obviously in good use and that never happened. Indeed a training week actually started on D-day.
Other contacts that were made during the war years were with Archer's Youth Club from Southampton, who used the indoor camp-site "Bridges", appreciating the peace there and with Youth Leaders of Hampshire who held their Conference in the house for several years. They thought Guiding fortunate indeed to have such a . . .
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