Alice Behrens

Alice Muriel Gaddum (née Behrens; 23 April 1885 – 28 June 1952)[2] was a British advocate of Girl Guiding and is remembered chiefly for her contribution to the training of adults in the movement. She was the first Guider-in-Charge at Foxlease and Head of Training.[3]

She was the daughter of Sir Charles Behrens and Emily, Lady Behrens.[4]

In 1913, Behrens was persuaded by Helen Malcolm to become the Commissioner for the Guides in Manchester and organise them.[4] In October 1916, after the suggestion of Robert Baden-Powell, she organised the Matlock Conference. Commissioners from around Britain met to share ideas and encourage one another.[5]

Beginning in 1926, Behrens visited Australia, New Zealand and South Africa to promote Guiding. Following her death, she was eulogised in The Times by Lady Baden-Powell:

"Mrs. Arthur Gaddum ... was an amazing personality – vigorous and energetic, attractive and gay and tremendously alive. Nothing daunted her when she felt the call to action and yet withal she was a deep thinker, a devout Churchwoman, a lover of music, poetry, fine pictures and birds and flowers... Freely and lavishly she gave of her help, speaking at meetings up and down the country and encouraging people with her own magnetic belief in the Girl Guide movement."

— Lady Baden-Powell, The Times, 11 July 1952[3]