Time has moved on since the girl guides handbook gave advice on how to get enough beauty sleep – but now one group hopes to revisit those days with a reunion.

Belmont District Guides are hosting the reunion between young and old members to mark the British movement’s 100th anniversary.

As part of the celebrations district commissioner Arabella Bolton, 43, who joined as a brownie in 1973, has dug out her old guidebook which offers health tips to young women.

One tip reads: “No money can buy you the same marvellous beauty treatment as 10 hours sleep a night.

“Give yourself the full benefit: sleep in a comfortable bed with plenty of fresh air pouring in through the window and in the morning you will wake up fresh and energetic, ready for what the day brings.”

Other tips give advice on how to make your bed, how to fold clothes and hang them, how to be the perfect hostess and how to darn a sock.

Mrs Bolton was keen to stress today’s girl guides had considerably modernised, but said the common sense tips on how to fold up clothes might still be useful for some of the teenage members.

She said: “We have moved with the times. That’s one of our strengths.

“It is about empowering girls to do anything they think they can do and not feel like they need to be in the background.

“It’s a very good organisation for helping to build confidence, especially in teenage years. It’s heartening.”

The group in Belmont has been going since 1917, making it one of the earliest groups in Britain.

Mrs Bolton, an administrator at Seaton House School, whose daughter Natalie, 19, is now a leader, said being a guide was “in the blood”.

She said: “For many people it is a happy time in their childhood and a really good way of making friends.”

The reunion will be held on Saturday, September 11, from 2pm to 5pm at the Avenue Primary School Hall.

There will be a range of activities from guiding past and present, with displays and memorabilia from days gone by and all will be rounded off with a traditional sing song and renewal of the promise.

Call 020 8661 2234 or email arabella@ 20fairview.freeserve.co.uk.