Silver Fish Award

For other uses, see Silverfish (disambiguation).

The Silver Fish Award is the highest adult award in Girlguiding. It is awarded for outstanding service to Girlguiding combined with service to world Guiding. The award has changed greatly since it first appeared in 1911, initially being awarded to girls on completion of a number of badges, then via numerous stages to the highest award in the Guiding movement worldwide, and then on to its position as a Girlguiding award.^[1]

Silver Fish Award
Created	1911 (114 years ago)
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Award criteria

The Silver Fish is not earned, but given to those who are nominated and are considered worthy of the award. Recipients must be members of Girlguiding, have done outstanding service to Guiding in more than one capacity and made a contribution to world Guiding.^[2] Ideally candidates should be at least 18 months from retirement and have held an appointment within 6 months of the nomination.^[2]

History

The award of Silver Fish existed from the beginning of the Guiding movement. The choice of the silver fish was as a result of Lord Baden-Powell visiting Japan, where he learnt that when a son was born, parents would hang a small silver fish on their door, signifying the boy would be able to successfully 'swim upstream' through life's challenges. If a daughter was born, a tiny doll was used. This indicated a girl's sole aim was to raise a family. Lord Baden-Powell decided to make a Guide's highest honour a silver fish, to show that girls are just as capable of battling against the odds as boys.^[3]

Award for Girl Guides

The award is mentioned in the November 1909 edition of the Boy Scout Headquarters Gazette in "The Scheme for 'Girl Guides'". Here a girl must pass seventeen specified efficiency badges.^[4] However, in Pamphlet A: Baden-Powell Girl Guides, a Suggestion for Character Training for Girls, also published in 1909, twenty efficiency badges were needed to obtain the Silver Fish.^[5] This was later reduced to fifteen and, additionally, good all round work was required.^[4] A. M. Irvine published the Girl Guide story Nora, the Girl Guide; or, From Tenderfoot to Silver Fish in 1913.

By 1918 a Silver Fish was awarded by headquarters "on the recommendation of County Commissioners for some very special Service to the Movement".^[6] In May 1918 The Girl Guides Gazette reported that the requirements for the Silver Fish would change in order to capture the award's "original character" and that it would become "the highest award that was given and not gained."^[7]

Award for Girl Scouts of USA

Around the time of the foundation of the Girl Scouts of the USA in 1912, their handbook listed the Silver Fish as the highest honour in Girl Scouting. However, before anyone could earn it, the Golden Eaglet was introduced.^[8]

Five American women were awarded the Silver Fish:

• Juliette Gordon Low, founder of Girl Scouts USA
• Anne Hyde Choate, Juliette's goddaughter and the second president of Girl Scouts USA
• Helen Storrow, donor of Our Chalet
• Jane Deeter Rippin, National Director of GSUSA
• Julia Cobb Crowell, Chair of the Committee

Award for adults

In October 1917, the award changed to being given for outstanding service to the movement. At this time, the design also changed from a whiting with its tail in its mouth worn on a silver chain, to a swimming fish worn on a dark and light blue striped ribbon. Olave Baden-Powell was presented with a gold Silver Fish in 1918, then the only one of its kind.^[9] Percy Everett, one of the "original Brownsea campers"^[10] was GGA's Hon. secretary in the early years. He was awarded the Silver Fish in June 1921.^[11] In 1995, her daughter Betty Clay was presented with a gold Silver Fish in the form of a brooch. It continues to be awarded within UK GirlGuiding to this day.

Recipients

1911–1919

Recipient	Year	Notes
Nesta G. Ashworth née Maude (1893–1982)[12][13]	1911	Awarded old-style Silver Fish in 1911. Also in 1920. One of the girls who showed up at Crystal Palace Rally in 1909 wanting to be Scouts. Instrumental in the establishment of Lone Guides.[14]
Rotha Lintorn-Orman (1895–1935)[12]	1911	Awarded old-style Silver Fish in 1911. One of the girls who showed up at Crystal Palace Rally in 1909 wanting to be a Scout.
Mrs Addison[15]	1914
I New[16]	1915
Florence Hardy[17]	1916
Eustace Penburthy[18]	1916
Olave Baden-Powell[4] GBE (1889–1977)	1918	Chief Guide. She received a special 'Golden Fish' "as a public recognition of her wonderful work"[19]
L Chidley[20]	1918	Patrol leader, 1st Royal Eltham
C Hall[21]	1918	Patrol leader, 1st Pendleton
Aileen Hayeem[22]	1918	First Guide to earn the Silver Fish Award in India
Hon. Ruth Hubbard (1896–1955)[23]	1918	Captain, 1st Addington
E King[24]	1918	Lieutenant, 2nd Ealing
A Lowson[25]	1918	Lieutenant, 1st Durham
Theodora Mellor[26]	1918	District commissioner, South Manchester
E Orchard[27]	1918	Lieutenant, 1st Pendleton
P Pentreath[28]	1918	Patrol leader, 2nd Ealing
D Pidgeon[29]	1918	Patrol Leader, 1st Kingston
Hilda Ramsbottom[30]	1918	Lieutenant, 1st Claremont
Enid Robinson[31]	1918	Captain, 4th Woking
G M Robinson[32]	1918	Captain, 9th Birkenhead
Barbara Cave[33]	1919	1st Woking
Dorothy Jeavons[34]	1919	Lieutenant, 1st Wolverhampton (YWCA)
V Kenilworth[35]	1919	Patrol leader, 2nd Ealing
Hilda Leighton[36]	1919
Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low (1860–1927)	1919	Founder of Girl Scouts of the USA. She was buried wearing full uniform and her Silver Fish Award. This was one of the first adult awards[37]
Miss Mallory[38]	1919	Captain, 1st Kidderminster
J E Naish[39]	1919	Lieutenant, 2nd Woking
P Poulton[40]	1919	Patrol leader, 1st Muswell Hill
W Withers[41]	1919	Lieutenant, 1st South Manchester

1920–1929

Recipient	Year	Notes
Mrs Furse[42]	1920	Provincial commissioner, Transvaal
Lady Helen Whitaker (1890–1929)[43]	1920	County commissioner, Hampshire
Margaret Campbell[44]	1921	For saving a young boy's life by pulling him out from under a lorry
Anne Hyde Choate (1886–1967)[45]	1921	Second president of Girl Scouts USA
Lady Clinton (1863–1953)[46]	1921	County commissioner, Devon
Mrs Dixon[47]	1921	County commissioner, Dublin
Sir Percy Everett[48]	1921	GGA Hon. treasurer
Edith Marriott[49]	1921	For rescuing someone who was drowning
Agnes M Maynard OBE[50][51]	1921	Division commissioner, Wimbledon Awarded Silver Fish twice
Olive Nichols (1864–1944)[52]	1921	Deputy chief commissioner, Wales
Mary Pellatt (1857–1924)[53]	1921	First chief commissioner, Girl Guides of Canada (1912–1921)
Helen Storrow (1864–1944)[54]	1921	Donor of Our Chalet
Anna Suckling (1863–1946)[55]	1921	County Commissioner, Warwickshire
Alice Anne Baird (1871–1959)[56]	1922	Cadet branch, head. County commissioner, Worcestershire
Miss Buchan Hepburn[57]	1922	Deputy chief commissioner, Scotland
Hon. Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth MBE (1886–1967)[58]	1922	First County commissioner (1916) First heraldry advisor
Fflorens Roch (1879–1969)[59]	1922	Deputy chief commissioner, Wales
Helen Malcolm[60][61]	1923	District commissioner, Clevedon
Mrs Warren[62]	1923	Chief commissioner, Canada
Rachel Heath[63]	1924	Great Brown Owl
Margaret Prior[64]	1924	Chief's diploma, "for excellent service to the movement both at home and abroad"
Kathleen Robinson[65]	1924	For good service to the movement in Australia
Mrs Benson[66]	1925	Imperial council
Princess Mary (1897–1965)[4]	1925	Honorary president, Girl Guides Association from 1920 until her death
Mrs Cathcart[67]	1925	Head of camping, Scotland
Ysobel Stewart[68]	1925	Head of training for Scotland
Muriel de Lisle[69]	1925	Assistant county commissioner, Warwickshire
Mary C Royden[70]	1925	County commissioner, Cheshire
Lady Cave[71]	1926	Division commissioner, Kingston
Miss Holland[72]	1925	Division commissioner, Bath
Patricia Richards[73]	1927
Rosa Ward OBE (1893–1984)[74]	1928	Chief commissioner, Wales Chair, Guide International Service (1942–1954)
Lila Chilton Thomas (d. 1989)[75]	1929	Great Brown Owl

1930–1939

Recipient	Year	Notes
Muriel Montgomery MBE[76]	1930	General secretary, London headquarters
Robina Hamilton[77]	1931	Division commissioner, South-East Victoria, State committee, Victoria, Australia
Olive Kelso King (1885–1958)[78]	1931	Acting State commissioner, New South Wales. First Australian recipient.
Mrs Arthur Lewin[79]	1931	Commissioner for Lone Guides, South Africa, Editor, South African Guide magazine
Mrs MacNeillie[80]	1931	Provincial commissioner, Transvaal, South Africa
Carey Morgan[81]	1931	Provincial commissioner, Bengal
Mrs Alan Morkill[82]	1931	Outstanding work in connection with the 1927 Dominion Guides camp held in Australia
Lady Finola Somers CBE (1896–1981)[83]	1931	State commissioner, Victorian Girl Guides, Australia Girl Guides Association chief commissioner (1943–1949)
W R Wilson[84]	1931	Chief commissioner, New Zealand
Lady Stubbs[85]	1932	Island commissioner, Jamaica
Helen Talbot[86]	1932	Commissioner for overseas Guiding
Lady Butler (1872–1951)[87]	1932	Chair, All-India executive committee
Lady Blythswood[88]	1933	Deputy chief commissioner, Wales
Dame Helen Gwynne-Vaughan GBE[89]	1933	Chair, committee of the council
Lady Hore-Ruthven[90]	1933	State chief commissioner, South Australia
Miss Rosseter[91]	1933	Eagle Owl of Canada
Marguerite de Beaumont (1899–1989)[92]	1934	Cambridgeshire County commissioner. One of the girls who showed up at Crystal Palace Rally in 1909 wanting to be Scouts.
Lady David[93]	1934	Chief State commissioner, New South Wales, Australia
Mrs Hood[94]	1933	Commissioner for extensions
Lady Luke of Pavenham[95]	1934	Bedfordshire's first County commissioner (1917–1938)
C Warren[96]	1934	Divisional commissioner, Woking
K M Wilson[97]	1934	Excellent service to the movement
The Countess of Clarendon[98]	1935	South Africa Girl Guides, president
Mrs Ralph Carver[99]	1936	Commissioner, Egypt
Sir Jeremiah Colman, 1st Baronet[100]	1936	Funding London's East End Scouting home, Roland House
Nora G Dillon[101]	1936	Durham County commissioner Executive committee of the Council at Imperial Headquarters (1932–1935)
Mrs Pickering[102]	1936	County commissioner, Yorkshire
H B Prior (d.1959)[103]	1937	Provincial commissioner, Burma
Rosalind Hamilton Duchess of Abercorn (1869–1958)[104]	1937	Ulster chief commissioner
Ruth Callander[105]	1937	Scottish post and extension branches
Gladys Millard (1891–1964)[106]	1937	Girl Guide Association, Manitoba, Canada
Maud Carnegie, Countess of Southesk (1893–1945)[107]	1937	County commissioner, Angus and Aberdeenshire Scottish executive committee member
Mrs Leigh-White OBE[108]	1937	Deputy chief commissioner, Ireland
Muriel Monteith JP[109][110]	1937	Assistant County commissioner, Fife
Mrs Charles Tufton OBE[111]	1937	Executive committee, vice-chair
Lady Dorothy Arthur[112]	1938	Provincial commissioner, Bengal
The Honourable Lady Cochrane[113]	1938	Kent County commissioner
Lilias Dalmahoy[114]	1938	Edinburgh County commissioner
Miss G Hanbury-Williams MVO[115]	1938	Council of Girl Guides Association (1927–1961)
Janet Allan[116]	1939	Commissioner for extensions
Margery Bray (1894–1962)[117]	1939	Imperial commissioner, training
Allison Cargill (1896–1979)[118][119]	1939	Scotland's first Guide President of Scottish GGA, VP of GGA
Miss Chadwick[120]	1939	Chief commissioner, India
Mrs Fairweather[121]	1939	Assistant County commissioner, Kent Assistant commissioner, awards
Miss Greenless[122]	1939	County commissioner, Midlothian
Lady Haigh[123]	1939	Provincial commissioner, United Provinces, India
A Landau MBE[124]	1939	Commissioner for Hebrew Guides, Jerusalem
Elsa Riepert (1890–1961)[125]	1939	Dominion secretary, Canada (1920–1941)

1940–1949

Recipient	Year	Notes
R C Drysdale[126]	1940	Organising commissioner, Argentina
Mrs Fisher Rowe[127]	1940	Hon. secretary, Overseas Association
Kelly Lawson[128]	1940	Island commissioner, Jamaica
Mrs Moore[129]	1942	District commissioner, Canterbury City Guides. Awarded for gallantry during an air raid
Miss Packenham Walsh[130]	1942	Commissioner, Madras
Mrs Pinhorn[131]	1942	Hon treasurer, All India
Mrs Elliott Carnegy[132]	1943	Chief commissioner, Scotland
Lady Charlotte Cooper[133]	1943	Chief commissioner, India
Mrs Alan Morkill MBE[134]	1943
Lady Monroe[135]	1943	Provincial commissioner, Punjab
M W Kydd[136]	1944	Chief commissioner, Canada
Dame Joan Marsham DBE (1888–1972)[137]	1944	Chair of Guiding Association's executive committee for 10 years from 1938
Anna Moody (1881–1950)[138]	1944	Deputy chief commissioner, Ulster
Jane Mervyn Newnham OBE[139]	1944	Guider-in-charge, Foxlease
F C Sharp[140]	1944	Dundee County commissioner
Mona Burgin (1903–1985)[141][142]	1945	Active in New Zealand and as a trainer internationally
Emmeline Hannah Cadbury JP[143]	1945	County commissioner, Birmingham
Lady Cooper[144]	1945	Chief commissioner, India
Dame Anstice Gibbs DCVO, CBE (1905–1978)[141]	1945	Chief commissioner and chair of British Commonwealth Girl Guides Association (1956–1966) Vice-chair of WAGGGS (1957–1960)
Isobel Hetherington Kay MBE (1904–1980)[145]	1945	Chair of Welsh Guide Council Chief commissioner, Wales
Lady Eva Julius (1878–1972)[146]	1945	Chief commissioner, New South Wales, Australia
Angela Thompson[147]	1945	Division commissioner, S E Hertfordshire
Verona M. Wallace Williamson (1898–1980 )[141]	1945	Edinburgh County commissioner
Margaret Crosfield (1902–1988)[148][149]	1946	Chair, All-India training subcommittee
Mrs Geoffrey Gibbs[150]	1946	Hertfordshire County commissioner
Jean Clayton[151]	1947	Imperial commissioner, Brownies
Marie Iles OBE[152][153]	1947	Dominion secretary, New Zealand
Margaret Martin[154]	1947	Commissioner for training
Margaret McIntyre OBE (1886–1948)[155]	1947	Tasmanian state commissioner (1940–1948)
Lady Lee Steere OBE[156]	1947	Commissioner for Girl Guides, Western Australia
P M Noaks MBE[157]	1947	Chief commissioner and training advisor, Southern Rhodesia
Mrs John Corbett[158]	1948	Chief commissioner, Canada
Irene Fairbairn (1899–1974)[159]	1948	Chief Commissioner of Guides Australia, Federal Secretary[160]
Ruth Herrick CBE (1889–1993)[161]	1948	Chief commissioner, New Zealand (1934–1961)
Shylie Katherine Rymill (1882–1959)[162]	1948	Commissioner, Australia State commissioner, South Australia (1938–1950)
Mrs P M P Thompson[163]	1948	Chair, Scottish public relations committee
Mrs Stewart[164]	1949	Scottish chief commissioner (1946–1950)
E Williams[165]	1949	Deputy chief commissioner, New Zealand

1950–1959

Recipient	Year	Notes
Kathleen Mabel Davies-Cooke OBE (1903–1994)[166]	1950	Chair, Girl Guides Association Chair and vice-patron, Trefoil Guild
Mrs Douglas of Mains[167]	1950	County commissioner, Glasgow
Lilian Gresham (1906–1973)[168]	1950	State commissioner, Queensland, Australia
Agnes Pinnick (1901–1953)[169]	1950	Chief commissioner, Malaya and Singapore
D E S Wishart[170]	1950	Chief commissioner, Canada
Tirzah Barnes[171]	1951	Publications committee
Mrs Captain[172]	1951	Chief commissioner, India
Mary Cuningham Chater MBE (1896–1990)[173]	1951	Music advisor, Girl Guides Association (1949–1961)
Mrs Dutt[174]	1951	Deputy chief commissioner, India
E D Harrison[175]	1951	Brownie advisor
Olive Hillbrook[176]	1951	Rangers commissioner, England
Mrs Hobson[177]	1951	Chief commissioner, Ceylon
Begum G. A. Khan[178]	1951	Chief commissioner, Pakistan Girl Guides Association
J B Williams[179]	1951	Island commissioner, Barbados
Enid, Lady Burnham CBE (1894–1979)[180]	1952	Girl Guide chief commissioner, England
J W Haughton OBE[181]	1952	Chief commissioner, Ulster
Jessie Kerridge[182]	1952	Commissioner for training, Jamaica
Dorothea Powell (1879-1986)[183]	1952	Executive committee. Chair, education panel
Gwen Hesketh MBE[184]	1952	Guide International Service commissioner Tasmania state commissioner (1956–1962)
Helen McSwiney OBE[185]	1953
Florence Mitchell (1891-1970)[186]	1953	Assistant state commissioner, Victoria, Australia President, Victoria Guide International Service
G Springall[187]	1953	Division commissioner, Western Transvaal
D Strachan[188]	1953	Chief commissioner, South Africa
Jean Helen St. Clair Campbell, Lady Stratheden and Campbell CBE (1901–1956)[189]	1953	Chief commissioner, British Commonwealth (1949–1956)
Viscountess Colville of Culross[190]	1954	Chief commissioner, Scotland
Betty Fripp[191]	1954	Commissioner, British Guides in Foreign Countries
Muriel Lees[192]	1954	Chair, Sussex County camping committee
Eleanor Manning OBE (1906–1986)[193]	1954	Chief commissioner of Guides, Australia World committee of WAGGGS (1955–1962)
Ruth Tuckwell OBE[194]	1954	Treasurer, WAGGGS
Beryl Barker[195]	1955	Commissioner for British Guides, Egypt
Marjorie Grant[196]	1955	Chief commissioner, South Africa
Elaine E Moran[197]	1955	Training advisor, Australia
Margaret Pilkington MBE (1906–1985)[198]	1955	Guide International Service team leader
Kathleen Dore MBE (d.1991)[199]	1956	County commissioner, Essex (1947–1957)
May Douglas[200]	1956	State commissioner, South Australia
Edna Mary Banham[201]	1957	Post box secretary, CHQ and England
E M Beveridge[202]	1957	Commonwealth camp advisor
Mrs Durrant[203]	1957	Commissioner, Kenya
Beryl Gibson[204]	1957	Commissioner for training, Cyprus
Senator Marion Greeves MBE (1894–1979)[205]	1957	Chief commissioner, Ulster
Anne Shepherd OBE[206]	1957	County commissioner, Yorkshire Central
Iona Taylor (1908-1978)[207]	1957	For international service, and untiring work in Hampshire
W Rankine Nesbitt[208]	1957	Chief commissioner, Canada
Mollie Walker MBE[209]	1957	Training advisor, England
Gladys Niven[210]	1958	Provincial commissioner, Natal, South Africa
Lady Elizabeth Pleydell-Bouverie (1897–1982)[211]	1958	Captain, 1st Alderbury Company, Wiltshire
Helen Wynne OBE[212]	1958	Chief commissioner, Southern Rhodesia
Mrs Guy Coleridge[213]	1959	Ranger branch committee, chair
Sheila Macloed[214]	1959	Camp advisor, Victoria, Australia

1960–1969

Recipient	Year	Notes
Clare Broadhurst[215]	1960	Training advisor, Australia
Lady Davies[216]	1960	Commonwealth training advisor
Lady Harley[217]	1960	Deputy chief commissioner, England
Elizabeth Hartley OBE (1906–1996)[218]	1960	Deputy chief commissioner, England
Alix Liddell (1907–1981)[219]	1960	Publications committee, chair
Phyllis Moffett MBE (d.1994)[220]	1960	Deputy chief commissioner
Bessie Clough[221]	1961	Provincial treasurer, Transvaal, South Africa
Mrs Cowan-Douglas[222]	1961	International commissioner, South Africa
Merle Deer[223]	1962	Training advisor, New South Wales, Australia
R Graeme Orr[224]	1962	Assistant state commissioner, Victoria, Australia
E Henrietta Osler[225]	1962	Chief commissioner, Canada
H A Toft OBE[226]	1962	General secretary, Commonwealth headquarters
Mrs Charlton[227]	1963	Queensland, Australia
Hon. Beryl Cozens-Hardy OBE (1911–2011)[141][228]	1963	Chief Commissioner for England (1961–1970). Chair of WAGGGS (1972–1975)
Nancy Eastick MBE (1920–2011)[229]	1963	Guide International Service volunteer, trainer and author
Nancy Kemp[230]	1963	New South Wales, Australia
Mrs McKay[231]	1963	Victoria, Australia'
E K Wade[232]	1963
Dame Leslie Whateley DBE[233]	1963	Director, World Bureau
Miss Wood[234]	1963	South Australia
Safiya Abdel-Rahman[235]	1965	Egyptian Federation for Scouts and Girl Guides, also extremely active in sports for girls in Egypt
Gladys "Jim" Buntine OBE (1901–1992)[193]	1966	Chief Commissioner of Guides Australia (1962–1968)
Sybil Canadine[236]	1967	One of the original founders of the Girl Guide movement, County commissioner, Gloucestershire
Penelope "Pen" Wood-Hill (1909–1990)[141]	1967	Ran Our Chalet.
Joyce Price OBE, CMG (1915–2009)[237]	1967	Australian Chief Commissioner (1968–1973), Chairman of WAGGGS, Vice President of Olave Baden-Powell Society (1985–1994)
Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowden (1930–2002)[238]	1968	President of the Guides
J P Moffett MBE[239]	1968	Deputy chief commissioner of the Commonwealth, Commissioner for the Branch Association within the Commonwealth
Dame Ann Parker Bowles DCVRO[240]	1969	In recognition of her wide and selfless service to the Association

1970–1979

Recipient	Year	Notes
E F Armstrong[241]	1970	Commonwealth advisor, Gloucestershire
K B Clysdale[242]	1970	Chief commissioner, Canada
Amelia "Milly" Collins MBE (1915-1991)[243]	1971	Chair, Diamond Jubilee Coordinating Committee
Mary English[244]	1971	New Zealand Guide Handbook, author
Margaret Turnbull (1907–1986)[245]	1971	Chief Commissioner for New Zealand
Ena Collymore-Woodstock MBE [246]	1972	Chief Commissioner, Jamaica
Mary Lambie [247]	1973	State Commissioner, South Australia
Mrs Allan Laing [248]	1974	Deputy Chief Commissioner, GGA
W P Gurd[249]	1976	Chief Commissioner, Canada
Sheila M Crosby[250]	1978	Executive Director, Girl Guides of Canada
Vivienne Vaughan-Cox OBE[251]	1978	Chair, Overseas Committee for Girl Guides. Commissioner in Gibraltar and Malta.
Mrs Owen Walker JP[252]	1979	Chief Commissioner of GGA

1980–1989

Recipient	Year	Notes
Dr Kathryn Benson-Evans[253]	1980	Training advisor, Wales
Rosemary Cadbury Dickson[254]	1980	Chief commissioner, Ulster
Dr Helen Laird OBE, DL (1931-2020)[255]	1980	Vice chair, WAGGGS
Edna Banham[256]	1981
Margaret Coleman[257]	1981	Editor, Guiding in Australia magazine
T A Dickson JP[258]	1981	Chief commissioner, Ulster
Mrs Owen John[259]	1981	New Zealand guiding
Stella Cunliffe (1917–2002)[260]	1982	County commissioner, London South West
Margaret Walcott[261]	1983	General commissioner for special projects, Barbados
Aline Fenwick OBE[262]	1985	Outstanding service to Guiding in the fields of law and finance, Australia
Mary Hill OAM[263]	1985	Commissioner for training, WAGGGS
Maureen Reid[264]	1988	Chief commissioner, Scotland
Anne Dunford[265]	1989	Deputy chief commissioner
Dr June Paterson-Brown CBE[266]	1989	Chief commissioner, Commonwealth

1990–1999

Margaret Banks[267]	1990	Commissioner for Branch Associations
June Callaghan[268]	1990	Chief commissioner, Ulster
Mary Willatt[269]	1990	Programme and training advisor
Patricia Lawrence[270]	1990	Chair of uniform panel
Pauline McKie[271]	1992	Community involvement and development advisor, County trainer, Staffordshire
Ann Mitchell[272]	1993	Advisor, British Guides in Foreign Countries
Jane Garside[273]	1994	Chief commissioner
Betty Clay CBE (1917–2004)[274]	1995	Active in Guiding in both Northern Rhodesia and England. Daughter of Lord and Lady Baden-Powell. Like her mother she received the only other gold Silver Fish.
Elizabeth Ferrier[275]	1998	Chair of programme and training for GGA

2000 onwards

Recipient	Year	Notes
Dorothy Naylor[276]	2015	Special needs advisor, British Guides in Foreign Countries
Nicola Grinstead[277]	2016	Chair, WAGGGS board of trustees
Anne Llywelyn-Jones[278]	2016	Advisor, Girlguiding's overseas branches
Angela Milln[279]	2016	Deputy chief guide
Leslie Knighton MBE[280]	2018	Chief commissioner, British Girlguiding Overseas
Carol Selwyn-Jones[281]	2020	Safeguarding leader, British Girlguiding Overseas
Melanie Ford MBE[282][283]	2024	County Commissioner, Girlguiding Sussex West, and Lead Volunteer World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, for services to young people
Su Madurasinghe[284]	2025	Duke of Edinburgh Award adviser, Girlguiding Cymru

Date of award unknown

Recipient	Year	Notes
Julia Cobb Crowell (1877–1957)		First Girl Scout commissioner, Cleveland, USA
Countess Gowrie (1879–1965)[285]		Chief commissioner, New South Wales, Australia
Rose Kerr OBE (1882–1994)[141]		One of the founders of the Rangers Involved in the formation of WAGGGS
Jane Deeter Rippin (1882–1953)[141]		National director, Girl Scouts of the USA (1919–1930)
Elizabeth Whitehurst (1883–1953)[286]
Alice Behrens (1885–1952)[287]		First commissioner, first head of training
Kari Aas (1886–1978)		Chief Scout of Norsk Speiderpikeforbund (1927–1935). Designed World Flag
A. M. Victoria Rossiter (1887–1977)[288]		Stores commissioner,
Violet Synge[141] (1896–1981)		Chief commissioner, England
Connie Stableford (1901–1987)[289]
Vera Armstrong MBE (1904–1992)[141]		Founder, Guide Friendship Fund
Beryl Henniker-Hughan (1905–1998)[290]		Division commissioner
Lady Chauvel[291]		State commissioner, Victoria, Australia
W. Coxon[292]
Mrs Robotham[293]		India Girl Guides
Cicely Douglas (d. 1985)[294]		Scottish executive committee
Gertrude Pakenham-Walsh[295]		India Girl Guides. She also had a Silver Elephant Award
Margaret Wilson (d. 1977)[296]		Camp trainer

See also

• Thanks Badge Girl Scouts of USA highest adult honour
• Silver Wolf Award for distinguished service to Scouting in the UK

• Scouting portal