Bedfordshire's new County Standard was Dedicated on, 20th March 2004.

It was commissioned as after 72 years of service the previous standard was showing signns of wear and tear. The history of how it was made is shown below.

Searching for the fabric proved quite a challenge, but eventually we found what was wanted in Lincolnshire. All the other materials were bought in London, or locally.
Between the hoist and the motto band the fabric is guide blue, and the first emblem is the current guide badge, made in gold leather, a gift from a sandal maker in Milton Keynes, and outlined with gold cording.

Next to the guide badge comes the county badge, also in leather, from the same source and outlined with silver cord. The badge is based on an old coin found in the Castle Mound, when it was excavated in 1910, the year Guiding started in Bedfordshire. This accounts for the rough circular shape, since it would have been hand cut from silver. The inscription reads Edward Rex, Edward the confessor, and the cross in the outer circle should always be at the bottom.

The Motto Band is in gold fabric, with Be Prepared on the front, and Bedfordshire on the back. The letters were machine stitched on vilene, then applied to the band with buttonhole stitch. Each letter took about an hour and a half to apply.

The Fly is in green fabric to represent the agricultural industry in Bedfordshire and also the parks and recreational areas. Mounted on the Fly are the various symbols chosen to represent our County. The blue wavy band with silver cording represents all the rivers and canals within the County.

The three lace bobbins worked on each side with their spangles represent the lace industry in Bedfordshire, both past and present. They are also a link with the previous standard, signifying that although things change, the fundamentals remain, and we are not forgetting the past.

The white lion recognises the famous chalk lion carved into the hillside of Dunstable Downs, and represents the tourist industry, as well as reminding us specifically of Whipsnade Zoo.

The windmills represent the countryside, and in particular the Windmill at Stevington, a well known attraction, frequently visited by units staying at Mollivers.

The appliqué is of the now famous stained glass window of John Bunyan, for he and Bedfordshire are so closely linked. The background was painted with dyes and we are grateful to the Bunyan meeting for permission to use the window on our standard and they were delighted to have a preview when it was finished.

The narrow boat, in blue and white, represents the canal which runs through the County, nowadays used for tourism and leisure, but of course in the past a transport highway between London and the Midlands.

The aeroplanes represent all our Airports, Luton, Old Warden, Cardington and Cranfield.

The pieced border is blue and gold It was quite a challenge when it came to the curved sections on the fly, but with the aid of many shaped pattern pieces, it was finally achieved..

Many people joined in with the opportunities given to "put a stitch in it" and we have a record of their names. Pearl Lawson Johnson was one of these, forming a living link with the previous standard, since her mother was a major embroiderer when it was made in 1932.

The final assembly was achieved on schedule, but a final consultation with our textile consultant was necessary to smooth away a few final, but major headaches. We all rejoice that such a major challenge has been achieved by so many pairs of hands, and we have handed our work over for use, hopefully for the next 70 years or more.
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The Original County Standard

The Arms those of Bedford, the wavy lines are the River Ouse and the silver circles the Guide County badge. The lace bobbins represent an old Bedfordshire industry.

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