GIRL Guides on board an American Jeep hold aloft a scroll of friendship, while their fellow Guides provide a guard of honour.

The picture comes from Pamela Hughes, of Sterling Road, Kidlington, who, as Pamela Venn and a member of Headington Guides in Oxford, is the girl holding the scroll with her left hand.

She believes the photograph was taken in 1947 or 1948, but cannot remember the occasion.

However, our research suggests that the picture may date from July 1950, when the Girl Guide movement held its 13th World Conference in Oxford, marking 40 years of Guiding.

One feature of the event was that Scrolls of Friendship were brought from all over the country to Oxford by different forms of transport, including river, canal and horseback.

They were paraded along Broad Walk in Christ Church Meadow, then taken to a camp fire at South Park, Headington, where Princess Margaret presented them to delegates from 27 countries in front of 10,000 Guides.

One typical scroll read: “The Guides of the British Isles, who are happy to have as their guests members of the 13th World Conference, send this Scroll as a token of friendship to their sister Guides in the United States of America, and may many exchange visits between the two countries be possible in the coming years.”

The festivities also included a water pageant on the River Cherwell in the University Parks.

One Guide later recalled: “The VIPs had seats on the city side of the river, while the Guides and the public were on the Marston side.

“The pageant was staged in a series of punts which floated along the river to Handel’s Water Music.”

The 13th World Conference was held at St Hugh’s College with the theme, This Changing World.

Sunday, July 16, was declared Guide Sunday and special services were held at numerous churches to give thanks for four decades of Guiding and to pray for guidance in the future.