IT is a rare feat for any Brownie to achieve, but two girls from the Beccles pack have become the first in the region to successfully complete all 57 of their Brownie Interest badges since 2004.

Jennifer Steed, 10, of Ronden Close, Beccles, and Estella Smith, 9, of Pound Lane, Toft Monks, have been Brownies for three years.

The pair, members of the 1st Beccles Brownies, both gained their final badge, the Advanced Brownie Camper badge, at the Girlgiding Anglia Brownie Fun Weekend at Hautbois, near Coltishall.

Jennifer said she was “overjoyed” when she realised she had received all of the badges. She said: “I don’t really know how to explain how I feel. It’s exciting.”

Estella added: “It felt really, really, really good when we found out. I was really happy and excited.”

The girls have been presented with achievement certificates from Anglia Region and received a Commissioner Award from Sally Turner, district and division commissioner for Beccles, who has also recently received a Good Service Award for services to guiding in Suffolk.

As a treat for all their hard work the girls spent a day in London with their leader, Brown Owl Caroline Carvosso.

During their day, they viewed the Olympic site, went on the tube to visit the Tower of London and the Crown Jewels, walked up passed Parliament through St James’s Park to see Buckingham Palace, before spending the afternoon at Commonwealth Guide Headquarters and ICANDO, one of Girlguiding UK’s flagship activity centres.

Ms Carvosso said: “The whole brownie pack and leaders have had to be very organised and dedicated in helping Jennifer and Estella achieve their goal of gaining all the Brownie Interest badges.

“Some badges are quite hard and not achieved very often, but it has to be said that the badge bug has rubbed off on lots of the other girls and they are now badge crazy too. I don’t think it will be too long before another set of Brownies try to reach the benchmark set by Jennifer and Estella. The standard of work demonstrated by both girls on every occasion has been very high and it has been a real pleasure to see them reach their goal.”

The girls, who will go on to join Beccles Guides next week, both agreed that their favourite badge was the watersports one, but added that they also enjoyed working towards their Computer and Brownie Camper badges.

Estella said: “I’m really looking forward to working towards new badges with the Guides.”

Jennifer added: “Thank you to Brown Owl for all her hard work.”

On top of the Interest badges, the girls also completed a large number of Challenge badges which includes the Seaside Challenge badge, written by Ms Carvosso and designed by Jennifer as part of her Designer badge requirement.

“Thanks to the internet and the ability now to download the syllabus, our badge has been a huge success with amazing feedback and badge sales have exceeded 4,000 in the last six months,” Ms Carvosso added.

The badge is fundraising for both 1st Beccles Brownies toward their residential trips and Beccles Senior Section, who hope to travel abroad in 2013.

- To find out more about Guiding in Beccles, or to download the Seaside Challenge badge, please visit www.onesuffolk.co.uk/nesuffolkgirlguiding or ring Sally Turner on 01502 713516.