When 23 year-old Olave St Claire Soames married 55 year old Robert Baden-Powell in 1912, she caused an international sensation, and despair to 100,000 Boy Scouts who speculated that the marriage would bring an end to the Chief’s Scouting.

Instead the exuberant tomboy’s boundless energy lead to an unflagging support of BP and helped Scouting to grow even faster. Her own vision saw Guiding become the largest organisation for girls and women ever seen, and led her to be called “The Mother of Millions”.

Guiding has significantly influenced the shape of our society, and will continue to do so into the future. I hope you can capture here a piece of the vibrant vision of this extraordinary woman.

This site is endeavoring to cover much of her life, from birth, through her time with BP, and the work she carried on long after his death.