A Sleepover on the Golden Hinde

Over two different weekends, 48 Brownies from 4th and 5th Tollington Brownies had a sleepover on the Golden Hinde! Here, two Brownies share their experience.

The Brownies went to the Golden Hinde for a Brownie sleepover, it was an interesting experience. It was soooooooooooooooooo exciting! At first, it seemed a bit strange and unfamiliar but when everybody got used to it, we had the best time ever.

The Golden Hinde is an English Galleon which sailed round the globe between 1577 and 1580, captained by Sir Francis Drake.

First, we arrived and met our host, then we put our night bags away before getting dressed in our caps, brown shirts and differently coloured sashes. After that we met the crew of the ship, it was very funny. According to them no girls were allowed on the ship in the olden times. Then we travelled back in time and we had to make up boy names for us so they would not discover us.

Next, we went off with different members of the crew according to our different coloured sashes. Some of us went with the officer to the Great Cabin where we dined on some ale (apple juice) and biscuits. As we did that, we discussed our names and how long we had been sailing for. After that, we were shown how to pull the anchor up using a wooden turning post. Then we each had a go of pushing the long planks of wood that made the machine spin around. Then we learnt how they navigated using Starboard, Larboard, Fore and Aft.

Then we went with the gunner to learn about the cannons called Minions. Then we ‘fired’ the cannons and one brownie had to shout, ‘TAKE A CARE’ and we all covered our ears. Then the gunner told us a story about the Golden Hinde and after that she quizzed us on it.

Later on, we had a delicious, nutritious meal of vegetable stew and bread (which many did not like). Then, we told stories of injuries that people had. Some were particularly gruesome.

Afterwards, Brownies (our group) stayed in the hold (kitchen) with the Barber Surgeon who told us about the four elements and how they had to be balanced. After that we found out where she would have got the blood from our bodies according to our birthdays.

Then we defeated the Spanish and we each got some treasure (a bronze half a penny). Then we got all our bed stuff together and went to sleep in the gunroom.

All in all the trip was AMAZING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!