Youngsters celebrate the Big Brownie Birthday

And this weekend thousands of Brownies did just that to celebrate the centenary of the organisation's formation.

Across the UK members were taking part in events to mark the occasion, including around 2,000 from Girlguiding West Mercia, which covers Wolverhampton, the Black Country and South Staffordshire, who were at Weston Park for the Big Brownie Birthday.

Another 1,700 from Girlguiding Staffordshire celebrated at the County Showground in Stafford.

At Weston Park, tribute acts to One Direction, Katy Perry, Little Mix, Olly Murs performed for the girls and their leaders.

Balloons, in the traditional yellow and brown colours of the organisation, were scattered around the site where performance tents included magic and dance acts as well as an animal display.

Marion Watkins, county commissioner for Girlguiding West Mercia, said: "This is something that has been planned for around two years and we asked the girls what they wanted to do.

"We had all sorts of suggestions from music from One Direction to a trip toJapan. That's certainly something we wouldn't get in my day.

"There will only be one occasion to celebrate a 100th birthday and so we wanted to make it extra special.

"We're really proud of the celebration and the girls have had so much to do and they are enjoying it which tells you it has been a success.

"We had so much going on throughout the day. The girls were here from as early as 9.30am and they will be until around 8.30pm after they have watched the concert on the big stage."

Other activities included a yoga tent and kick boxing sessions.

Such activities are a far cry from the days of the Brownies formation.

It was in 1908 when Robert Baden-Powell published Scouting for Boys but the book gathered a girl audience undaunted by the title.

A year later girls gatecrashed the first Boy Scout Rally in Crystal Palace where they asked Baden-Powell to offer 'something for girls too'.

In 1910, his sister, Agnes Baden Powell, formed the Girl Guides Association.

The Brownies were formed in 1914 as a junior section to the Girl Guides.

They were originally called Rosebuds but this changed to the current name in 1915.

At the time for a girl to qualify for the Brownies she had to learn how to wash up dishes, clean and fill salt cellars as well as know how to plait their own hair and tie their own tie.

These days Brownies are involved in exercises such as abseiling, rock climbing and information technology.

Deputy regional chief commissioner Dee Miles (corr), who has been involved in the Girl Guides for more than 40 years, spoke about the changes in the organisation.

She said: "I would say that the Brownies has evolved with the times and as the world has changed it has too. Some of things the girls do they simply wouldn't have been able to have done 100 years ago. When the Brownies started girls were expected to stay indoors and lay the table but now they have a lot more opportunities and I think that we have moved with that. I would say we are there to support girls as they grow and we are a big part of their development.

"We have always been popular.

"There are 155,000 girls on the waiting list to be a member of the Brownies and the problem isn't getting enough girls it is getting the volunteers."

Helena Taylor (corr), who is a guider for Six Kingswinford unit, added: "I think the Brownies is a lot less regimented and we have changed as the world has changed. We have a new strapline which is 'We discover, we grow' and I think that sums up the feeling among Brownies packs."

Currently there are enough Brownies in the UK to fill Wembley stadium 17 times over. It has representatives in more 100 countries and British Brownies meet in countries across Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Famous former members include Walsall's Paralympic gold medallist Ellie Simmonds, actress Emma Thompson and author J.K Rowling.

The Brownies is a much more modern organisation and in its early years it was customary for girls to wear dresses, hats, neckerchiefs and shoes.

Now the girls where combat trousers, hoodies, t-shirts and caps.

Gill Slocombe (corr), who is the chief guide for the UK, spoke of the importance of the Brownies.

She said: "It is an opportunity for these girls to develop and I think it is brilliant that they are socialising and discovering the world. It is significant what it does for young children and it is unique and they can learn how people are and how other people love and that's very important.

"Across the UK about 50 per cent of adult women have been involved in the girl guides.

"People have long lasting and fond memories about it when they were children.

"I think the event is wonderful and really captures the excitement. You look around and the children are outside, they're having fun and you don't see them tapping away on a computer or mobile phone. I think it's great."

In Stafford the theme of event was to display the past, present and future of the Brownies as members travelled through three time zones of the organisation.

Claire Keen (corr), a Brown Owl for Stockton in Staffordshire, said: "There were around 1,700 Brownies and about 400 adults. We had a lot of activities one of them including a seaside where the children could create sandcastle.

"We also had a tribute act of Little Mix. It was a great day and really enjoyable."