A Winchester student has received a top award for guiding.

Rachel Payne was presented with Girlguiding UK’s top accolade, the coveted Queen’s Guide Award by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon.

The 22-year-old, of Byron Avenue joined more than 30 young women from the UK to receive the award from the baroness, who is herself a Queen’s Guide, in a ceremony held at the House of Lords earlier this month.

The award sees participants take the lead in areas such as developing a personal skill, working within pioneering community action projects and overseeing ambitious outdoor pursuits.

Rachel, who is leader of the 1st Winchester City West Rainbows, performed at the Edinburgh Fringe as part of the National Scout and Guide Symphony Orchestra.

She ran her own Rainbow unit in Manchester while at university, which led her to apply for and complete a PGCE Primary qualification.

She went on to a project in Chile.

Rachel, who is currently studying for a PGCE at Winchester University, said: “I was chosen to participate in a development project in Chile and having never previously travelled outside Europe I was confident enough to travel on my own to Easter Island after the project, where I had an amazing time exploring the ancient sites.”

Baroness Royall said: “As a Queen’s Guide myself I know what valuable experiences these young women will have had the opportunity to benefit from on their way to achieving this.

“It is an award of which they should be very proud.”