Join playgroup celebrations and share memories (From Oxford Mail)

Join playgroup celebrations and share memories

5:49pm Friday 10th July 2009 in

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VOLUNTEERS celebrating the 40th anniversary of a South Oxford playgroup are asking former pupils and staff to share their happy memories of the past four decades.

Lake Street Playgroup is staging a birthday celebration tomorrow — including a family fun day.

For the past few years, the fun day at the playgroup in Hinksey Park, off Abingdon Road, has been well attended, but this year organisers are hoping for a bumper crowd.

There will be a large number of stalls, races, games, a puppet show and face painting.

Mother-of-three Beccy Willis, of Sunningwell Road, whose three-year-old son Luca attends the playgroup, said: “My two five-year-old twins also went to the playgroup and it’s a brilliant start to their education.

“Most of the children who come here either go to St Ebbe’s or New Hinksey primary schools.

“The playgroup committee is run by volunteers and we wanted the anniversary party to be an opportunity for former staff, volunteers and pupils to come forward and share their memories with us.”

Lake Street Playgroup started as a facility for a small number of children in South Oxford Community Centre in 1969.

Five years ago, it outgrew the room in the community centre and moved into its own renovated premises backing on to Hinksey Pool changing rooms, with more space and a garden.

The playgroup is still run by volunteers, but now has a well-qualified team of play assistants, runs sessions five days a week, and cares for more than 40 children aged two to four.

Playgroup supervisor Catherine Morey said: “Lake Street Playgroup’s staff and committee would love to hear from anyone who was at playgroup themselves or had children at playgroup in the 1970s or 1980s.

“Staff are putting together a record of memories and photos and are hoping to talk to children about the similarities and differences 40 years ago.

“Pat Bruder, who first helped to set up the playgroup, is coming along to help us celebrate and we want parents and former pupils to come forward with their memories and photos so that we can create a scrapbook.”

Tomorrow’s celebrations start at 2pm, when a birthday cake will be cut, and end at 4pm.

affrench@oxfordmail.co.uk