Playgroup celebrates golden jubilee

The thronged main hall at Little Common Community Centre echoed to the sound of more than 100 animated voices as past and present parents and pupils marked the playgroup's golden jubilee.

Scrapboard pictures helped jog the celebrants' memories as Tuesday afternoon's party got under way.

A 50th birthday cake augmented the tea and home-made cakes on offer.

While the more energetic bopped to a disco beat in the smaller hall, face-painting was an option for others in the main hall.

There was a tombola and a lucky dip. A prize awaits the lucky person whose balloon travels furthest and is returned.

For playgroup manager Julie Webster the hubbub was a symbol of succes.

"It's terrific. There must be more than 100 people here.

"Some of them are our current families who are with us now. Some of them are past staff and children who have come to visit us.

"We are really pleased that they have been able to celebrate it with us.

"I have met mums here with their children who have grown up. Some are in their twenties now and came here as little ones."

Sadly, little written record survives of the early years. The playgroup was founded in 1958.

Julie said: "We know that a Mrs Evans was one of the first teachers. But there is not a lot else apart from that."