HUNDREDS of former pupils and staff members of Ross Preschool Playgroup joined in the family fun day as the organisation celebrated its 55th anniversary.

The original celebratory event had been planned to mark the 50th anniversary of the preschool playgroup, but this had to be postponed until now because of the Covid pandemic lockdown where public gatherings were forbidden.

Playgroup fete
DUCKS: Children have a go at trying to find the wanted duck at the fete to celebrate 55 years of the Ross Preschool Playgroup. (Tindle)

Ross Preschool Playgroup was started by Joyce Thomas MBE in 1970 who held a public meeting to establish the need for such a facility and was overwhelmed by the support of the project.

At the time Ms Thomas told the Ross Gazette that playgroups were almost non-existent in the county and that the local authority was not interested in providing such a facility.

Old photographs
OLD PHOTOGRAPHS: Visitors poured over old photographs and display boards covering the 55-year history of the Ross Preschool Playgroup. (Tindle)

Subsequently the playgroup was set up as a non-profit making charitable company with the aim of providing safe and satisfying preschool education at a reasonable price to children of families in Ross on Wye and District.

Having approached the local education authority, it was originally based in the Horsa Huts, which were demolished to make way for Goodrich Court and they then moved to the Larruperz Centre.

Carnival
ROSS CARNIVAL: A Ross Gazette photograph of the pre-school playgroup’s children pictured on a float as part of the annual carnival in the late 1970s. (Ross Gazette)

The playgroup has provided pre-schooling to over 1,500 children since then and is well thought of in the local community with many parents who came to this playgroup bringing their own children to them.

Playgroup management
MANAGEMENT: The women who operate behind the scenes are Iris Price, treasurer, Pauline Wallace, chairman, Kate Brown and Rosemary Tingle. (Tindle)

Along with many traditional stalls at the family fun day, the Larruperz Centre hosted an exhibition of photographs and other items of memorabilia covering the playgroup’s 55 years, which proved to be very popular with visitors.

former playgroup staff
RETURN VISIT: Former staff members Christine Hemms, Sally Sandford, Pauline Williams, Sandra Clarke-Bolton pictured at the family fun day. (Submitted/RPSPG)

The staff are long-serving well trained individuals who really care about the children they look after. Vicki Page has been with the Playgroup for nearly 31 years and other staff range from seven to 24 years service.

Iris Price one of the directors and has been the treasurer for 39 years and has been involved with the playgroup for over 40 years.