My oldest child, Jeremy, was just three; time to start him at a playgroup. But other more savvy mums had already put the names of their children on the waiting list of the only Barrow nursery school, in some cases, more or less at birth. Jeremy would be lucky to get a place before it was time for him to go to school. So, I put up posters advertising a meeting for anyone interested in starting a new playgroup.

It was very well attended by mums eager to get involved. We formed a committee (of course) and got started. First thing was to find a venue. This was hard because Barrow was very short of community spaces. Fortunately, we were able to book two mornings a week at the Methodist school room. Next target was to get permission. There was almost no red tape: no qualifications needed, no DBS checking, no OFSTED. However, we did need to become registered with the local authority. I met the woman who was to register us in the school room. I had 18-month-old Penny with me. The registrar had a rather brief look round. The room was tiny, more like a brick lean-to on the side of the church. At one end was a sink where we would be able to wash up, make tea and wash off the paint from grubby little hands. Health & Safety hadn’t been invented. She asked to see the toilets – four dark loos in an outhouse. I left Penny on the schoolroom floor with my handbag to amuse her while I took the registrar. When we got back after a two-minute absence. Penny had found the cut-throat razor that I always carried in my bag to scrape my oboe reeds! Incredibly, the woman made no comment although she must have had her doubts about the suitability of this applicant to run a playgroup.

We got our registration to run two sessions a week each with 12 children and two adults.

The next target was to identify 12 children and book them in. Shirley (Warriner) volunteered to be the registrar and quickly signed up children for each session.

Then we needed to beg, steal, buy, make or borrow equipment. Once word got round, we successfully acquired infant tables (snatched from the jaws of an imminent school bonfire); two easels made by proud young dads; a rather grotty, folding Wendy house (always popular); an amazing work bench for carpentry to be enjoyed by three – and four-year-olds with proper hammers, a vice and hacksaws; a very swish slide which we actually bought; and numerous donated prams, trikes, dolls, books, games, baby baths for sand and water play, etc. etc.

To raise cash for equipment and rent, the committee hand-made hobbyhorses – dozens of them, possibly over a hundred of them. We made them from remnants, scrounged stuffing and broom poles. They were a huge success and we sold them easily, including in the very cold Loughborough market for a handsome profit, especially as we neared Christmas. The Loughborough Echo got to hear of our industry and provided some useful publicity.

Lastly, we needed to sort out staff. Each session was led by two playgroup leaders whom the committee had appointed and who were paid £1 a session! Mike Hind said I bullied Jan (Hind) and Marlene (Alcock) to become leaders. Mike: “You were very bossy in those days”. Me: “I still am”. They were supported by a mum from the mother rota (of course we were all mums!). If it was your turn on the rota you didn’t have to pay for your child to attend that session. The notion of a mother rota was a real philosophical ‘plus’ amongst educationalists. In this patronizing view, the mums were getting some free education themselves.

My last reminiscence concerned the interviewing of Sandie Forrest to become a playgroup leader a few weeks before our first session in January 1972. We were due to hold a committee meeting at my house on the morning of December 1st to interview her. However, Nick (my third child) was born shortly before everyone turned up. Too bad. The show must go on. There was just about room around my bed for everyone and the meeting happened although I think Sandie did wonder what kind of circus she was letting herself in for.

We started in the spring term of 1972 and never looked back. We quickly expanded to five mornings, then afternoons and then morning sessions in Humphrey Perkins Community Lounge with many more children per session.

Children at play – do you recognise anyone here?

This isn’t quite the end of my story because early on we became part of BUSCA (Barrow Community Association).

Towards the end of 1971 conversations had started between the Rev. Norman Peck, minister of Barrow Methodist Church and Wynne Morris, headmaster of Humphrey Perkins School. They were well aware of the concerns of village organisations that Barrow had very few community spaces in which meetings and events could take place. They met against the background of extraordinary moves by Stewart Mason and later, Andrew Fairbairn to create a genuinely community-based educational system in Leicestershire. Community colleges and centres were springing up where community and school could merge for mutual activity, both during and out of school time.

Norman and Wynne were supported by local leaders to call a public meeting to test the views of the community to the notion of creating a community association that would be based in Humphrey Perkins School and would work to create a community centre there for the village. I went representing the embryonic play group.

The meeting was extremely well attended and it was agreed to proceed. Barrow Community Association was created and held its first meeting in 1972. It was also agreed that the community association (now BUSCA) would absorb the playgroup as part of its activities. The village started to fundraise to build the community centre…. but that’s a different story.

I am personally thrilled that the playgroup is still thriving, albeit a very different organisation, far more professional and knowledgeable, able to give a first-rate preschool experience. I wish them all the best for their future.

Judith Rodgers
(retiring chair of BUSCA and founding committee member of Barrow Playgroup)