THE HISTORY OF THEYDON BOIS PRESCHOOL
Theydon Bois Preschool Group was originally proposed by Mrs Iris Berry, supported by her husband Geoffrey in late 1965. After much work and many problems they found premises at Theydon Bois Old Village Hall (now site of houses at Maple Close/Loughton Lane) in late 1968.
The first term had 16 children and was run by Mrs Iris Berry and assisted by Mrs Anita Pulley. The cost of 5 days per week each term was £12 10s. Essex County Council provided free milk for the children aged 42 months to 5 years. The days consisted of free play, organised games, songs and stories with the aim of creative, imaginative and physical activity.
Children in that first term included: Phillip Joiner; Claire Wicks and Anne Louise Risdon. In 1969 the group size grew from 20 to 30 children.
Around 1970 Mrs Iris Berry was joined by Mrs Doreen Duggett who, 9 years later, went on to take over the running of the group when Mrs Berry retired.
Mrs Duggett continued to run the group with the involvement and support of many parents for well over 10 years.
The premises for the Playgroup seemed to be a constant worry; the old wooden Village Hall needed to be replaced and plans were made for a new Village Hall (located on the site of the car park of the current Village Hall), but the plans for this new Hall did not allow enough space for the Playgroup and all its equipment so they stayed for a time in the old wooden building.
By 1983 the Scouts, whose hut adjoined the old Village Hall and was built in 1962, was in need of replacement. The Playgroup and its storage was part of the design of the Scout Hut so that they would have a safe, permanent home.
Fundraising by the Scouts was aided by the Playgroup and many others leading to its current home in the Scout Hut. It took over 6 years to raise the money for the new Scout building with planning permission being granted in 1990 and the building costing over £56,000. Much of this was raised through the Donkey Derby, and many of the parents helped in the physical construction of the building and its fitting out.
This article was produced December 2012 by Robert Levene with kind assistance from Mr K Duggett, the husband of Doreen Duggett, who played an important role in the Playgroup for such a long time.
What are your memories of the Preschool? Can you add anything? We would love to hear from you. Please email [email protected]
© 2020 Robert Levene Theydon Bois Preschool Group.