A Word From The Leader
Welcome to our website. I thought you may like to know a little of the history behind the pre-school and how I was fortunate enough to become the Leader of Pippin.
Two members of Stotfold Baptist church formed Pippin Playgroup in the 1960s when the playgroup was run in the church hall. My first involvement with Pippin was in 1976 when my daughter Nicola started to attend the group.
My son, Gareth, started at Pippin in 1979, it was during this time that the then owner, Heather Drinkwater, asked a number of parents to form a steering committee with a view to buy the group and to form a committee. I was on the steering committee and became the first Chairperson of the group. Heather sold the group to the committee for £250 plus her goodwill.
The committee soon got to work to raise the money. We organised an obstacle toddle, which took place on the Green, within 6 months we had raised the £250 and was able to pay Heather.
I started working as an assistant playleader as my son started school in 1980, when the position became available. In 1981, when the supervisor left, I was offered the job, I have run Pippin Pre-School ever since.
Over the years I have had the support of many parents, who have organised many events to raise funds. These included jumble sales, discos, obstacle toddles and quiz nights which enabled the playgroup to purchase equipment and toys.
In 1994, when the Baptist church needed the church hall for their own activities, Pippin moved to its present home, which is housed in the beautiful “Old Boys School”, where Pippin has continued to grow and expand.
