| Description | A collection of approximately 100 pieces written with experience of the playgroup movement (many of the Pre-School Playgroup Association employees or participants), mostly first hand with children in the groups. Margaret J Brown, the person who collected the texts says;
"Although it is a random sample it represents the voices of mothers, playgroup leaders, tutors and advisors, committee members, PPA employees, politicians and academics. Most came as a response to my request made in the process of collecting material for the PPA archive." December 2011
The texts were mainly written in 2010-2011, but some samples were written between 1960-2010.
The collection of reminiscences includes;
Mother and toddler playgroup, Bedfordshire
How does being involved in playgroup affect me/my family/the playgroup
FE playgroup course tutor to students, north west region (in form of a poem)
Advantages and disadvantages of a disabled person in playgroup eastern region
History of Shropshire playgroups, Wombourn branch newsletter
the perfect day, poem, playgroup mum, Buckinghamshire
Memories of a General Secretary, J Atkins, London
recollections from Helen Barnes. She mentions Sarah Williams, Wendy, Ros and Bryony, c1970
PPA - a perspective, the lesson and chance of a lifetime, Juliet Baxter, Berkshire c1968, plus cv after PPA
Mother's homework, article from Contact, 1974, by Juliet Baxter
The Bridgenorth Social Group, Margaret Berker, Shropshire PPA, 1971. Includes reference to working to create a group for disabled children
note from Elizabeth Belcher, Bedfordshire
account from Janet Bishop on how PPA encouraged her to take academic coursers, she became involved in 1967 initially, Cambridgeshire
Running the Bulk Buy service, P Brown, Dunstable branch, Cambridgeshire
Hardingham playgroup, Norfolk, Jean Bullock, 1973
Memories of the Pre-school Playgroups Association, Bedfordshire, recounting from 1974, Dawn Collins
Recollections of early days in Sussex PPA, Joyce Donohue, 1964 onwards
Articles fom Contact on playgroup advisors, rural playgroup life, Oxford University Conference,1972
regional development in the south east, including Sussex, urrey and Kent, J Donohue, from 1964
Account by Julia Elliott, involved in PPA, Bedfordshire
Account by Hilda Ellis, on Dagenham "Lilliput" playgroup, 1967
Activities of a National Advisor, report by Jill Faux, 1988
chapter from book illustrating her career, Cumbria, north west region
account by Mary Fawcett, involved in PPA in the 1960s-1980s, Norfolk and Bristol
account from Murial Goulden, Little Baddow, Essex, involved from 1966-1974
Audrey Greenaway on founding a home playgroup in 1968, southern region
Sue Griffin on being NEC chairman, from the Wiltshire Newsletter, 1983
Akeman Street Baptist playgroup, established 1976, Erica Grey, Tring, Hertfordshire
Playgroup memories 1964-1991, Erica Grey, Tring, Hertfordshire
How does being in a playgroup affect me, my family and the playgroup, Susan Handley, Essex
S. Herschell (nee Thompson) membership card, and account. Involved from 1970s onwards, Salop
Correspondence from Robin Howard, one of the founding membersof PPA with Belle Tutaev in 1961
"Acorn to sturdy oak" article by Robin Howard, involved from the early 1960s, London
account of building a toy store, DIY style, for Toddington playgroup, 1987. Pam James, Bedfordshire
diary, CV and research material of a founder member, B Keeley, Bedfordshire, invloved 1960s
armed forces playgroups, Jean Key, Hampshire
account of national AGM, 1990, Deborah Knowles, Bedfordshire
account of Jean Lee, involved in playgroups from 1960s, Cambridge, Stretham, and Norfolk
print out of email from Joanna Matthews, Cumbria, involved from 1960
"PPA The good times", Rita Miller, Somerset, south west region, involved from 1970s
"Panel mum" voluteering opportunities, Rita Miller, includes various press cuttings, posters/flyers, lists of playgroups
"A first foundation course" from eastern region Focus magazine, Doris Mobbs and Gwen Robinson, Hertfordshire
accounts from Susan Monson
the work of Brenda Crowe, first national advisor 1970
Sally Mulford, Hampshire, 1980s
Playgroup costs and resources, case studies of 27 playgroups in the northern region
Acorns - poem by Venetia Osborne, Widcombe
C Pavitt, Essex, at Brighton Conference 1980, with conference programme
Also accounts by;
Margaret Perry, inner London, 1970s
Margaret Perry, Bedfordshire, Bedfordshire, Toddington
Joan Pitman, Hampshire
Cynthia Robinson, Norfolk
Molly Saynor, Lancashire
Lyn Sewell, Bedfordshire
Ann Shelley, Dunstable
A Shepherd, Berkhamsted
J Sherwood, Flitwick, Bedfordshire
Sheila Shinman, was running a playgroup in 1959
Helen Smith, mid-sussex
S Stone, south west region
B Swain, Hertfordshire
Gl Taylor, Norfolk
E Thomoas, London
A Tombs, Pavenham
M Traynor
A Truelove
J Velecky
I Walker
D Wall
J Welchman, for Polly Blair
I Walker
S Welsh
J Wood
E Wright
Playgroup News special preview issue, No.1 |