Playgroup memories and reminiscences 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 1960-2011