IN PICTURES: Cardross church play group moves on after 53 years

Recent changes to government guidelines have seen the playgroup at Cardross Parish Church move a short distance up the hill to Cardross Primary School.

But the church congregation was determined not to let the bittersweet move go without celebrating the hundreds of children, parents, guardians, leaders, helpers and friends who have played a part in the story of the playgroup since it was formed in 1966.

To mark the playgroup’s contribution to the life of the church, the village and the wider area, a special commemorative artwork, created by local sculptor David Irvine, was unveiled in the church grounds during Saturday’s event, which was attended by many of those who contributed to the playgroup’s story.

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The piece of art – which doubles as a seat for children playing in the church grounds – was joined by two magnolia trees, planted in the grounds by the church’s minister, the Rev Maggie McArthur, Carol Paterson, the playgroup’s final manager, and Jeanette Scobie, who set up the playgroup with her late husband Andrew 53 years ago, when Mr Scobie was the parish church’s minister.

And Mrs Scobie was not the only survivor of 1966 to play a role in Saturday’s celebration.

The day also featured a cameo appearance by a rocking horse which was donated to the playgroup when it took its own first baby steps – in the same year that England won the football World Cup, The Beatles’ seventh album, Revolver, was released, and the Action Man toy figure appeared on the shelves of the UK’s shops for the very first time.

Sharing a few of her memories of the setting-up of the playgroup all those years ago, Mrs Scobie – who came to Cardross with her husband in 1965 – said the playgroup owed its roots to the Pre-school Playgroups Association (PPA), formed in the early 1960s in response to a growing demand from parents of young children for play facilities outside the home, allowing children to play together.

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Mrs Scobie said: “As a new young minister’s wife I was besieged with requests to form a playgroup and so the playgroup began.

“There were some hurdles to be crossed. We had to get permission from the Kirk Session – all male at that time, and pretty resistant to the idea of a playgroup, thinking mothers should stay at home and look after their children.

“However finally the formidable session clerk, Mr Rankine, gave his support, and the playgroup was born.

“To begin with we met twice a week with an ad hoc variety of activities.

“The committee had some strange ideas – it was suggested that we start each morning with a Bible story, a hymn and a prayer – and it was hard for some people to get their heads round the idea that the children should choose what they wanted to do and not be taught all together as a class.”

Over the years that followed, the playgroup became about much more than play, eventually becoming an officially-accredited provider of pre-school education, with everything – good and bad – that official status brings with it.

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But playing has always been at its heart, and Mrs Scobie’s speech brought back memories for many present of playing in water and sand in redundant baby baths, modelling with playdough and the insides of toilet rolls, and the nervous reaction of some parents when the group invested in a large climbing frame with ladders and a chute.

That last move was made as the group heartily endorsed the PPA’s view that children should be allowed to climb as high as they wanted – since they would not go higher than they felt safe.

“The Playgroup has always been generous to the church,” she added.

“It was open to all, not just church members, and formed an important link with the whole community.

“I shall miss there not being a church playgroup or early learning group but I wish you all very well for the future.”