Bohemia Village Voice

Helen a great boss and friend

Helen Dempsey, supervisor at the Park Road Under Fives Playgroup, retired on 23rd July after 18 years service. Helen, of Clar-ence Road, was trained to teach children, but never actually worked as a teacher because when she moved down from south-east London to Hastings in 1971, there were no teaching jobs available locally. She started work at Park Road playgroup in 1990, but had already been associated with it for some years, as her own children went there.
“My daughter was one of the first group when it initially opened in March 1986, so I’ve been part of the playgroup as a parent, then as an ordinary session worker, then as deputy supervisor, and finally as supervisor.”
Helen’s friend  and colleague Sally Crockford, who has worked under her for five years, said, “Helen is a really kind, caring, considerate person, a great boss and an even greater friend. She’s given a lot to children round this area.” At Helen’s last session with the playgroup, she received gifts from the committee, the staff, and the parents. Asked about her favourite memories, Helen said, “What stand out are the annual visits, because the children enjoy them so much. Every year we go to places like the Seven Sisters Sheep Farm, the Rare Breeds Centre near Ashford, Drusilla’s Zoo or the Sea Life Centre. We’ve also taken the children to visit the Fire Station. There’s also the Christmas parties and the summer parties, with a magician.”
Looking back, Helen speaks of the changes since the playgroup’s early days. “There are about 45 children there now. There used to be over 90 at one time, but there are now lots more private nurseries. We at Park Road are a non-profit-making organisation, a real community group. We offer a service for people who can’t afford a private nursery. When we first started, we didn’t have OFSTED. Now we’re ofsteded and have to follow the early years system. It’s much more professional: we all have training courses, and there are more qualified staff. It’s much more hard work, but I think it’s a better level of care. The parents have higher expectations.”
Helen will be continuing in her duties as a lollipop lady at St Paul’s School. “I’ll see quite a few of the little children, because some are going to St. Paul’s in September of course, so I’ll still keep in touch.”