Educare principal retires after 51 years

As a young mother, Florence Reynolds, 79, asked her toddler’s creche for leniency with the fees after tragedy struck their household and 51 years later, she retired as principal of that same creche — Silvertown Educare Centre.

- HAZEL ALLIES-HUSSELMAN

Ms Reynolds did not plan on working in the early childhood development sector, but it “found” her.

“My son was at the creche at the time. My husband was brutally attacked, and he couldn't work for years. I was a stay-at-home mother. Shortly after the attack, I explained my situation and asked for more time to pay the creche the fees I owed, as I was going to look for work. Then they asked me if I would like to work for them,” Ms Reynolds said.

She didn’t think twice and grabbed the opportunity. At the time, the centre was owned and run by Cape Town Child Welfare.