COMMUNITY LEFT 'DEVASTATED' BY PRE-SCHOOL LOSS

Daughter of co-founder tells of heartbreak over decision to close

- By MEGAN BANNER

SIXTY four years ago, when Keren Leivesley was just a baby, her mum, Wynne Richards, along with three other mothers, founded a pram club which later became St James’ Pre-School.

Earlier this week, the nursery closed its doors for good, following financial struggles, having been at the heart of Woolton since it opened its doors in 1961. Since then, it has seen hundreds of children come through its doors, including Keren, from Woolton.

She told the ECHO: "It was my mum and three other mums, one of whom was married to Reverend David Dunn Wilson, who was the minister at the time, who set it up when I was a baby, I'm 64 now. I have a sister who is two years older than me and at the time my mum and the other mums belonged to St James’ Church.

“In those days people didn’t have cars so the mums of the church would walk together to Garston market twice a week. But, when they had more than one child it got too much, so they got together and made a rota for the mums to do child care in the church hall.

“Every week, some mums would look after the children and the others would go to the market to get their shopping. It went on for a few years, then when the older children went to school it became a play group.”