Celebrations as pre-school manager near Boston clocks up 25 years’ service

Carolynn Fletcher, of Swineshead Pre-School Centre, was thrown a surprise, socially distanced celebration earlier this month after reaching a quarter-of-the-century with the setting.

It featured a special 25th anniversary cake and numerous cards and gifts, including a gold watch from staff and the pre-school’s committee.

Carolynn’s time with the pre-school dates back to when it was a 24-place play group operating from the village’s ex-Land Army building. She remembers long, cold trips to the toilets in winter, frost on the inside of the windows, and field mice occasionally seeking shelter in the foyer.

Carolynn became involved with the group after her daughter, Rebecca, joined in May 1995. After a period of volunteering, she took on a paid role the following September, working every other Tuesday.

“The job fitted in very well with my lifestyle, and I was able to take my son, Jamie, to work with me in 1997,” she said.

As time moved on, Carolynn progressed to two days, then four, and then, in 1999, to the role of supervisor, after which the pre-school began offering full daycare.

Then, in April 2006, following a £300,000-plus fundraising drive to create a new, dedicated home for the group, Swineshead Pre-School Centre came into existence, with Carolynn becoming its manager. This new facility had space for 54 children – although this soon rose to 65.

In the years that followed, Carolynn would go on to win multiple national awards.

She said she felt ‘honoured to have shared in the lives and futures’ of more than 650 children and their parents.

“I thank all the parents, children, and staff that have been with me on my 25-year journey,” she added.