A COMMUNITY gathered together to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Greyfriars Pre-school in Ringwood on Saturday.
Hundreds of pupils past and present, parents, friends and families enjoyed an afternoon of fun and entertainment with magicians, music and dancing, plus a bouncy castle and hog roast.
Ringwood Playgroup was started in May 1961 by two young mothers, Audrey Scott and Iris Godwin, who wanted their little ones to meet with other children.
Half a century on Iris’s daughter Marilyn Goodwin attended the party and met hundreds of children who have been taught at the pre-school since it opened.
Sue Leather, who manages Greyfriars, said: “It was out of this world.
“The attendance was brilliant, with between 400 and 500 people coming along.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped make this day possible.”
The pre-school first admitted children in the summer of 1961 with nine children aged four and five.
Now more than 85 children attend the pre-school and 30 more go to the parent and toddler sessions.
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