Goodbye and thanks!

IT WAS the end of an era last week when a Northside playgroup run by a dedicated husband and wife duo for 40 years closed its doors for the last time.

Beryl and Noel Callender’s home playgroup on Botanic Avenue, which has catered for hundreds of children down through the decades, closed last Friday, June 29.

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when the couple said good-bye to their last ever group of children.

The Callenders made the heart-breaking decision to close the playgroup due to their own personal circumstances. Beryl (67) said that after four decades herself and Noel finally decided

“it’s now time enough to call a halt

? to the home playgroup.

Beryl, who delivered childcare for 18 years, told Northside People how her eldest son was the first child to be enrolled in the home playgroup 40 years ago.

“My other three children were born and reared into it,

? she said.

“I’m heartbroken and my stomach is sick. I get very attached to the kids and always have.

“Unfortunately home playgroups are a dying breed.

?

Working with children for 40 years might not be everyone’s cup of tea but for Beryl it has just been a

“wonderful way of life

?.

“Once you give children plenty of activities and things to do and play with then they’re fine,

? she explained.

“We’ve also been so fortunate to have a lot of parental involvement so there’s usually some parent here helping out.

?

She added:

“Noel has also worked with me on the administration side of things since he retired around 20 years ago.

?

The closure of the Callender’s home playgroup has left a void in the local community.

Botanic Park resident Teresa Clerkin recalled with fondness how her four children attended the playgroup.

“Beryl and Noel are truly unbelievable people,

? she said.

“All my children went there. My eldest son is now a school principal and my daughter who is a teacher was hoping her daughter would go there in September.

“When my kids would start school, Beryl would go to their school gate to meet them when they’d finish their first day to see how it went. She’d always have a little box of Smarties to give them.

?

She added:

“They will be sadly missed.

?