Seavington Mother and Toddler Group
SEAVINGTON MOTHER AND TODDLER GROUP
This group was first started in March 1979 when Janice Bonning and Pauline Parsons had been told by their District Nurse that there were new Mums in Seavington who did not seem to know anyone in a similar situation.
The first meetings took place at the old wooden Village Hall in Upton Lane. From very small beginnings we soon found that not only were mums coming from all parts of the villages but also from Shepton Beauchamp and Dowlish Wake. To raise funds to pay for the hire of the hall and to buy toys for the group each family would pay 50p but there would be a weekly draw. Soon the funds grew and several pieces of play equipment were purchased.
In the summer of 1979 it was decided that we would enter the group into the Ilminster and Chard Children’s Carnival. Mr Graham Bonning made a tractor and trailer available [he, of course, also had to drive it] and Ash Bros provided the artificial grass. [We never did tell the children why Ash Bros would have this!!] The first float was – Teddy Bears Picnic. Children on the float were:-
Mark, Paul and Daniel Bonning, Samantha England, Kim Antrobus, John Male, Justin and Sian Parsons. Sian being the youngest at only 4 months old.
The group went from strength to strength and in 1980 the Carnival Float had become a lorry and the entry was The Land of Nursery Rhymes. Children on the float included:-
Paul Bonning, Justin Parsons, John Male – Three Men in a Boat
Daniel Bonning – Little Jack Horner, Laurie Tratt – Little Boy Blue, Sian Parsons – Little Bo-Peep, Kate Perry – Little Miss Muffett, Mark Bonning – Humpty Dumpty. [Sorry but I cannot remember anymore but I am sure someone will]. The weather this year in Ilminster was not good and at the last minute a heavy lorry sheet had to be erected to keep the children dry. However, the following week at Chard was bright sunshine so the float and children could be seen in all their glory. This float won Second Prize at Chard Children’s Carnival.
1981 saw the final carnival entry for this group of children. This year’s title was Toyland Wedding.
Laurie Tratt was Noddy and his bride was Sian Parsons. Wedding Guests included:- Mark Bonning - golliwog, Kim Antrobus – fairy, Paul Bonning - Mr Plod, Stuart England – Rupert Bear, Kelly Meecham – Clown, Justin Parsons – Big Ears, Samantha England – Rag Doll, Daniel Bonning –Teddy Bear, and
The group moved to the ‘Pavilion’ on the Playing Field shortly after it was opened in 1981. The Pavilion was more centrally placed in the village and parking was also much easier for those who came from the surrounding villages.
Janice and Pauline stopped going to meetings when their children started school in 1983, but the group continued.
Pauline Parsons
October 2011
Chard and Ilminster News 19 May 1983 - Seavington Mother and Toddler Group
Click an image to enlarge
