40 years at one nursery school, but Lorainne’s not planning to retire just yet
AN east Belfast nursery teacher is celebrating her 40th year in the classroom — but says she has no plans to bow out just yet.
Lorainne Pendleton has been at Castlereagh Nursery School on Clonduff Drive since the day it opened 40 years ago in September 1978.
This year has been one of two big milestones for the mum-oftwo, as she also turned 60 in February.
Despite these momentous events, Lorainne says retirement is not on the horizon just yet.
“The 40 years have just flown by, it’s ridiculous,” she said.
“No two years are ever the same, as each one brings its own challenges and memories. The nursery is a part of me, so I just can’t imagine leaving.”
Lorainne (nee Hutchinson) left Victoria College at 16 and spent four years at the former Rupert Stanley College, studying childcare and nursery courses.
“I came to this job straight out of college and had two interviews on the same day, one for Castlereagh and another at Knockbreda.
“So I got the job here and have remained ever since.
“The idea was that nurseries took on someone straight out of college, which just happened to be me, and a more mature person. At that stage, I wasn’t even married or a mother.
“When I started there were just seven children at the nursery — now we have 52.
“Originally we had to borrow toys from nearby Lisnasharragh in time for our opening as our toy delivery hadn’t arrived.
“There were also no school uniforms in those days, unlike the lovely ones our children wear now.
“For many years we had a fantastic cook called Sadie on the premises and the children always loved the smells coming from the kitchen.”
These days the nursery boasts two classrooms, a sun room and extensive outdoor garden with a teaching principal, an assistant teacher, two trained nursery assistants, a secretary and caterer.
Lorainne met her husband of 37 years, Stephen (60), an accounts manager, while playing badminton at Knockbreda.
They married on July 1, 1981 and have two grown-up children, Jack (30) and Anna (27).
Many children have passed through the nursery doors over the past four decades as they made the transition from toddler to pupil.
“Last year we said goodbye to the last member of a family of five siblings who had brought all of their children, 15 in total, to us,” recalls Lorainne.
“We are only in the children’s lives for a very short period of time, but it’s a very important one.
“We are the stepping stone to school where they get used to teachers, routine and being away from home.
“It’s so lovely to see them blossom from September to June and they become completely different little people.
“Even after 40 years it’s still fantastic over those months to see the little shy ones change and become so confident and happy.
“They learn a lot from us, but equally we learn a lot from them as they certainly keep us on our toes.
“Christmas concerts are always fantastic as it’s the first time they will have been on stage or sang in front of their parents.
“I cry every single year because it’s just so wonderful and that’s always the moment when it hits me that these wee children are just developing.
“End of term is also tough when you have to say goodbye and it’s always very emotional.”
Lorainne takes great delight in meeting those who have passed through the nursery doors in later life.
“Last term, a guy came in to fix the photocopier and said, ‘I used to come here, do you not remember me?’
“Now this was a grown man with two children of his own, but when I looked at him I did recognise him even though it had been 34 years since I last saw him.
“I couldn’t even understand how he would recognise me but those moments are really nice.
“I get stopped in shopping centres all the time and you try your best to remember people.
“I have always had curly hair which hasn’t changed much so maybe that helps — but I often wonder if I have really looked the same for 40 years.”