Derby Telegraph

Pre-school boss has ‘loved every minute’ of 32 years

-

A PRE-school boss who has cared for thousands of children is saying a tearful goodbye after more than three decades in the job.

Julie Hughes has dedicated 32 years to Midway Pre-School – and says she has loved every minute.

It all started when she helped out as a parent when her son attended, and years later she ended up running the place. The mum-of-two will still be around Midway though for those who want to stop by, as she also works in vintage shop Ria Beer Vintage, which is owned by her daughter.

Mrs Hughes said: “I love it (working in the pre-school). It’s not just a job, you can’t do it if you don’t love it. You can’t give the children your best if you are not enjoying it.

“I’ve had the children from the children I’ve previously looked after for a long time now – 16 years ago was the first time it happened. She was the first one to become a parent. I’ve got quite a few parents at the moment that I had as children in pre-school.

“It’s lovely. I see them out and about and they don’t forget you. I can’t walk down Swad high street without saying hello to about 40 people. I’ve cared for so many children over the years – must be thousands.”

Mrs Hughes is now reflecting on her career, which started when thenmanage­r Janet Chell noticed her childcare skills when she was helping out as a parent.

Ms Chell told her there was a job going and asked her if she wanted to apply for it. It was not a career she had thought about, but she got the job and did all of the necessary training. Back then, the pre-school was held in Midway Hall, before it moved into its own building just down the road in James Street.

The 58-year-old said it was one of her proudest moments when the pre-school got its own building around 10 years ago.

She said: “I will never tire of it. I just keep thinking ‘wow – it’s ours’. We don’t have to pack it away and we’ve made it beautiful.”

She has made many memories down the years, but one that sticks out was her 50th birthday, when her team “plotted” with her daughter – and even the woman living next

door to the pre-school. Mrs Hughes thought she and Ria had arranged to go to The Dial for a mum-anddaughte­r evening, but they actually had other plans.

The neighbour rang to say the pre-school door had been left open after hours. When Mrs Hughes got there, the team all jumped out of the store room to surprise her. They all went for a meal to mark the milestone birthday.

Mrs Hughes said: “It has been a really difficult decision to leave. I’ll miss having the children in my life mostly and having these ladies who are part of my family. I’ve worked with them for such a long time.

“It’s our pre-school family and that’s something even the parents notice. When you get on as a team it makes life a lot easier. We’ve had a lot of people come and go over the years and the majority of them I still see and they are still friends.

“I was going to retire next year but my daughter’s shop assistant left and I’ve been doing vintage with her for the last 12 years, so it felt like the right time.

“There was never going to be a right time for me to leave. Now I can leave knowing it is in safe hands and it’s going to be well looked after. It’s not a case of I want to leave, because I don’t, but I want to slow down and have a bit of time to do things.

“I have loved every minute of it, and can say that with all honesty. If it has been a difficult time, I can come into here and forget about it.

“You can’t be sad with these children around you. Every day in this job is different and they have always got something to tell you.”

Fiona Morton will be taking over as the new manager of the pre-school.

 ?? ?? Julie Hughes with some of the children who attend Midway Pre-School
Julie Hughes with some of the children who attend Midway Pre-School

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom