Goodbye for the last time at Corsham (From This Is Wiltshire)

Goodbye for the last time at Corsham

8:00am Sunday 1st August 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

A sad farewell was paid to a Corsham pre-school, which closed last Thursday after 34 years.

Smarties shut its doors for the last time after receiving its marching orders from the MoD, which is vacating the Joint Services Unit off Bradford Road.

Linda White, of Ashwood Road, whose son, now 37, used to be a pupil at the nursery, has worked there for 28 years.

She said: “It is the end of an era and it is a big chunk of my life gone.”

She was very sad to see the children leave for the last time, but said she will keep in touch.

The four staff at the centre heard just a month ago that they would have to move to allow the MoD to press ahead with its £800m redevelopment of the Basil Hill Barracks.

When the work is completed, the base will supply communications services for the Armed Forces worldwide.

Parent Tracy Milne said: “I am lucky because my kid goes to school in September but others have been left without childcare.”

Theresa Ham, who has worked at Smarties for 16 years, said: “It has been the best job I’ve ever had, so it’s very sad.”

Children enjoyed face painting, bouncy castle, hide and seek and pass the parcel on their last day. A toy sale was held at the nursery and larger equipment has been donated to other nurseries.

The nursery was established as the RAF Rudloe Pre-school but was later opened up to the public.

Nigel Spreadbury-Clews, head of establishment at Corsham, said: “It’s a great shame to see the Smarties nursery close after a very long association with MoD.

“But unfortunately the Corsham redevelopment project has reached the stage where some “lodgers” on the sites have to vacate their premises. We wish both staff and children all the very best for the future.”