Joan is top volunteer

Joan Bridgewater, 75, of Fordingley Road, has helped out at Elgin Pre-School, in Harrow Road, since her granddaughter Madison, now 20, began at the nursery at the age of two.

Her great-grandson Kieran, who has just turned five, currently attends the centre. She was the winner of best volunteer at a preschool at the charity Pre-School Learning Alliance (PSLA) awards on Friday, beating off competition from 40,000 other volunteers.

Ms Bridgewater said: "I never thought anything like this would happen to me, and I consider that I have been very lucky to have won. It broke my heart when Madison left to go to school, but the playgroup said I didn't have to leave if I didn't want to, so I've stayed here ever since.

"We have got four or five children leaving to go to school in September, and it upsets me when they do, but then you get a new lot in and no child is ever the same. My days are filled with happy memories. If I had my way, I'd be buried here too, I'm sure they could find a space for me."

Each day, Ms Bridgewater helps the play leaders with activities, prepares meals and does the washing, ironing and cleaning for the nursery.

She said: "I wash up the children's plates in the kitchen after they've had breakfast, and I call it 'Joan's Kitchen' because it feels like it's mine. Since I've been here, I've learned so many different things you can make from practically nothing.

"If you take two toilet rolls and put them together, you've made yourself a pair of binoculars. If you cut out two fish shapes from material, and put padding in the middle, you have made a new toy. Last week we made a pirate ship out of cardboard, and I helped with painting and sticking bits on."

Ms Bridgewater added that she wanted to thank playgroup supervisor Vicki Yearby.

She said: "She is a wonderful, kind, sensitive woman, and she has helped me so much."