St Martin's Pre-School leaves Unity Hall

St Martin’s Pre-School, having got new premises within the grounds of St Martin’s Primary School in Ashley Road, left Unity Hall at the end of July, and are now moving their equipment to their new building.

Unity Hall had its first Kindergarten in 2003, when it was run by Linda Walker. It started with five mornings and two afternoons per week, and dropped the afternoon sessions in November 2004.

In April, 2005, the Kindergarten was taken over by Louise Kirby, who continued with five mornings per week, until she had to relinquish the job in July 2007, and the Kindergarten closed down.

Early in 2008 we heard that the St Martin’s Pre-School was in difficulties with their premises; after much discussion, and compromises on both sides, St Martin’s Pre-School moved in during February 2008. Now, after only eighteen months, they have left us for their new premises. We wish them well.

We can now start to reclaim Unity Hall! St Martin’s had so much equipment that every available space was used – and trying to get around the gallery in UH when a fund-raising event was in the offing was a real problem! Space is now available in the storage room for the tables and chairs, and we will be able to bring the staging units from the gallery down to ground level. If you want to see the problem caused by storing these in the gallery, look at the photograph in the July/August issue!

However, lack of a Kindergarten in Unity Hall will cause our church other problems: over the past six years these groups have made a great contribution to the church finances, and you will need to speak with John or Tom to find out the effect the lack of this income will have. Efforts have been made to find a new Kindergarten/Play-School to use our premises, but no luck so far.

If anybody hears of such a group, please mention it to Tom Lockett.