Inspirational Jill says her goodbyes (From Gazette & Herald)

Inspirational Jill says her goodbyes

MUM of four Jill Edsall, who joined the village playgroup at Swinton as a parent helper, is leaving after 15 years as one of its leaders.

The group, which meets at Swinton's former reading room every weekday, has been running for 20 years and today has 34 youngsters on the register with a waiting list, and serves a string of villages between Malton and Hovingham, said fellow play-leader Tracey Young.

She added: "Jill has been a real inspiration to us all, bringing in new ideas and exciting projects for the children.

"She is so imaginative and creative and the children love her."

Jill, who lives at Amotherby, said she had seen many changes in the running of the playgroup.

"It has become much more professional and involved directly in education," she said.

Such groups are involved in the government's new voucher schemes for nursery education and with Ofsted inspection.

"I shall certainly miss the children - they have been wonderful to work with" said Jill.

Updated: 10:49 Wednesday, February 19, 2003