MRS. THATCHER OPENS A NEW NURSERY UNIT

Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, MP for Finchley and leader of the Conservative Party, formally unveiled a plaque commemorating the official opening of the new nursery unit in the converted buildings of the former St. James' School, Friern Barnet Lane, on Friday.

The ceremony was attended by the Mayor of Barnet, Cr. Andrew Pares, who unlocked the door of the unit, and the Right Rev. Bill Westwood, Bishop of Edmonton, who gave the blessing to the buildings which have been in partial use since the £33,000 conversion was completed in September.

Over 100 representatives of local churches and schools attended the opening, as well as parents and prospective pupils of the 52-place unit.

The new unit, the brain-child of Canon Norman Gilmore, Rector of Friern Barnet, marks the close co-operation over a two-year period of two Church of England Junior Mixed Schools—All Saints', Whetstone, and St. John's, Friern Barnet.

The Vicar of All Saints' Church and the chairman of the joint managing body, the Rev. Adrian V. Benjamin, in a witty and informal speech, commended the work of Canon Gilmore and the architect, Mr. John Philips.

The Bishop said: “I am very pleased to give the blessing to this school. The hope of this country is in our children and we must start them off on the right footing.”

Posies of spring flowers were presented to Mrs. Thatcher and the Mayoress, Mrs. Joan Pares, by two four-year-old pupils of the school, Melissa Lungay and John Massey.

Mrs. Thatcher, wearing a turquoise dress and a neck-scarf, received enthusiastic applause for her speech, in which she mentioned bringing up her own children and the relief of sending them to “percussion band” practice one day a week.

She said: “It gives me special pleasure to come here after a battle with the Treasury over education spending. Nursery schooling is the best possible start for children, many of whom are ready to learn well before the age of five.”

The opening of the unit is a personal triumph for Mrs. Thatcher, who made money available, for projects of this nature, despite strong criticism, when she was Minister for Education and Science.

The unit, which is already over-subscribed, takes a two-class intake from each of the two parishes. Between them, the two churches raised £3,000 towards the conversion of the school building. Two rooms have been converted into one large play and recreation area, and five smaller rooms have been refurbished.

The full-time staff consists of two teachers and two nursery nurses, who will be dealing with two classes of 26 between the ages of three and five.