About the Editors
Judith Bray
Judith arrived in Aberystwyth in 1970 with her husband and three young children. When her daughter started playgroup Judith joined the rota of parent-helpers and the playgroup committee and once all three children were at school, she became a playgroup supervisor. Further committee work attracted her and in succession she became PPA Branch secretary, Dyfed County PPA chairman, secretary of the Wales Region Personnel Committee and the Wales representative on the National (i.e. England and Wales) Personnel Committee of the PPA.
In the meantime she had returned to her earlier career in teaching and lectured part time in Biology at Coleg Ceredigion, until her retirement. Following this she qualified as a Forest School leader, introducing classes of primary school children to the joys of outdoor learning in a woodland environment.
She is now equally busy working voluntarily; having an administrative role in the Ceredigion Scout Association, helping to run sessions with the local Riding for the Disabled group and, with Leontia, organising and running Primary schools' educational visits to the National Trust property at Llanerchaeron. She enjoys travel and her hobbies include hill walking and gardening.
Back to topJoan Conway
Joan began her career as a Primary School Teacher but in the 1960's she became very interested in pre-school education and was a Supervisor of a Playgroup in Aberystwyth for eleven years. During this time she was very involved in PPA at many levels and developed a special interest in Training, chairing the Training Committee for Wales for several years. She later became a Tutor in Pre-school Education, teaching undergraduates on the BA degree course in the University of Wales at Aberystwyth.
In 1987 Joan represented PPA at a major conference in London on 'Children and Television' and as a result was invited to become a committee member of 'British Action For Children's Television', an organisation campaigning for quality broadcasting for children.
In 1990 she became Educational Consultant for Ragdoll Ltd., a company producing television programmes for pre-school children, notably 'Rosie and Jim', 'Tots TV' and 'Teletubbies'. (She even appeared in front of the camera in an episode of 'Tots TV'!)
Joan's interest in Early Years Education is ongoing and she has greatly enjoyed her involvement in this book of 'Memories'
Back to topMarjorie Dykins
Trained as a microbiologist, Marjorie was employed at a chemical works in North Wales, researching the problems of treating effluent into the River Dee. This work followed experience in the same field in New Jersey, USA. After the arrival of her first child, Marjorie became involved in starting the first playgroup in Wrexham and promoted the Wrexham Branch, Denbighshire County, North Wales and Wales PPA Associations. Marjorie was thrilled to be appointed as PPA's second National Advisor for Wales, with the opportunity to travel all over the Principality, getting to know the parents who worked voluntarily to provide pre-school education for their children.
Following her time as National Advisor, she became chairman of the Wales Council for Voluntary Action, seeing the voluntary sector and its effect on Government policy, increasing enormously.
Marjorie represented voluntary interests on the committee which drafted the regulations for the first Welsh Assembly; her work on this committee she says was the highlight of her career. She was awarded an OBE in 1996.
Marjorie brought her PPA skills to other national committees including The Children's Committee and she was also involved in starting the Voluntary Council for Wrexham County Borough. Currently she is the voluntary sector member on Wrexham Local Health Board. Marjorie herself claims that she has learned much from her varied experiences and especially "how not to take 'no' for an answer".
Back to topWendy Hawkins
Wendy trained originally, in Bath, as a Secondary School Teacher and her first job was in Birmingham. After her marriage she taught in Secondary Schools in Gloucestershire and then returned home to Gwent. She joined the playgroup movement when her elder child, Nia, went to the local playgroup in Goytre, Monmouthshire. Nia joined the playgroup and Mum the playgroup committee.
By the time her son Owen went to playgroup, Wendy had become involved in local branch, county and other PPA committees. She became involved in PPA committees at a Wales level including training, personnel, finance and the regional council. She was the last Wales representative to the PPA National Executive Committee and was a key player in Wales Region becoming independent in 1987. She was a volunteer within the playgroup movement in Wales for seven years.
In September 1987 she became the National Adviser for PPA Wales. For the next 14 years she was the Chief Officer for Wales PPA guiding it through independence from PPA, becoming a company limited by guarantee and its subsequent re-organisation. In January 2002 she left Wales PPA to become the Director of another national childcare organisation, Clybiau Plant Cymru Kids' Clubs. She remains in that post to this day.
Back to topLeontia Slay
Leontia was born in N. Ireland, graduated from Queen's University Belfast, lectured in Zoology at UCW Aberystwyth, and continued working part time after her children were born.
In 1964 she started the first Playgroup in Aberystwyth and served on Committees at Playgroup, Branch, County and Wales Regional (later National) level. She chaired the Wales Personnel Committee, was Vice-chairman of the committee organising the 1983 Conference and served on the Research and Information Committee (England and Wales).
Her commitment to the Scout Association was similar. From the local Scout Group Committee she moved on to serve at District and Area level. At present she is Chairman of the Area Appointments Advisory Committee and is a Trustee of the Welsh Scout Council.
Since retirement she is involved with the National Trust as a Committee member of the local NT Association. She is an enthusiastic Volunteer at a nearby property, where, jointly with fellow editor, Judith Bray, she runs the Education Group.
With her family she has travelled extensively in Scandinavia, and has visited the North Cape, Iceland, Greenland and Alaska as well as Santa's Grotto in Arctic Finland.
Back to topIvy Webster
Ivy was born and brought up at Stackpole in South Pembrokeshire. She was educated in the local village school, Pembroke Dock Grammar School and Newnham College, Cambridge. After graduating she trained as a teacher and then taught in a secondary school in Manchester. She returned to Wales and worked as an administrator with the Local Education Authorities in Swansea and Monmouthshire.
In 1966 when her husband was appointed Professor of Education at University College, Bangor she moved to Anglesey with her family. There she became involved with Pre-school Playgroups when her children joined the playgroup in Menai Bridge. She found membership of the playgroup was a very rewarding experience. When her children moved on to school, she continued her involvement with PPA, helping to set up the Anglesey and Gwynedd County Associations. In 1976 she was elected Chairman of the Wales Region of PPA – which had been set up earlier that year, and in 1983 chaired the committee which organised the very successful National PPA Conference held at Llandudno. She became President of Wales PPA in 1984 and in 1987 was awarded an MBE for her work with Wales PPA.
Alongside her work with PPA, she taught dyslexic children, first with the Bangor Dyslexia Teaching Unit and later in Aberystwyth. She was for several years Chairman of the Governing Body of her local primary school, taking a particular interest in children with Special Needs.
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