Toddlers walk to help charity

Police closed a road in Southwell so youngsters aged under five could take part in the Big Toddle.

More than 80 toddlers from Lowe’s Wong Infants’ School, Children’s House Nursery School, Prebend Preschool and Southwell Preschool took part in the event to raise money for Barnardo’s.

The children walked half a mile from outside the Old Court House, Burgage, to the top of King Street, along Queen Street, through the library carpark and back down King Street to the Burgage.

Police closed the road so the children could walk safely.

The children marched to the big toddle music, which was played from the Children’s House minibus.

Each child was given a medal, sticker and certificate.

Some of the children then had a tea party at the Children’s House.

The principal of the Children’s House, Mrs Jo Spencer, who helped organise the event said she was pleased with how many children had taken part.

She said: “We had a bit of rain but that didn’t deter anyone.”

Barnardo’s, founded in 1867, originally ran children’s homes but now provides services including counselling, fostering, adoption, vocational training and disability inclusion groups.

Mrs Lisa Farnsworth (32) of Oxton Road, Southwell, took part with her children Thomas (5) and Lucy (3).

Mrs Farnsworth’s late father Mr Colin Martin, was cared for in a Barnardo’s home, Horsington House, as a child.

She said: “They taught him to value what he could do and gave him an education he wouldn’t otherwise have had.

“He had a very successful career in insurance.”

Mrs Farnsworth said her father said he had enjoyed his childhood at Horsington House.

She said: “He was there from about the age of six or seven until he was 15.

“His mother worked on a farm and I don’t think she could cope with eight children so she kept the girls on the farm and they worked almost from when they could pick up a brush and sweep.

“My dad thought he was lucky because he had the opportunities they never had.”

Mrs Farnsworth said she thought it was important her children were involved in raising money for children’s charities.

She said: “Barnardo’s definitely improved my dad’s childhood. Anything that can help children it is important to support.

“You see horrific cases where children are abused or their parents don’t feed them properly or educate them and I think it is important that children are involved with raising money for children who aren’t as lucky as they are.”