Flowerbank ECC celebrates 80 years

Flowerbank Early Childhood Centre in Kilmarnock celebrated its 80th anniversary recently with a family fun day.

Head of Centre Margaret Blades welcomed parents and carers to the ECC for an afternoon of fun. There was face painting, lots of games, the children planted flowers for their families and there was a birthday cake for everyone to enjoy.

Margaret Blades said: “I am so happy and privileged to be part of this historic moment for Flowerbank. The celebration day was a huge success and a great day was had by all.

“I would like to thank all the staff for their hard work and dedication to Flowerbank and for making the day so memorable for all the families. We had a great turn out with many memories being shared by staff, visitors and families. I would also like to thank Varani's Forum Cafe for their kind donation of ice cream for our families to enjoy, Dobbie's for their kind donation of flowers and Eileen from Just Ask Eileen Balloons for the amazing balloon arch.”

Councillor Elaine Cowan, Spokesperson for Education and, Children and Young People said:

“Early Learning and childcare provision has changed significantly in the last 80 years, but the constant is ensuring that our youngest learners have the best possible start in life and supporting parents and carers to access flexible childcare that helps them to train, work or study. It is a wonderful achievement for Flowerbank to celebrate 80 years of dedicated service to the local community.”

Flowerbank ECC opened in its current location in 2014 providing early years education for around 90 children under the age of five.

Previously, the ECC was housed in a sandstone villa on North Hamilton Street that was built around 1843. In 1928 the house was bought by Mrs Agnes Sophia Archibald and Miss Rosaline Flockhart, who were both qualified nurses and the house became Flowerbank Nursing Home. In May 1944 they sold the house to the Burgh of Kilmarnock and Flowerbank Nursery was established in 1945 with Matron Doaks in charge.

This building was demolished to make way for a new Council housing development of seven attractive homes, which were completed in 2016.

Flowerbank moved to the site of the former Woodstock School, which stood on the site of a former location of Kilmarnock Academy, where Sir Alexander Fleming and Lord John Boyd-Orr went to school.

During the construction of the new facility the wall in North Hamilton Street, which is the last remnant of the Fleming and Boyd-Orr school was carefully preserved and an historical plaque was installed in 2014.