NEWS
A Special New Addition to Our Playroom: The Model Carousel
Last week (Monday 12th January 2026) we were delighted to hold a small ceremony to unveil a beautiful new model Carousel, now proudly on display in our playroom. The Carousel has been generously donated by Lesley Legge, our former Chair of Trustees, and it is already proving to be a much-loved and eye-catching addition to the space. We hope it will inspire plenty of curiosity, creativity – and hopefully some singing – from the children who use our centre.
The Carousel was specially commissioned by Lesley and lovingly handcrafted by her cousin, John Hill, a highly skilled artist and maker. John has had a remarkable creative career, beginning with a degree in Creative Arts from Loughborough University and early work at the BBC designing scenery and props for children’s programmes. He later went on to run a company creating sets and scenery for film, theatre, and a wide range of projects in the UK and overseas. Now retired, John still undertakes special projects for enjoyment, and we are incredibly grateful that he chose to create this Carousel for us, putting such care and detail into a piece that will be enjoyed by many families for years to come.
The unveiling also gave us a chance to welcome staff, trustees past and present, and supporters to see not only the Carousel but also our newly expanded rooms and facilities. Thanks to our new lease from Oxfordshire County Council, we now have more space and are already seeing increased use and bookings. This growth, alongside the continued confidence and long-term support of Abingdon Town Council, helps us look ahead with optimism as we plan further development of our services over the next three years.
Our sincere thanks go to John Hill for his wonderful craftsmanship, and to Lesley Legge for commissioning and donating such a special piece. We are also deeply grateful to all our supporters who help make moments like this – and our ongoing work for local families in Abingdon – possible.
