Star pupil: Luxury house builder Millgate renovates Wargrave Pre School
When Penny Simmons left city life in London and headed west to Wargrave in Berkshire, she had no idea of the impact that she and a few like-minded folk could have on a quaint English Village.
Penny moved from London to Wargrave 4 years ago and before long she had two small children who were filling her time. She enrolled the boys into Wargrave Pre School and was happy with the loving environment that this tiny little community school could offer her children.
However, Penny was very conscious of the lack of funds that this school had and before long she was signed up to the PTA and fundraising like mad. The school needed a huge overhaul and it would have taken this small group of local parents years to accomplish what they felt the children needed.
At this time Millgate, the Berkshire-based award-winning house builder, was also busy in Wargrave, erecting a very beautiful small development on Victoria Road – just across from where Mrs Simmons lived. Penny was very impressed by the quality of the building work and that the developers seemed to really care about how they integrated themselves during the build, creating as little disruption to the local community at possible.
This led Penny to the conclusion that Millgate might be exactly the right local company to help her son’s school with the renovation works.
David Simpson, Managing Director at Millgate, was delighted to be asked to help with such a wonderful cause. He assigned Kyle Burgess Millgate’s Quantity Surveyor to the project and before long a plan was in place.
Due to the hard work already undertaken by the supporters of Wargrave Pre School, a fund of £5,000 was already in place to start the renovations. The council generously contributed a further £5,000 in the form of new carpets, flooring and external fixtures and fittings, they also kindly gave the school a small piece of land to increase the playground size. With the donation of a further £14,500 worth of time and goods from Millgate and their contractors/suppliers this has meant a world of difference to the school development.
Commenting on the renovations, Penny Simmons says,
“The difference in the school before to after is like night and day. The school was previously adequate but the building was tired, dull and oppressive. There was a slightly unpleasant damp smell as you walked in and I always felt rather gloomy in there – I can’t imagine how the staff kept the children so cheerful.
“Now however it is like walking into a happy, cheerful, sunshine room. The staff appear to be positively beaming and full of renewed energy. This renovation is going to attract more people to use the local school and not feel the need to pay for more expensive Montessori type nurseries locally. This makeover has put the life blood back into this community school.”
The work that has been carried out by this this amazingly committed team from Millgate has included a great deal of restoration work for the internal roof, walls and partitions. The floor donated by the council was fitted by Millgate and they installed a bright and airy new kitchen area, new bathroom facilities throughout and created a quiet area, a den and a changing area internally to allow different activities to happen simultaneously throughout the school day. With new electric and plumbing Wargrave Pre School is now a safer, cleaner and happier place to be.
Outside in the playground Millgate have constructed a new sand pit and a pagoda which has given the children plenty of options for enjoying their break times.
Kyle Burgess, Quantity Surveyor from Millgate comments,
“As much as my team and I love building luxury new homes, this project has been such an incredible assignment. The support of the local community, the staff and the never-ending enthusiasm of the schools’ PTA has made this a superb project to work on.
“This project would not have been possible without the bigheartedness of some of Millgate’s suppliers and contractors. Their enthusiasm to help on this project made it all possible. It has been a team effort from so many people, their generosity has been overwhelming.
“I genuinely feel that we have made a difference to lives of the staff and children at Wargrave Pre School and I hope for many years to come that children will still be using and enjoying the fruits of our labour.”
For more information on the project please contact Millgate on 01189 343 344 or visit www.millgatehomes.co.uk. To talk to Penny Simmonds contact her on chair@wargravepreschool.com or visit their brand new website on www.wargravepreschool.com.