American memoirist once said that “Family isn’t always blood, it’s the people in your life who want you in theirs: the ones who accept you for who you are, the ones who would do anything to see you smile and who love you no matter what.”
This is no more true for a group of former Hampton Park playgroup members and their children, who have celebrated 40 years of friendship and love.
The group of six families came together to reminisce and catch up at the Pink Hill Hotel in Beaconsfield on Sunday 30 July.
The group’s former Maternal Health Care Sister Mary Garrett also joined the cohort to celebrate the special occasion.
Lyndhurst resident Jill Pattison organised the event, which involved three generations reuniting after the six families first met in 1983.
“We’ve all sort of stayed very close,” she said.
“We’ve still kept in contact.
“The kids have all grown up.”
A number of the members have remained in the South East, including members based in Lyndhurst, Drouin, Berwick, Beaconsfield and Emerald.
Ms Pattison said their friendship had remained a constant throughout their and their children’s lives.
“I think it’s worth celebrating,” she said.
“It’s nice to see some things don’t change.”
